Bangkok Post
EDITORIAL
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government must reconsider their strategy to settle the conflict with Cambodia in order to restore peace at the border without hesitation. Yet the government and the army yesterday reiterated that the conflict must be solved bilaterally. The border dispute - and the clashes over the past four days - could indeed be resolved if both parties showed restraint and agreed on a long-term solution. But their efforts to date, sadly, have not worked.
If the tension continues, our troops must defend our borders. Of that there is no question. But we may find ourselves further on the defensive diplomatically and internationally - and it is in this area that we need to seriously review our position.
For too long we have been less than enthusiastic in engaging international agencies over the border dispute by sticking to the belief that it can be solved bilaterally. Yet diplomatically, we have been on the defensive. Conversely, Cambodia has pushed hard diplomatically while we stick to our position. Phnom Penh tried to involve the United Nations or internationalise the issue long before Prime Minister Hun Sen sent a letter to Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, the chair of the United Nations Security Council, calling for an end to the "grave aggressions by Thailand". By calling for the deployment of UN peace-keepers, the Cambodian leader is pushing the perception that his country is being bullied.
Cambodia's recourse to international law is its best defence. We have to admit that it is very difficult to undo the World Court decision of 1962 and decisions by Unesco. Thus the more the conflict is prolonged, the more reason there will be for external parties to want to become involved - at least as far as international sentiment and pressure is concerned. Thailand's position, then, will look rather weak and flimsy. And when the pressure builds, it will not be able to claim and defend that position behind "bilateral mechanisms" for too long. This country will look the belligerent party by avoiding mediation from outside.
We now have explained our position to the UN as Cambodia has done. But in reality, key members of the UNSC are unlikely to become involved, especially in respect of a UN peacekeeping force - China and the United States will choose to remain neutral. Still, we will continue to be saddled with the international perception that the border tension has been caused in part by our own internal political problems stemming from the actions and rallies by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the Thai Patriots Network.
In light of this, Thailand missed a golden opportunity to gain some diplomatic leverage when Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan suggested Asean be invited to play a role in resolving the dispute. It is unfortunate Mr Abhisit was too quick to brush aside Asean's involvement and the advice from Indonesia, the grouping's chair this year. Cambodia, on the other hand, will no doubt welcome a visit by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
The prime minister has reinforced the fact that Thailand is lukewarm about an Asean role. In reality, he should have welcomed the move as it would dispel doubts that Thailand is being dogmatically self-righteous in its conduct at the border.
Asean's regional diplomacy is expected by the international community. Indonesia, meanwhile, has its own diplomatic weight and recognition. Thailand, as a founding member of Asean, has a wider interest in promoting Asean's viability in regional affairs. A firm and warm welcome by Mr Abhisit to this Asean initiative would be a good start towards a new diplomatic direction.
6 comments:
Abishit vegie don't u touch an inch of my country or else I will fuck even you mother's ass. I hate your arogant bullying behaviour etc.
Hun Sen is a PM with numerous college degrees and many stars on his shoulders; he should know a long time ago that the bilateral talks would not work. His choice of not seeking the UN help was beyond the majority of ordinary Cambodian comprehension. That is why you see on left side of this blog he has been branded as “TRAITOR” in many languages, and the truth hurts him very bad. Because of all the miseries that he has given to the nation, this mother fucker should not be born as Khmer, let alone being a PM.
You will see many Cambodian dancing on the streets when he will be toppled.
Cambodia has been long involved by various international agencies to solve her affairs whereas Thailand has never been at war and always think they can deal within locally.
the agreements were not to trespass or fire. Did Thai soldiers honor the NOT TRESPASSING? If not, firing can not be avoided. Thai leaders should stop lying the public.
Simple question: will you shoot the armed robbers when they enter your house?
If Thais did NOT cross the agreed cross-line, no one would fire on them.
it has not work due many reason, first off, they kept using their own unilateral map to steal from cambodia. secondly, they disrespect and disregard the international treaty of 1907. thirdly, they show contempt of court by violating the icj verdict of 1962 and so on and so forth. that's siem's childish game, in case the world did not know yet, really!
The Siem leaders always play the blame game and they blame on Cambodia, they blame on the World Court, and they blame on UNESCO but they never blame themselves for being a fucken thief for trying to steal other country property! The root cause of the conflict is the Siem leaders choose to be a fucken thief and they choose to violating international law and their use of illegal military force on Cambodia as if Cambodian people owed these Siem thieves something from the past life!
To solve the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict once for all and the Siem leaders must choose not to be a fucken thief!
Post a Comment