Bangkok Post
There have been mixed reactions to the Thai government's diplomatic retaliation against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The focus of this debate is the appointment of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Mr Hun Sen and his government.
Actually, what has rattled the Abhisit government was not Thaksin's appointment, but Hun Sen's remark that the ex-premier's conviction in the Ratchada land case was politically motivated, implying that the Thai judicial system was neither independent nor fair.
This inflammatory statement prompted the Abhisit government to recall the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh.
If the government did nothing, other legal cases against Mr Thaksin might not be viewed favourably by the international community.
Of course Thai people value their relations with neighbouring countries. We treat our neighbours equally and extend assistance when necessary.
Cambodian authorities, however, still view Thailand as an aggressor. This longstanding prejudice is also exploited by Cambodian politicians for their own gain.
Thailand always wants to be a good friend of its neighbours, but it must also protect its own interests.
Actually, what has rattled the Abhisit government was not Thaksin's appointment, but Hun Sen's remark that the ex-premier's conviction in the Ratchada land case was politically motivated, implying that the Thai judicial system was neither independent nor fair.
This inflammatory statement prompted the Abhisit government to recall the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh.
If the government did nothing, other legal cases against Mr Thaksin might not be viewed favourably by the international community.
Of course Thai people value their relations with neighbouring countries. We treat our neighbours equally and extend assistance when necessary.
Cambodian authorities, however, still view Thailand as an aggressor. This longstanding prejudice is also exploited by Cambodian politicians for their own gain.
Thailand always wants to be a good friend of its neighbours, but it must also protect its own interests.
5 comments:
it is too naive to draw this conclusion....
the assistance in building roads to cambodia from Thai border has been for the interest of Thai business rather helping Cambodia.
Your editorial is nothing politically motivated to serve your siam ass - and personally to fill your stomache and other hidden greeds. Open your eyes bigger and look into the past, what your siam ass have been extending to Khmer, you stole our lands, where had been your ass siam before 11th century. Siam did not exist in today stolenland.
It is very simple to think that Thailand has not had good relations with almost all countries bordering it. Why? Maybe it is too proud of itself and uses bullying approach when dealing with Cambodia. Often times, Thailand just declared closures of border with Cambodia because it thinks this can hurt Cambodia but it cannot. Look, it is like the way Thai government treats people in the southern part of Thailand!
អភិសិទ្ធិកុំស្មានថាកើតនៅអង់គ្លេសរៀននៅអង់គ្លេសគ្រាន់បើជាងហុនសែន។
សួម្បីតែមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសសៀមកាសិទភីរមក៍សុំទោសហុនសែនដែរ។
នៅស្រុកខ្មែរបក្សប្រឆាំងខ្មែរមិនដែលសុំទោសហុនសែនផងដល់់ទៅ
មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសសៀមកាសិទភីរមបានសុំទោសហុនសែនដួចជា
អន់ជាងហុនសែនមែនទែន។
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