23/10/2009 Bangkok Post
Editorial
One might even construe from his statements that the Cambodian leader has demonstrated his personal friendship with Thaksin is far more important than Thai-Cambodian relations which dictate the well-being of people living on both sides of the border.With his visit on Wednesday to Cambodia, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has virtually opened this country to interference in its internal affairs and further complicated the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.
The trip was claimed to have been taken in a private capacity, to help ease Cambodian-Thai relations which have been soured by the Preah Vihear temple dispute.
Regrettably, the outcome appears to have had the opposite, and insulting, effect.
News reports quoting Cambodian Premier Hun Sen as saying his country was prepared to shelter fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra are a direct slap in the face of the Thai government, if not all its people.
The statement by Mr Hun Sen - quoted by General Chavalit, and local and international media - that he would arrange a beautiful house for Thaksin to stay in, makes it harder for the Cambodian leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to look the other in the eye when they meet at the Asean summit in Hua Hin this weekend.
It may perhaps be premature to guess why the Cambodian leader chose to say what he reportedly said. However, Mr Hun Sen's statements only confirm the long-standing rumour that personal ties between the Cambodian prime minister and Thaksin reach beyond Thailand and Cambodia's sovereign interests.
One might even construe from his statements that the Cambodian leader has demonstrated his personal friendship with Thaksin is far more important than Thai-Cambodian relations which dictate the well-being of people living on both sides of the border.
And this only raises more doubts about the chances of the two countries being able to successfully resolve the long-standing border dispute in the near future.
As a former prime minister and currently chief adviser of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Gen Chavalit can actually help contribute towards improving Cambodian-Thai diplomatic relations.
His long personal connections with the Cambodian government and military leaders are considered a great resource, if they were put to better use for the peoples of the two countries.
It is a sad disappointment that he has used that resource only to help prop up the legitimacy of the one man who brought him out of what till recently had seemed a permanent political retirement.
It is widely accepted that the Cambodian-Thai border dispute is a complicated affair. It requires patience, a friendly attitude and the political will of the top leaders to resolve the problem.
Mr Hun Sen - in a sudden change to Phnom Penh's previous stance in trying to make the border conflict a regional or international issue - has suggested that the dispute be tackled through the two countries' border commission.
This perhaps was the only good news brought home by Gen Chavalit's delegation.
The Preah Vihear border dispute is a conflict between two friendly countries and should definitely be resolved peacefully through their border mechanism which has been established for the purpose.
Any success through this mechanism will hinge largely on the condition that both sides create an atmosphere conducive to fruitful discussion.
Embarrassing a negotiating party - like what Mr Hun Sen has just done to the Thai government - certainly does not promote the desired friendly atmosphere.
5 comments:
SRP has signed alliance agreement with Democratic party of Thai current PM since his party was an opposition and now, the CPP has declared the alliance with Puer Thai party and also offer shelter to Thaksin.
Let see what SRP says in this issue?
I would like to see Thai's gov't stop speaking about their own political views and pin point it onto Cambodia as Cambodia has enough problem as it is if Mr Thaksin decided to come to Cambodia, it is at his own will and they have to deal with it themselves. It is like two brothers fighting with each other and than one decided to run to the neighbour's house to seek for help. As a good neighbour we can not sack this person away and say get out. Buddha and Christ said "When people knock the door will be opened and when people ask for help he/she will get helped'. So, as for Thai gov't you have no right to get upset with the helper but you can get upset with your own brother. So, you must separate between the helper and the seeker. So, Thai gov’t needs to sort things out for themselves and stop accusing or telling Cambodia gov’t what to do and you can not hate us as being the helper for god sake. we are good neighbours we need to find solutions for peace and as well as to promote unity, love compassion, share and respect for one another rather than negative aspect of it for it will benefit no one instead it will do more harm than good. Aust
If Abhisit government really cares about Cambodian-Thai relationship, then he should pull out the troop from Preah Vihear long time ago.
Bangkokpost editorial is definitely lacks of substance and logic on personal and national relationship.
Bangkokpost seems to think Cambodia must oblige Siam interest only.It's Siam ,in other hand, is using its dubious argument and own drawn map after the fact to raise Preah Vihear dispute.
Siam running yellow dogs and yellow master declared Preah Vihear belongs to Siam when Rama VII accepted map and admitted Preah VIhear is Cambodia property.
Bangkokpost plays with words and onesided argument.
BANGKOK POST!
You are flaring-up the issue. It's just like a frog crying, it's the useless speech. I heard, Mr. Hun Sen said:
1) will fire Thai military aircraft if it crossed into Khmer sovereignty...Your Thai did, but it was not happened.
2) To shot Thai people..........so and so.
Unlike, your speech, your Thai comrades kill Khmer people almost everyday.
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