Kasit: Lashed out at Cambodia over temple2/07/2009
By WASSANA NANUAM
Bangkok Post
Border tensions over the Preah Vihear temple and the political troubles in Thailand appear to be inextricably linked - by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mistrust is growing between the Thai and Cambodian governments.
The government still views Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen with suspicion as they believe he is a good friend of Thaksin, while Hun Sen and other Cambodian politicians question Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's stance on Preah Vihear.
During rallies led by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Mr Kasit lashed out at Cambodia and Hun Sen over the listing of the historic temple ruins as a World Heritage site.
At the time, the PAD accused Thaksin of being the puppet master pulling the strings of the governments of both Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat to support Cambodia's bid to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
They claimed this was in exchange for huge benefits to Thaksin from his planned investments in Cambodia, particularly in the energy business.
Thai security agencies earlier reported that Thaksin led a group of businessmen from the Middle East to visit Phnom Penh and Koh Kong. But Thaksin repeatedly denied those reports. He insisted he had not visited Cambodia since he was toppled from power.
But the air force radar centre confirmed that Thaksin's private jet was seen flying into Cambodia on two occasions, just one to two months before red shirt demonstrators held mass rallies during Songkran.
There were also reports that the Cambodian government had granted a passport to Thaksin.
Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh dismissed the reports. He said Thaksin had not set foot in Cambodia.
"Thaksin didn't visit here and I never even saw his shadow. The hearsay has caused mistrust between the two countries," Gen Tea Banh said.
A Thai military unit recently reported that Jakrapob Penkair, a co-leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), was staying in Phnom Penh.
Mr Jakrapob reportedly fled Thailand after the Songkran riots to escape charges that he and his fellow UDD leaders had instigated violence in the capital.
These sorts of reports and rumours have caused suspicions between the two countries to build up. Whenever Thai military leaders visit Cambodia, they often ask businessmen if Thaksin is there. However, no one has confirmed seeing him.
When there was political tumult in Thailand, Hun Sen was seen as trying to show his leadership in the region. He faulted Thailand over its chairmanship of Asean.
He then asked Thailand to solve its political problems first.
The border tensions flared again recently when the Thai government decided to object to Unesco's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site on Cambodia's behalf last year, despite the continuing dispute over the overlapping territory around the temple.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have deployed more troops and heavy weaponry near the temple.
The tensions show no sign of easing despite a visit to Cambodia on Saturday by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Mr Suthep claimed he held talks with Hun Sen to settle the border problems and both countries agreed to cut troop levels near the ancient ruins.
But Hun Sen, speaking to the Cambodian media, said he had warned Mr Suthep and Gen Prawit that "if Thailand wants to open fire on Cambodia, it will take at least five Thai soldiers to beat one Cambodian soldier".
Former Khmer Rouge soldiers have reportedly been deployed at military bases along the border.
Whatever happens, in the eyes of the world community, Thailand may very well end up being viewed as the loser since the issue involves the Preah Vihear temple, the ownership of which the International Court of Justice already ruled on a long time ago.
Mistrust is growing between the Thai and Cambodian governments.
The government still views Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen with suspicion as they believe he is a good friend of Thaksin, while Hun Sen and other Cambodian politicians question Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's stance on Preah Vihear.
During rallies led by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Mr Kasit lashed out at Cambodia and Hun Sen over the listing of the historic temple ruins as a World Heritage site.
At the time, the PAD accused Thaksin of being the puppet master pulling the strings of the governments of both Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat to support Cambodia's bid to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
They claimed this was in exchange for huge benefits to Thaksin from his planned investments in Cambodia, particularly in the energy business.
Thai security agencies earlier reported that Thaksin led a group of businessmen from the Middle East to visit Phnom Penh and Koh Kong. But Thaksin repeatedly denied those reports. He insisted he had not visited Cambodia since he was toppled from power.
But the air force radar centre confirmed that Thaksin's private jet was seen flying into Cambodia on two occasions, just one to two months before red shirt demonstrators held mass rallies during Songkran.
There were also reports that the Cambodian government had granted a passport to Thaksin.
Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh dismissed the reports. He said Thaksin had not set foot in Cambodia.
"Thaksin didn't visit here and I never even saw his shadow. The hearsay has caused mistrust between the two countries," Gen Tea Banh said.
A Thai military unit recently reported that Jakrapob Penkair, a co-leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), was staying in Phnom Penh.
Mr Jakrapob reportedly fled Thailand after the Songkran riots to escape charges that he and his fellow UDD leaders had instigated violence in the capital.
These sorts of reports and rumours have caused suspicions between the two countries to build up. Whenever Thai military leaders visit Cambodia, they often ask businessmen if Thaksin is there. However, no one has confirmed seeing him.
When there was political tumult in Thailand, Hun Sen was seen as trying to show his leadership in the region. He faulted Thailand over its chairmanship of Asean.
He then asked Thailand to solve its political problems first.
The border tensions flared again recently when the Thai government decided to object to Unesco's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site on Cambodia's behalf last year, despite the continuing dispute over the overlapping territory around the temple.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have deployed more troops and heavy weaponry near the temple.
The tensions show no sign of easing despite a visit to Cambodia on Saturday by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Mr Suthep claimed he held talks with Hun Sen to settle the border problems and both countries agreed to cut troop levels near the ancient ruins.
But Hun Sen, speaking to the Cambodian media, said he had warned Mr Suthep and Gen Prawit that "if Thailand wants to open fire on Cambodia, it will take at least five Thai soldiers to beat one Cambodian soldier".
Former Khmer Rouge soldiers have reportedly been deployed at military bases along the border.
Whatever happens, in the eyes of the world community, Thailand may very well end up being viewed as the loser since the issue involves the Preah Vihear temple, the ownership of which the International Court of Justice already ruled on a long time ago.
6 comments:
The thais did get one thing right: Hun Sen is aone eyed bandit.And the whole world agrees with that title.
Dear Kasit and all stupid Thais,
Kasit, you are just a piece of shit, cant be compred with the by-people- elected PM, Thaksin. Thaksin government was full of well-educated people_ not like you and your PM, unreal Oxford educated Abhisit. In order to become a well respected country, you have to do the follwing things:
1. Review your curriculum on histroy
2. Be open to the world and contemporary situation.
3. Send your scholars to study overseas learing the history and international laws.
4. Do as the Buddha sais in his teaching to Buddhist followers in cluding you and your country.
5. Learn to be grateful to those who had helped you in the past and repect the ancestors ( Thai people and soul and heart is the proudct of Cambodian factory)
6. Learn not to think we are the most superior in any field.
Talk to you guys,Kasit and Abhsit later.
HO, Khmer
នែ!អាសៀមបាយគ្រីពូកអាឯងនឹងខ្មែរវង្វងបឹងមួយ
ចំនួនគួរតែដឹងហើយថាកម្ពុជាមិនដែលញញឺតធ្វើ
សង្រ្គាមទេដូច្នេះពួកអាសៀមឯងនឹងខ្មែរវង្វេងបឹងមួយចំនួនកុំរយេរយ៉ៃពេក។ពួកអាសៀមឯងបានសម្លាប់ខ្មែរះស់ជាច្រើននៅក្នុងអម្លុងពលពតហើយថែមទាំងសម្លាប់ថែមទៀតនៅឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩គឺតាមព្រុំព្រទល់។អញសូមប្រាបអាសៀមឯងថាខ្មែរហានសម្លាប់ខ្មែរដូចគ្នាចុះទម្រាំអាសៀមឯងខ្មែរ
មិនដែលញញឺតនឹងកាត់កពួកអាសៀមឯងទេសូម
ចាំឲ្យច្បាស់អាសៀមឯង។
SYNOPSIS ON PM Hun and FM Kasit
AUTHORITY
Hun Sen: King-maker and ability to put a leash on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of Former Angkorean Empire
Kasit Phirom: Reports to Thai PM and ability to be instrumental in plotting a Coup d'Etat against de jure PM Thaksin Shinawatra
INTELLECT
Hun Sen: Worldwide Multiple Honorific Doctorate Degrees
Kasit Phirom: BS, Georgetown University; MS, ISS, Netherlands
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Hun Sen: Born to parents who were modest peasants - Mr. Hun Neang and Mrs. Dy Yan (called Dy Pok who died in 1998). He has two older brothers and three younger sisters. He is self-made man.
Kasit Phirom: Born with a silver spoon to Rear Admiral Somphob and Mrs. Junjua Phirom
RELIGION
Hun Sen: Born Buddhist who became addicted to use violence after his KR & VN trainings
Kasit Phirom: Born Buddhist who became rogue activist, and greedy politician with neighbor lands
hey, stupid kasit and your siem thugs, it's not even your temple in the first place. so don't interfere with cambodian affairs of listing our preah vihear temple. by the way, your one vote against its inception meant nothing as the majority voted for it already! plus, we all know your thugs' intention anyway, like it matters to us or something! get lost already! go back nancho province of china, ok!
Dear HO, Khmer
You call people in Thailand "stupid Thais". Practice what you preach. If you want to use Buddha's teachings as an example, you should follow it yourself first.
You do not deserve any respect and you never will because you don't respect others.
"Learn not to think we are the most superior in any field" Haha what a joke, Thailand is so much more developed and advanced than Cambodia.
You should reflect upon yourself and see the monster you are.
Thaksin was well-educated... he let Cambodia borrow Thailand's money so Cambodia can buy Thaksin's company - Shin Coporation equipment. You call that good?
No wonder Cambodia is developing so slowly, its is because people like you who drag the country down and give your country such a bad impression.
Friendly Neighbor
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