Bangkok Post EDITORIAL
The political crisis in Bangkok has caused several unfortunate consequences that were not foreshadowed. At the top of the list is the danger that the simmering Preah Vihear temple dispute might get out of hand. Last Friday, Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire which caused casualties on both sides before cooler heads stepped in. There are differing versions as to what caused this extraordinary exchange of hostile fire, and a full investigation should be held quickly. But it is far more important that the government focus more diligently on this and other matters of national interest which it has lately ignored.
That matter of national interest turned into a nasty matter of national security on Friday. According to the Foreign Ministry, Cambodian troops "were definitely inside Thai territory" and opened fire. The initial story from Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith agreed that Thai troops were in Thailand, but said they fired the first shot - a grenade which wounded two Khmer soldiers. Reports also agree the exchange of fire lasted less than two minutes, and a Thai soldier also was hit by Cambodian gunfire.
This is the danger of troops facing each other across a disputed, semi-jungle border. Any tiny misunderstanding or accident can cause a serious incident that can easily escalate. As history tells us, minor events have caused major wars.
A number of happy circumstances make war unlikely here. Both governments understand that an escalation of violence is in no one's interest. Similarly, senior military officers in charge of border security are in regular contact. Troops try to communicate any unusual movements to their counterparts across the frontier to avoid misunderstanding.
There is a vacuum, however, in top-level contact and negotiations. For a while, Khmer elections and post-poll formation of a new government left Cambodian without a foreign minister. Then, for the past three months or so, Thailand has lurched through four foreign ministers and a startling court case which has changed the shape of foreign policy. Since the resignation of Noppadon Pattama over the Preah Vihear temple issue, top-level relations with Cambodia have fallen into limbo.
None of the three ministers who followed Mr Noppadon has been able to focus on the important question of relations with Cambodia. Professional diplomat Tej Bunnag held a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in Siem Reap which was little more than a formality. Saroj Chavanavirat, another professional, barely had time to move into, and then out of, his office when his prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was disqualified by the Constitution Court. Current Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat has spent most of his working time at the United Nations.
The Preah Vihear temple issue is a top priority for several reasons. Peace and national security, territorial integrity, historical pride and international tourism are a few of them. The dispute over the land around the temple is well-known, but represents a festering sore. The neighbours have agreed that their foreign ministers should discuss and try to heal this wound. It is vital that they get down to it, before another military incident or ultra-nationalists further inflame the problem.
Mr Sompong and his ministry have a full plate of issues. But Cambodian relations, particularly discussions of the overlapping 4.6 square kilometres around Preah Vihear, should be at the top of the agenda. If the foreign ministers can get to work, they can make it clear that Friday's brief firefight is the last.
That matter of national interest turned into a nasty matter of national security on Friday. According to the Foreign Ministry, Cambodian troops "were definitely inside Thai territory" and opened fire. The initial story from Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith agreed that Thai troops were in Thailand, but said they fired the first shot - a grenade which wounded two Khmer soldiers. Reports also agree the exchange of fire lasted less than two minutes, and a Thai soldier also was hit by Cambodian gunfire.
This is the danger of troops facing each other across a disputed, semi-jungle border. Any tiny misunderstanding or accident can cause a serious incident that can easily escalate. As history tells us, minor events have caused major wars.
A number of happy circumstances make war unlikely here. Both governments understand that an escalation of violence is in no one's interest. Similarly, senior military officers in charge of border security are in regular contact. Troops try to communicate any unusual movements to their counterparts across the frontier to avoid misunderstanding.
There is a vacuum, however, in top-level contact and negotiations. For a while, Khmer elections and post-poll formation of a new government left Cambodian without a foreign minister. Then, for the past three months or so, Thailand has lurched through four foreign ministers and a startling court case which has changed the shape of foreign policy. Since the resignation of Noppadon Pattama over the Preah Vihear temple issue, top-level relations with Cambodia have fallen into limbo.
None of the three ministers who followed Mr Noppadon has been able to focus on the important question of relations with Cambodia. Professional diplomat Tej Bunnag held a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in Siem Reap which was little more than a formality. Saroj Chavanavirat, another professional, barely had time to move into, and then out of, his office when his prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was disqualified by the Constitution Court. Current Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat has spent most of his working time at the United Nations.
The Preah Vihear temple issue is a top priority for several reasons. Peace and national security, territorial integrity, historical pride and international tourism are a few of them. The dispute over the land around the temple is well-known, but represents a festering sore. The neighbours have agreed that their foreign ministers should discuss and try to heal this wound. It is vital that they get down to it, before another military incident or ultra-nationalists further inflame the problem.
Mr Sompong and his ministry have a full plate of issues. But Cambodian relations, particularly discussions of the overlapping 4.6 square kilometres around Preah Vihear, should be at the top of the agenda. If the foreign ministers can get to work, they can make it clear that Friday's brief firefight is the last.
16 comments:
Thai, if you kill your stupidity buy being truthful, if you kill your arrogence by being "genuinely" friendly and respectful to those who live next door to you, and if you kill ignorance by being knowledgeable of the true history of the Khmer Empire then you will come forward with a good common sense and human sentivity that we all, as humans with loved ones, want to live peacefully among all of us earthlings.
But you Thai, you have been the source of turmoil in S.E.A. and you are evidently and intentionally ignorant about the solid truth of our long line history.
You have been the initiator of the fire. And you're strongly condemned by human conscience, a thing you probably don't have.
You have been trying hard to manipulate the relevent history to serve your ill purpose and to cover up your ugly criminal face. But the world as a whole is not that ignorant like you have hoped.
For the sake of human peaceful living it is strictly imperative that the Thai must and wll be brought down. What sort of civilized world are you living in when you provoked the hostility and cried out of being so innocent?
Look up your (DICK)tionary the word "shame" and learn its real definition, stupid.
Closed-circuit cameras couldn't deter bomb attacks
By The Nation
Pattani
Published on October 1, 2008
Police have found the fragment of a clock at the parking lot next to a police station that was rocked by a powerful explosion on Monday night.
About twenty police officers combed the area looking for clues, but there was no other evidence to support initial suggestions that the bomb had been set off by a mobile phone or another remote sensing device. Monday marked the third such attack this year at this very location. Though police installed six closed-circuit cameras at the parking lot, it failed to deter the attack which authorities blame on Malay Muslim separatists.
Police officers have also admitted that not all the cameras, put up a year ago, were functioning properly.
The bomb, estimated to be about five kilograms, was tied to an allegedly stolen motorbike at the parking lot, police said.
Pol Lt-Colonel Wasant Rakchartpanich suffered injuries to his right arm, while Pol Lt Sathit Khunthong suffered flesh and head wounds from pieces of metal. Police said insurgents took advantage of a downpour to carry out the attack, an action that proved to be another setback for authorities who believe they have been making progress in containing the violence.
My sympathy to the Thai.
LOL.
I am wondering how much does this damn Bangkok Post knows about the Siam's history?
He/she kept saying "The Preah Vihear Temple Dispute". What the fuck is this dispute for? There is nothing to dispute for, because the temple and its surrounding area belonged to Cambodia. Siamese has no right to argue for.
Just get your hell out of there.
Nope, there is no such thing as a territory covered just the tip of the mountain. At minimum, it should covered half the mountain. Thus, Thailand's territory was encroached by Cambodia.
That's bullshit! You have stolen alots previously from Khmer in the past 700 years and now want to steal more. That's too greedy, Neighbour. Nah, we can't accept that. You better watch out, while your rivals sorounding loose patients no more, e.g. Burma, Lao, Southern Muslim, and Cambodia. You mess up further with Khmers, you screw up your own economy. The world starts to know that you have been stealing everything from Khmer, especially the culture and the recent capture of Khmer seven provinces.
The best suggestion is to admit the facts and fix your political turmoil, trading economy, and southern muslim rebullion befor it was too late.
To the Thai, just one word..You are richer than us and your neighbors..Otherwise, you can start to dig your own grave by now with your arrogance and unshameful act!!!!!
More to the Thai...Situation in your southern is an identical example..You are digging the graves everyday for your soldiers and civilian....Why?...Like I said: Arrogance, Unshameful and Criminal Acts!!!!!
Damn the 11:55 AM, Khmer gave you Boeung Kark and many other of your current land. Go back there and do not turn back or be beheaded!
We don't welcome thief!
Yeah, but Bangkok give Khmer's King lots of irresistible angels for it. Bangkok didn't get anything from Khmer for free. None your King can kept his piece in his pant, remember?
to 2:05pm,
This is what you called a "give". That is bullshit again. As the matter of fact your kings just tried to please some Khmers to serve your purpose. I am just wondering if you Thai have ever thought that we are your neighbours. You are just arrogant with your economy superior to exploit us, and that is going on and on up to date. What do you want in return? Look at yourself again how much you have got from Khmer. Look backward what were you. You were migrant. You were slaves to our kings. Read the history, of course not the ones written by your own historians, who manipulated the facts. I would suggest you reading the independent history book, and I am sure that it would ring your bell, boy.
Dear all Khmer both oversea and local in this forum,
Please be truly Khmer and stop fighting each other because bear in mind that there are also fucking Siamese/Yuon un-welcome intruders in this forum whose English is so confusingly broken. I would do something if I know who the hell is 2:05pm.
Dear 3:45pm,
I would suggest that expressing in word to anlyse the facts and giving away opinions opposing each other in this particular forum is not a "fighting". I would call that the argument, and it should be fine with that as long as serving our nation.
Khmer
3:54 PM. I agree with you. The forum should go on for these important debates as long as we all use respectful words with constructive criticism, not swearing to each others please. Khmer Unity!
khmer
Hey, this is no UN, you know?
Freaking oversea losers are soooo blind.
why thailand seem to want to get cambodia involve in their own internal, political problem is questionable! leave cambodia out of you stinkin' problem, thailand!!!! we already have problem of our own and don't need your problem!!
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