ANALYSIS: The PM's new strong stance worries some among the top brass
1/02/2011
Bangkok Post
The border dispute with Cambodia is driving a wedge between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and military leaders.
Mr Abhisit is demanding that Cambodia remove all national flags from Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara.
The prime minister considers the 4.6-square-kilometre area near Preah Vihear temple, on which Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara stands, to be part of Thailand.
Military leaders believe Cambodia's earlier agreement to remove two stone tablets at Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara which carried claims of ownership of the area should be taken into consideration by Mr Abhisit.
The first tablet labelled Thai troops who had been stationed in the zone as "invaders", while the second was engraved with the statement: "Here! is Cambodia".
The Cambodian government agreed to remove both.
Mr Abhisit's latest demands are akin to "unrelenting" pressure on the Cambodian government, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday.
He said the flags issue was "trivial".
"The temple put up the Cambodian national flags [not the government]," Gen Prawit said.
"Cambodia has already agreed to destroy the marble tablets at Wat Kaew [Sikha Khiri Sawara]. What else does [Mr Abhisit] want from them?"
The defence minister asked the media to avoid presenting reports that could lead to conflict between the two countries.
He also urged political groups not to exploit international affairs for their own gain.
An army source said Thai military leaders were unhappy with Mr Abhisit for making such demands without asking for information from the armed forces.
"[Mr Abhisit] seems to want to ease political pressure [at home] at the same time as building up his image to look stronger than his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen," the source said.
"However, those who are placed in difficult situations are us [soldiers]."
The source, who is stationed near the disputed area, said local army officers had not yet told the Cambodian soldiers to remove the national flags from the temple, although they have inquired about who erected them.
Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon, the commander of the 2nd Army in charge of the eastern provinces bordering Cambodia and one of army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha's close friends, said the prime minister might have his own reasons for his displeasure over the Cambodian flags, but insisting that they be removed would meet opposition.
"Cambodia is not a 'child' that we can order to do whatever we want," Lt Gen Thawatchai said.
"Moreover, we just demanded that they [Cambodia soldiers] destroy the tablets, which they agreed to do."
Tensions along the eastern border have risen since the stone tablets at Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara were erected.
The Thai army has mobilised troops and heavy war weapons along the border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province, although it claims this was part of regular military training. The Cambodian military responded by mobilising troops, armoured vehicles and rocket launchers to reinforce its outposts.
The tension led to a visit to the disputed area last Friday by Hun Sen's 33-year-old son, Brig Gen Hun Manet, in a bid to map out battle strategies for the Cambodian military.
Gen Prawit is playing down the reinforcement of troops by the two countries.
"We [Thai soldiers] are ready to fight to protect our land, but don't worry: The relationship between the Thai and Cambodian military is still on good terms," he said.
10 comments:
I think they regret of their greedy demands. He can save up his face now but at what cost? Probably a few minutes of gun fight. Then simply it doesn't worth it to take the flag down.
It is a good lesson for this british man. He is not thai. He carried his british passport all the time.
not only that, cambodia is not thailand either! siem pad thugs cannot boss cambodia what to do via their dictation to siem pad thug controlled gov't!
Come on Thai let’s have a war. We know you, the yellow shirts, use Cambodia as a scapegoat to achieve your political goal. Heh many thanks, you might also give the Cambodian the opportunity for an uprising to topple Hun Sen, the barking CHIHUAHUA.
So let’s have a real war shall we, don’t just make noise. Besides a few thousand deaths on both sides, it will be a win, win situation for the yellow shirts and the oppressed Cambodian people who hate Hun Sen.
Hun Sen doesn't take demand that easy and if he is not going to do what Abhisit wants him to do , what will Abhisit do next ? Declare war with Cambodia ? Will those soldiers take order from Abhisit because he got pressure from the PAD ? I think Abhisit will lose face in this case because Cambodian government is not going to do what its been told by Abhisit.
One insult Cambodia and other calm Cambodia down, do not fall into the Thai trick, must firm with Thai and never compromise on sovereignty.
Bangkok will be burning if siam wants war.
In the past Pharmacist are great career but today Pharmacist profession is the same as Accountant Graduate. They are facing unemploy and the wage is keep going down hill at Australia as well as United State. Most Pharmacist are part time empoly only, No sick leave, no holiday pay, work as casual who say Pharmacists are rich is very wrong. Actually register nurse is even better than Pharmacist profession in term of wage and working condition. Please don't tell your kid to become pharmacist that is very bad idea.
Pharmacist in real working world is like a sell men or sell women. The boss push the pharmacist to increase sell or the Pharmacist has to terminate by the boss. Customers don't respect pharmacist at all, Pharmacist do everything in the small shop including cleaning, put stock away, invoicing, marketing for front shop, kiss ass customers everyday so hope they would come back.
Pharmacist hardly advice customer to use the medication properly because time is money.
Most pharmacist really on MIMS software to check interaction. Pharmacist read the MIMS from the computer before they advice customer. If the customers ask hard question Pharmacist refer to Doctor.
Please don't push your children to be Pharmacist. It is not that great profession because everyday Pharmacist meet sick,rude and crazy customers and the wage is going down hill nowaday.
I read many thai forums and news. Many thai disagree with the thai government and agree thai so let go there are not 4.6 area. Many thais believe it's all belong to Cambodia and thai should accept the verdict of 1902. Many thai knows they lost and it belong to Cambodia. Many thais also believe if the war broke up into a full conflict thai would lose no matter what modern equipment they have, because many believe thai soldier have no experience because many of them saw the thai soldier start running shit when they heard the gun shot during red demonstration.
Ah Dogs CPP how come I never heard your talking about Youn Vietcong border mother fuckers tell me why mother fucker why I only heard your talks only the Siamese border why tell me now mother fuckers.
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve a lot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder Cambodian K5, 1997 events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder Cambodians? Why? And Why?
If you are so good, why do above 90% Cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionaires and millionaires? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good why do you block KI from Cambodians?
If you are so good, why do you steal all Cambodian life such as well being, health, cut down Cambodians life expectancy as well? But you and your small group are eat well, sleep well, exercise well, have oversea doctors and best medical treatment from high class private doctors from oversea. Most Cambodians that have no money, your healthcare system left Cambodians patients to die in front of your hospital. Why? Why?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions Vietnamese are living permanently in Cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? And Why
Everywhere, I walk in Cambodia I see Vietnamese speak Vietnamese every where, why? Why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for eternity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his beloved Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent Cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying Cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
CPP are not just corrupted, CPP are extremely corrupt. They are even sell the country such as Kos Trol, Seas, lands, Cambodian people, Cambodian health and well being, all resources in the Cambodia…with lost count. You name it!
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent? The country is getting smaller and smaller and shame by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet and his families, his relatives and friends.
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