Letters to The Bangkok Post
POST BAG
Re: ''Betrayal at the border'' (Bangkok Post, Oct 25). I defy both Thais and Cambodians to stop cattily pointing the finger and instead get to the root of the ongoing military quagmire and boundary dispute between the two countries.
The question should be: ''How could Cambodia ever plant new mines 'deep inside' Thai territory?'' And, most importantly, ''How could the three Thai ultra-nationalists trespass right under the nose of the Thai authorities on July 15 and why did Bangkok take the needless, unprecedented step of deploying troops in response to the lawful detention of the three intruders in lieu of a diplomatic request for their release?''
There are three plausible scenarios. First, either the trio jumped the barbed wire fence of their own free will or in deference to the PAD - a long-time thorn in Thaksin Sinawatra and his successors' side. In this case, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has no role in the three-month-long conflict.
Second, Hun Sen may have countenanced his former counterpart Samak Sundaravej and incumbent premier Somchai Wongsawat using armed confrontation for mutual benefit, with Hun Sen gaining the edge ahead of the July parliamentary election and the two Thai embattled PMs diverting the PAD's attention in the midst of alarming political turbulence - as assumed by some analysts. The assumption, however, has proved illogical. For one thing, the stand-off escalated into a tragic skirmish just two weeks ago - almost three months after Hun Sen won by a landslide. For another, the self-proclaimed People's Alliance for Democracy has plunged Thailand into chaos through its undemocratic anti-government rallies since 2005 - long before the Preah Vihear temple officially became a world landmark.
Third, sparks were really flying following the unilateral inscription of the 11th century ruin. Samak, under impeachment pressure and so forth, wasted no time turning the public focus to an all-new issue: a so-called ''border row'' with Cambodia. He could have intentionally sent the three Thai extremists, knowing full well that they would be lawfully detained. And when they were arrested, he short-sightedly responded with soldier deployment, knowing precisely that Cambodia would rather bring the case to the ICJ in The Hague or the UNSC than risking a gun battle in the vicinity of its invaluable temple. Phnom Penh did just that. Realising the situation had got out of hand, Samak moved to trick Hun Sen into withdrawing the complaint and resuming further bilateral negotiations. What did Samak and Thailand have to lose?
In summary, Thailand has not only dragged Cambodia into its political mess but has also held the Preah Vihear temple hostage.
VUTH CHANSEREI PHUON
Phnom Penh
The question should be: ''How could Cambodia ever plant new mines 'deep inside' Thai territory?'' And, most importantly, ''How could the three Thai ultra-nationalists trespass right under the nose of the Thai authorities on July 15 and why did Bangkok take the needless, unprecedented step of deploying troops in response to the lawful detention of the three intruders in lieu of a diplomatic request for their release?''
There are three plausible scenarios. First, either the trio jumped the barbed wire fence of their own free will or in deference to the PAD - a long-time thorn in Thaksin Sinawatra and his successors' side. In this case, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has no role in the three-month-long conflict.
Second, Hun Sen may have countenanced his former counterpart Samak Sundaravej and incumbent premier Somchai Wongsawat using armed confrontation for mutual benefit, with Hun Sen gaining the edge ahead of the July parliamentary election and the two Thai embattled PMs diverting the PAD's attention in the midst of alarming political turbulence - as assumed by some analysts. The assumption, however, has proved illogical. For one thing, the stand-off escalated into a tragic skirmish just two weeks ago - almost three months after Hun Sen won by a landslide. For another, the self-proclaimed People's Alliance for Democracy has plunged Thailand into chaos through its undemocratic anti-government rallies since 2005 - long before the Preah Vihear temple officially became a world landmark.
Third, sparks were really flying following the unilateral inscription of the 11th century ruin. Samak, under impeachment pressure and so forth, wasted no time turning the public focus to an all-new issue: a so-called ''border row'' with Cambodia. He could have intentionally sent the three Thai extremists, knowing full well that they would be lawfully detained. And when they were arrested, he short-sightedly responded with soldier deployment, knowing precisely that Cambodia would rather bring the case to the ICJ in The Hague or the UNSC than risking a gun battle in the vicinity of its invaluable temple. Phnom Penh did just that. Realising the situation had got out of hand, Samak moved to trick Hun Sen into withdrawing the complaint and resuming further bilateral negotiations. What did Samak and Thailand have to lose?
In summary, Thailand has not only dragged Cambodia into its political mess but has also held the Preah Vihear temple hostage.
VUTH CHANSEREI PHUON
Phnom Penh
5 comments:
Thanks Mr. Phuon. You nailed the Siam point by point.
I further forsee that, when the current Siam King die, Thailand is very chaos. The next King will not have the same respect as his father.
Khmer - Long Beach, California
His daughter is more educated and popular than his son, and public seems to favor the daughter. She is majoring in Khmer, and so she knows the origin of Thais. However, history might stop her. His son is a military General who used to be a commander during the KR regime. So, who is going to be the next Thai King will change Thai's history. His son wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Vajiralongkorn
7:46 AM,
That maha vajiralongkorn is a thug, famously in Killing and Raping. His nickname is Sia O mean Mr. O. He divorce 3 wives so far. The latest wife is a bitch, that wearing bikini to show him during their dog birthday..unbelievable...You can see their video on youtube. He is suspected to be infected by HIV coz of too many sex..
The kingdom of sex, Thailand
A well-written letter to the Bangkok Post. Well done, Mr. Vuth Chanserei Phuon! It shows Siam that Cambodia won't accept bullies lying down both intellectually and militarily.
If Siam follows the royal succession as in England then it will end up with either a Queen or a King when the current King finished his reign. The new Queen may be more sympathetic with Cambodia than the new King.
But, nothing can be certain as the Siamese military is running the show. They may declare a martial law and turn Siam into a republic after the current King is gone, so Cambodia must be prepared for all scenarios in its relationship with Siam.
I don't think Khmer should care which Thai royal member will be crown. Khmer don't need Thai's sympathy.
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