Bangkok Post
EDITORIAL
The seldom invigorating diplomacy between Bangkok and Phnom Penh has hit another low point. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong spoke to reporters in Jakarta on the weekend, reminding them that pretty well every negative development is all Thailand's fault.
In addition, he can't trust Thailand, because he finds them difficult to deal with. All this and much more came hours before meetings with Thailand and other Asean members. The Cambodian minister declared all efforts to raise the diplomatic conversation to be a failure, even before they took place.
This was hardly the first time a senior member of the Cambodian or Thai governments has misspoken about bilateral relations. It was a timely reminder of the dreary exchanges between the two governments, and their attempts to use the media to carry their messages.
Hor Namhong's undiplomatic words also indicated that Cambodia is not all that serious about its attempts to internationalise the border disputes with Thailand.
Far from using the UN or Asean to get support or advice, Hor Namhong and his aides seem more intent on embarrassing or humiliating Thailand.
This is in keeping with statements in the recent past by Prime Minister Hun Sen. By actions as well as words, Hun Sen has made two things clear.
The first is that he dislikes Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. More importantly, the second point he has repeated several times, is that he sees no chance of a deal on the dispute while the Democrat Party-led government is in power. His entirely unnecessary and unappreciated needling of the Thai government even included ''employing'' ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser, and welcoming him to Cambodia. All this is dangerously close to direct interference in Thailand's internal politics.
Relations are prickly on both sides, of course. Mr Abhisit has worked hard and successfully to stay aloof from the nasty interchanges. But Mr Kasit - ''the minister from the People's Alliance for Democracy'' when he was appointed - has a personal animosity toward Hun Sen well viewed on YouTube .
Mr Kasit has recently been the very model of a professional diplomat, but his anti-Cambodia speeches as a PAD activist may have made it impossible for the Cambodians to deal with him in good faith.
And good faith lies at the root of the border dispute. Thais and Cambodians have died recently in what is essentially a petty problem which could be solved with a combination of goodwill and legitimate dealing.
The diplomats, the politicians and the rallies in the streets all have had their say about this distressing, lingering situation. But the men and women who can make a lasting peace in the region around Preah Vihear temple have resorted instead to cheap shots, political tricks and unwelcome use of the UN and Asean.
The Thai generals, undiplomatic to a fault, are right that the border dispute is a bilateral problem. Their critics are correct that if everyone is sticking to their own side of the border, what harm can come by allowing observers into the area? But there is no reason to bring in third parties and formalise a system of foreign presence at the Thai-Cambodian border. International friends can of course suggest solutions, and offer their good offices to bring Thai and Cambodian authorities together.
The border dispute needs a new look. Hor Namhong's crude remarks in Jakarta reduce a serious, even deadly, problem to a few sound bites that are neither truly serious nor very helpful. Petty politics moves the issue further from a solution.
7 comments:
These reporters always contradict there statements, "Thais and Cambodians have died recently in what is essentially a petty problem which could be solved with a combination of goodwill and legitimate dealing". Ok, if it's so petty then why dont Thailand pull their troops out of Preah Vihear and leave us alone. Whatever these reporters say are mostly hypocritical where they say Cambodia did this but then again it's Thailand who started it. Like i said before these reporters and editors from the Bangkok Post are very biased and they only talk good about Thai and never about Cambodia. Dont they ever say to themselves "hey maybe we are a biased group of reporters and we need to stop doing it for once and start reporting what is true based on facts not on a personal opinion. I swear to Lok Preah I hope they all die slow in their sleep!! Everything that comes from the Bangkok Post is always negative opinion about Cambodia. Who screens these damn editorials and why do they release them to the public? That's why the Thai people has so much hatred against Cambodia because of all these biased and untrue opiniated reporting by these ignorant Thais.
Poor Cambodia talked with dog Siem who no feeling to solve the problem. Khmer should be known results before talk. we want peace we have to show the world that we need peace dont want make dispute with other countries. But we need to protect our own people and our land as well. we must not allow dog siem invaded khmer anymore. Now we live in international community and ASEAN. I think we dont need to talk with dog siem anymore if they dont change or willing to solve problem. our relationship with becoming lowest point after army becoming rule this country and pick a spoil child become PM and FM idiot diplomacy. It is so pity on good Thai leader who want peace and develop relationship and economy. We wait for Thai new govt whether or not reform stance toward relationship with Cambodia. Now I dont think the talk will be progressed, so we dont need spend useless time with siem. wait and see when they change attitude and want to be good partner with Cambodia. So far Thai govt talked about development all sectors in Cambodia. Other things Cambodia should think pressure through economy with Siem. Recently, we are unbalance trade with Siem. Therefore, Cambodia need to rethink the balance trade dont make huge gap between import and export. Absolute advantage is rice reprocessing export for Cambodia to boost economy and poverty. we reform trade agreement with Siem dont go beyond agreement and transparency trade partner. Political issue is regarded one issue that is not relate to trade but we need clear views what to do with Siem. I dont think Siem will use large-scale war with Cambodia because we have UN and Asean but we need to prove that Siem cannot invade Khmer easily like our history. we need to train and modernize military to protect our people and land in particular air defense and air surface missile to welcome all aircraft and submarine. I think it is not easy for us to develop because we are poor country but unfortunately we live with Dog Siem and now siem will develop air defense and all military modern weapons. However, we cannot allow siem to offend our air.
Bangcock Post can not be trusted. Most of the articles they have written concerning Thai & Cambodia border issues were one sided, often favors the Thai side heavily and unfairly critisize the Cambodian side. This is a good example of bad jurnalism.
KAMPUCHEA KROM AT A GLANCE
Kampuchea Krom is composed of 68,965 square kilometers, 21 provinces and municipalities, two large islands - Koh Tral and Koh Tralach, 171 districts, 1,368 communes, 14,778 villages, more than 13 million Khmers, more than 567 Buddhist pagodas and more than 20,000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
99% of populations are Theravada Buddhists.
The Khmer kings, governments, regimes and citizens have never relinquish (give up) this part of their country to foreigners.
Kampuchea Krom has been under an ongoing colonial control since her division from motherland, Cambodia.
June 4, 1949 is the date that the Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens grieve. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have organized Buddhist Service annually to honor the fallen Khmer Buddhist monks and heroes, who sacrificed their lives for Kampuchea Krom and Theravada Buddhism.
Colonial France divided, ceded and transferred Kampuchea Krom to colonial Vietnam on this date. The freedom of Khmer Kampuchea Krom has been mostly stripped by the Vietnamese ruling regimes and governments since. The French colonial administration committed injustice upon the more than 13 million Khmers of this beautiful fertile land.
Justice remains elusive for Cambodia, Kampuchea Krom and her citizens.
And...The struggle to regain freedom and human rights by the Khmers in Kampuchea Krom continues as long as injustice commits by the ruling Vietnamese regime(s) has not produced a fruitful result.
Koh Tral (Tral Island)
in Vietnamese - Phu Quoc island
circa 1939 Vietnamese encroached and conquered
Koh Tral Island has an area of 567 square kilometers; about 62 kilometers long and between 3 kilometers and 28 kilometers wide. The island physically is located closest to Cambodia's Kep seaside city. Visitors can see Koh Tral Island from the coastline of Kep. It is about a 30-minute motorized boat ride.
By Smart Khmer Girl, Ms. Rattana Keo
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 10,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 10,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 10,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 10,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
I don't know who you are Ms. Rattana Keo but I really appreciate your patriotism to Khmers. In Cambodia under Hun Sen regime, Khmer kids don't know anything about Koh Tral and Real Khmer History because CPP fully cooperates with Viet to brain washes Khmer kids after 1979 until present’s day.
The teachers at Cambodia can’t tell Khmer kids the true about their true history because they are being blackmail by the Hun Sen government. (“You want to be missing” that is the phrase CPP Viet spies’ tactic using every day at Cambodia school)
I would like Ki media educate Khmer people more about their own true history because majority of Khmer kids educated from 1979 till present day are big missing link to Cambodia real history.
We Khmers around the world must not accept the way CPP government brain wash Khmer kids today.
Maxx Blonde Low Carb,
This Editor's article is so ridiculous. This show how Thai in general are Fu&k up, twisted mind, mentally distorted. A sign of begining of the end of Thailand, I do hope so!How is the King doing? What will happen after the king is gone? I do hope Thai will disappear from the planet earth. I do not care where they go, just be gone!
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