A slap in the face of govt

6/11/2009
Bangkok Post EDITORIAL

Good diplomatic relations can be saved for later days when Cambodia has a leader with a genuine desire to make them work for the benefit of his people, not for himself or a favoured friend.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has driven a wedge further into the rocky diplomatic relations between his country and Thailand by appointing deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra his economic adviser. By extending his personal favour to the fugitive leader, Premier Hun Sen has given another slap in the face of Thai government leaders.

The chances are now slim that bilateral ties between the two countries will improve in the near future. This certainly cannot happen when a national leader's acts towards a neighbouring country are dictated by personal friendship and vested interests, not by the benefits of the peoples who share their border.

To say the least, Mr Hun Sen's latest bombshell on the Thai government is highly deplorable in the diplomatic context. On a more critical aspect, the signal he has sent out to the Abhisit Vejjajiva government is more than clear - his regime gives no recognition to the Bangkok leader and it has no respect for Thai law.

While Mr Hun Sen has the right to believe that Mr Thaksin is a political victim, he cannot deny that his decision to accord the former Thai leader such an appointment is a direct interference in Thailand's internal affairs. Relations between the two countries have worsened in recent months because of the Preah Vihear temple conflict. Bringing in the Thaksin issue will only complicate efforts by the two countries to settle the dispute.

Mr Hun Sen may feel satisfied at being able to do his "eternal friend" a favour and embarrass the Thai government at the same time for refusing to sort out the Cambodian-Thai territorial conflict the Cambodian way. However, the Phnom Penh leader must realise that his action will not get the problem solved any sooner. He has only added more resentment to the already bitter conflict, making it harder to resolve.

Thaksin, meanwhile, may feel pleased that while many countries in the West have begun distancing themselves from him, he still has a good friend in Cambodia to help prop up his image. As a former government leader, he should know that his friendship with Mr Hun Sen may not really be eternal when it comes to choosing between friendship and his own interests. Thaksin should remember that it was Mr Hun Sen who ratcheted up the nationalistic fever among Cambodians against the Thais in early 2003, using fabricated information about a Thai actress' claim that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand.

Mr Hun Sen's criticism of the actress which was broadcast nationwide led to the torching of Thai private and government establishments including the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. The incident took place while Thaksin was serving as prime minister. It was seen by many as a political game played out by Mr Hun Sen at the cost of Cambodian-Thai friendship, to divert public attention from the political problems he was facing at home before a general election. Thaksin can never be sure this will not recur if he happens to be able to return to power in Thailand and Mr Hun Sen again runs into trouble at home and has his political career to save.

As most Thai and Cambodian people may have been aware, the Hun Sen-Thaksin relationship is only for their own private interests. Bangkok decided yesterday to recall its ambassador. Good diplomatic relations can be saved for later days when Cambodia has a leader with a genuine desire to make them work for the benefit of his people, not for himself or a favoured friend.