Saturday, December 18, 2010

Neighbours call welcome truce

18/12/2010
Bangkok Post

The steady improvement in relations between Thailand and Cambodia lends weight to the saying that two steps forward and one step back are better than no movement at all.

It seems Cambodians and Thais are realising the two kingdoms can co-exist peacefully.

A free pop concert at the Hua Mak stadium last month drew huge crowds of migrant workers, including Burmese. The performance helped transcend ethnic and political divides.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen praised the success of the Bangkok concert, suggesting that it was a sign that Thai-Cambodian relations were growing warmer.


The Cambodian strongman suggested that in light of the change, bilateral border issues should be returned to their status prior to July 15, 2008.

He was referring to the date when Phnom Penh captured three Thai para-military rangers while on a border patrol mission.

The incident intensified cross-border flare-ups near the Preah Vihear temple, which is still the subject of dispute.

Hun Sen hopes the old border markers in disputed areas can be replaced.

The People's Alliance for Democracy has postponed until Jan 25 a rally it called to oppose any perceived ceding of Thai territory to the Cambodians.

This has helped ease the worries of political pundits who fear the alliance could spark a new round of bilateral conflict.

The PAD is opposed to Cambodia's unilateral listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

The PAD is also opposed to the possible parliamentary endorsement of minutes from meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee. The alliance claims this might undermine Thailand's territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, a concert in Phnom Penh is being staged tomorrow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will head the Thai delegation in the Cambodian capital in toasting the two countries' relations.

A dozen Thai journalists have been invited to visit Phnom Penh for the celebrations next week, reciprocating a tour by the Cambodian information minister in October.

Visa-free travel for up to 15 days between the two countries, approved this week, will pave the way for a freer flow of people and trade and tourism.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what happened to the weeping and the tear of Hun's wife? Tears of a female crocodile. And what happened to all the crazy, sort of clumsy rhetorics Sen was giving when he first visited the disputed Preah Vihear? Anyone needs my cash for medicines or flip flops for troops? He did put on quite a show, wasn't he? People were fooled for that big time, but most are idiotic CPP clowns abroad.

Anonymous said...

any forme of criticism, jealous, anger,and hatreat are destructive and the most devastated gosh that most people have in the head please avoid all these form, since I love your bloge sofar,

Anonymous said...

i would rather be friends with the Thai than the Vietnamese, if Khmers and Thai's can get over their differences mostly language-wise i believe we can form an alliance. Thai's are more upfront and will fight when they say they will, but Vietnamese pretend to be best friends and then attack you while your back is turned. This is a very important and BIG difference between Thai and Vietnamese. I dont like Thai but i believe we can coexist better.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter whether it the Thai, Viet, or your own friend and they all can become enemy when you become weak and stupid!

It is the action that is count! If the enemy take action and Cambodian must take action and foresee the future unfold base on history, geography, politic, economic, and military!

Anonymous said...

I'd agree with 3:59,viet(con-khi)are back stabber.we must learn how to defend the dangerous fist.