ABC Radio Australia
Just when you thought relations between Cambodia and Thailand couldn't get any worse, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has resorted to name calling... and he says he's waiting for the imminent demise of Abhisit Vejjajiva's government before he gets friendly with his neighbour again.
Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Speakers: Panitan Wattanayagorn, Thai government spokesman; Koy Kuorn, spokesman, Cambodian Foreign Ministry; Professor Carl Thayer, University of New South Wales
SAWLANI: Both countries have acknowledged that ties are at an all-time low. But that hasn't stopped Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen from straining relations with Thailand even further. Hun Sen has told an audience at a student graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh that Thailand's current government, led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not survive much longer. He says he's waiting for a new administration to take power before restoring diplomatic relations. He's also referred to Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as the "chief of terrorists", for his role in last year's airport blockade that helped bring down the pro-Thaksin government. But Thailand is refusing to weigh in on the latest outburst from Phnom Penh.
WATTANAYAGORN: I assume he was talking to Cambodian students. So we're not going to comment on what he said to his students.
SAWLANI: Panitan Wattanayagorn is a spokesman for the Thai government. He says Bangkok is firmly focused on improving relations with its neighbour.
WATTANAYAGORN: At the moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cambodia to work on these issues. We are taking note of positive developments, including the return of a Thai person accused of stealing security information. He has been granted a pardon and now is being returned back to Cambodia to work. And we think that's a positive step from Cambodia towards our relations.
SAWLANI: But the latest comments by the Cambodian Prime Minister may not necessarily reflect on current relations with the Thai government. Southeast Asia analyst, Professor Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales, says present developments are playing well into the hands of Hun Sen on the domestic front.
THAYER: No I don't think they [Cambodia] hold a particular animosity towards the Prime Minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva) although that's how it's playing out. But it's that the Thai relations with Cambodia have been a political football inside Cambodia and Hun Sen has been playing the issue for several years now to maximum effect. I think we're just seeing this that he used that in the elections in 2008 to make a major victory because of the Preah Vihear incident. And with relations at an all-time low, he just gained some popularity at home. At the same time, he has his own opposition on the run. So he's reigning supreme and enjoying the political game.
SAWLANI: Part of that political game could be the appointment of fugitive former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government - a move that's infuriated the Thai government, and prompted a recall of ambassadors from both countries. Prime Minister Hun Sen is defending his decision, referring to Mr Thaksin as an eternal friend. Bangkok has long requested the extradition of Mr Thaksin to face charges of corruption in Thailand. But Phnom Penh is refusing to consider that option. Koy Kuorn is the spokesperson for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.
KUORN: Yes, Cambodia always supports the appointment of Mr Thaksin as an economic advisor to the government of Cambodia. And the appointment, it is the sovereign right of the Cambodian government to appoint his Excellency Mr Thaksin.
SAWLANI: He says the charges against Thaksin Shinawatra are politically motivated.
KUORN: Cambodia applies the Treaty of Extradition. Especially article 3 of the extradition, that in cases of political motivation, the requested country may not extradite those who are the political victims.
SAWLANI: As the deadlock in the Thaksin controversy continues, Bangkok believes relations may never improve.
Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Speakers: Panitan Wattanayagorn, Thai government spokesman; Koy Kuorn, spokesman, Cambodian Foreign Ministry; Professor Carl Thayer, University of New South Wales
SAWLANI: Both countries have acknowledged that ties are at an all-time low. But that hasn't stopped Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen from straining relations with Thailand even further. Hun Sen has told an audience at a student graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh that Thailand's current government, led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not survive much longer. He says he's waiting for a new administration to take power before restoring diplomatic relations. He's also referred to Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as the "chief of terrorists", for his role in last year's airport blockade that helped bring down the pro-Thaksin government. But Thailand is refusing to weigh in on the latest outburst from Phnom Penh.
WATTANAYAGORN: I assume he was talking to Cambodian students. So we're not going to comment on what he said to his students.
SAWLANI: Panitan Wattanayagorn is a spokesman for the Thai government. He says Bangkok is firmly focused on improving relations with its neighbour.
WATTANAYAGORN: At the moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cambodia to work on these issues. We are taking note of positive developments, including the return of a Thai person accused of stealing security information. He has been granted a pardon and now is being returned back to Cambodia to work. And we think that's a positive step from Cambodia towards our relations.
SAWLANI: But the latest comments by the Cambodian Prime Minister may not necessarily reflect on current relations with the Thai government. Southeast Asia analyst, Professor Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales, says present developments are playing well into the hands of Hun Sen on the domestic front.
THAYER: No I don't think they [Cambodia] hold a particular animosity towards the Prime Minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva) although that's how it's playing out. But it's that the Thai relations with Cambodia have been a political football inside Cambodia and Hun Sen has been playing the issue for several years now to maximum effect. I think we're just seeing this that he used that in the elections in 2008 to make a major victory because of the Preah Vihear incident. And with relations at an all-time low, he just gained some popularity at home. At the same time, he has his own opposition on the run. So he's reigning supreme and enjoying the political game.
SAWLANI: Part of that political game could be the appointment of fugitive former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government - a move that's infuriated the Thai government, and prompted a recall of ambassadors from both countries. Prime Minister Hun Sen is defending his decision, referring to Mr Thaksin as an eternal friend. Bangkok has long requested the extradition of Mr Thaksin to face charges of corruption in Thailand. But Phnom Penh is refusing to consider that option. Koy Kuorn is the spokesperson for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.
KUORN: Yes, Cambodia always supports the appointment of Mr Thaksin as an economic advisor to the government of Cambodia. And the appointment, it is the sovereign right of the Cambodian government to appoint his Excellency Mr Thaksin.
SAWLANI: He says the charges against Thaksin Shinawatra are politically motivated.
KUORN: Cambodia applies the Treaty of Extradition. Especially article 3 of the extradition, that in cases of political motivation, the requested country may not extradite those who are the political victims.
SAWLANI: As the deadlock in the Thaksin controversy continues, Bangkok believes relations may never improve.
19 comments:
Monsieur hun zen turns a blind eye to viets land encroachment while he only barks at thai prime minister.
it's not a politic game.. if hun sen keeps said thai's gov time is tickling, becuz he secretly knew some plot either from thai opposition's party or he got insured by his boss viet and his army's aids partner china, he would attack thailand anytime while blaming on the prah vihear issue.
hunxen wants to divert the attention from the east to the west. it suits khmer people who are mainly dumb, believing whatever propaganda hunxen puts out. keep moving in the light dirlection, peopor..
Send him a basket of flowers. Say I love Thai on it.
Hun Sen is so arrogant and provocative to the neighbor because Hanoi is behind him. He should talk to Hanoi to solve numerous problems that our nation is facing today: border encroachment, illegal immigrants, land concession, and the Khmer krom rights in their home land.
Hun Sen lashes Thai leaders because he does not have anyone in Cambodia to say about while he has a lot of programs to talk in public. Normally, he needs to scare people when he talks in public talk. Last time, he lashed at opposition, KR tribunal, UN human rights, and other. This time no one is around for his target, so he tries to lash Thai leaders.
Khmer people know for a fact that mr. hun sen is just a barking machine with no real substance. This guy's mentality is comparable to the frog in a well.
Sean Pengse you are suck! nobody care about your shit. I'm sick of your shit about cambodian border, you need a life please stop talking trash useless shit! you can't do shit beause you not cambodian. I'm here in cambodia and I'm pround of my decho Hun Sen. Please get life and die peacfuly NO BODY CARE ABOUT YOU FUCKING BIG MOUTH DO NOTHING SON OF BITCH
Hun Sen just spoke out the reality only. Thus, Thais government aught to review their internal issues and stop push the issues to its neighbor like Cambodia.
Thais smart in doing this game
It doesn't matter what earlier commentators said. I defend PM Hun Sen in his verbal attacks again the Thai govt. Cambodia needs to defend its territory against invader.
I also agreed there is other issues that PM needs to pay attention to such as corruption, land grabbing (especially eviction and economic land concession), and rural development that are of immediate concerns to Khmer people.
Let's not discuss about Khmer Krom issues for now. My father is a Khmer Krom as well and we used to live there for about ten years and I knew how live was like. If you don't involve in politics in Khmer Krom then we can live a normal live. I saw some improvements in terms of treatment to Khmer Krom people in Mekong Delta now. Of course, it does not meet the level of our desire, but at the same time we also need to help ourselves, rather waiting to helped by others. Not all Khmer in central Cambodia are good, me and my family were discriminated as Youn when we first arrived in Phnom Penh in 1991. I had to hide my identity for more than then years, only now I openly proud of myself as a son born to a Khmer Krom father. Don't even rely on foreign govts to help liberate Khmer Krom. My ancestors (father, grandfather, uncles) used to fight alongside with US against VC/communist forces in VN, but what happened in 1975, the US simply abandoned us and let my father suffered in a "re-education" camp in the middle of the jungle more than a year. Luckily, they did not execute my father, otherwise I wouldn't be here today.
Let's be realistic that we're in no way oppose to two strong neighbors at once. We need to do little by little. Rather than claiming what we have lost to VN, we should focus on preserving what is left and maintain it for our next generation. Don't be so aggressive and make Cambodia become another Champa. You must remember VN is very strong mentally and they plan hundred years ahead in conquering Cambodia, so it's now time to educate ourselves and our children and defend against these soft invasion (trade & migration).
Thanks,
CK
Just remember, Hun Sen is simply a cheap, yet workable proxy of the Vietnamese government and their relentless ambitions.
Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party only get support from the very corrupt politicians/military & police generals/family members with links to Hun Sen as well as the uneducated and most ignorant part of the Cambodian population.
something is wrong with the siem pad thugs brains; maybe their brains are defected. what were they thinking, it's like trying to rape cambodia against its will, really!
Hun Sen is very provocative, inviting trouble with Thailand. Why he keeps criticizing Thai leaders. He should shut up and pay more attention to his own country and poor people. It is very dangerous for Cambodia - a small and poor country to fight with big and rich country.
He should work to promote peace with neighboring countries. Abhasit is younger than Hun Sen but he is more amature and patient and not aggressive like Hun Sen.
yes we know khmer pple are still poor becuz we've been suffered so many years to rebuilde our country from civil war. how about your thai shit? there're over one million prostitutes to take care and beg tourists for sex and some gay thais have to go transgender to make money for living, are thai is better than khmer? second point, there're over one millions thai pple infected with virus of hiv, is thai still better than cambodia, third point at pataya beach there're so many young thai children selling thai wood elephant homemade status to the tourist lay on the beach naked and none of thai authority complain about it. is thai better than khmer. just remember this thai shit head: khmer pple might hate hunsen as much but if the war declare between khmer and thai, khmer pple will support hunsen and its supporter wich viet and china. around the world would not believe that a small country like khmer attacking your thai country. and after all khmer gain nothing from your shit thai, but after all khmer have nothing to lose, khmer only want thai to reconize that prah vihear belong to khmer and forever.
CK, you have raised several good points that our people and bloggers have never brought up.
First of all, let me make it clear that in no way I agree with every thing the current government are doing. However, in the case of sovereignty and the western border with Thailand you made a real good point. Preserve what we have and not compromise another inch to Thailand. As far is the eastern border with Vietnam, no one has more credibility than you and your father and all our Khmer Krom people. Your father had gone through a lot. I really dont know about the rest of the Khmer people point of views internal or abroad, however my support for my Khmer Krom people have never changed nor waiver. Indochina Federation was the goal established by Vietnam a long time ago to take over Cambodia. We have to be very vigilent in raising this issue nonvoilently, just like our Khmer Krom people abroad. They formed a Khmer Krom Federation to hold meetings, protesting againts Vietnam about human rights violations and asking western govt for support of self autonomy and/or full independencd from Vietnam. In addition start teaching our young students about Vietnam intention regarding Indochina Federation.
Second, I really dont agree with the current Hun Sen govt that much however on the border issue with Thailand , I totally in support of him. In terms of dealing with Thailand you have to be tough not just political rhetoric but military option if need be. I understand many of you will attack my comments regarding how weak we are militarily as compare to Thailand. I got that. The big picture is this, Thailand will not unilaterally go to war with anyone without the support of outsider such as the U.S. and its allies. Thailand had never gone through a prolonged war with anyone. I hate to say it, playing simulation war is not same experience as the real war with real bullets.
Last, the political games with Vietnam and Thailand is not something new here. Cambodia had gone through leaders who use appeasement toward our neighbors and had never worked. It's time to start getting tough politicall and militarily if necessary.
Dear 2:40PM
Many thanks for your comments. I'm glad I have someone on the same channel.
Yes, in terms of sovereignty, we need to unite behind our leader. We also need to be wise in dealing with our giant neighbors. With the Western neighbor, I think it's the right to provoke them and teach them a lesson that Khmer cannot be abused easily, they've harassed for many decades and it's now time to repay. For the Eastern neighbor, we know they're very smart and used all the soft, but sharp, approaches to invade/colonize us. Therefore, we must response accordingly, not just pulling the border post up and shout blah blah blah for self-promoting. One of the many ways to do that is to teach our people living near the border not to abandon their farm land and come to the city to find work or beg (I saw many beggars from Svay Rieng). The govt can help in term of providing more investment into border areas, similar to what we're doing with the Western border and create job at border areas so that people can survive. The SEZ initiatives at border areas is a very good approach, but it somehow didn't perform well with the exception of the one in Bavet. We need to attract more foreign investments (preferably not VN) to Eastern border areas.
Regards,
CK
Hun Sen must upgrade his military instead of letting those corrupted military leader putting the money in their pockets..
For a country to stand strong is military!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Military is the core!
If you're strong nobody will look down at you..
go tell that to the thailand, the land of ignorant people! they slowly come out with their true color now!
Leaders of the countries in the real world rarely attack each others verbally. Attacking, threatening without action does not mean anything. Come on Hun Sen, be a real man and take action again the Thai. To your own people threatenings are always followed by actions but to foreigners you used threat without action and this is not fair to Khmer people.
Post a Comment