Op-Ed by Khmerization
11th April, 2011
Thailand has employed dirty and dishonest diplomacy for flip-flopping and reversing its agreement with the Asean and Indonesia, and to a certain extent with the UN Security Council, to allow the deployment of Indonesian observers in the “disputed border” near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear.
Thailand’s dishonest conduct and backflip has reinforced Cambodia’s stance and insistence for multilateral engagements rather than bilateral talks insisted by Thailand. If Thailand is not afraid to dishonour its agreements with the Asean and the UN, then Thailand will not be afraid to dishonour any agreements reached during future bilateral talks with Cambodia. Cambodia’s claim that Thailand is untrustworthy and cannot be trusted has been vindicated because of its repeated backflips over too many agreements with Cambodia as well as its agreements with the Asean and the UN over the Cambodia-Thai border dispute.
For the last three years since Thailand invaded the Preah Vihear surrounding areas in 2008, both sides had reached three major agreements during the many bilateral talks during the course of three years negotiations, which required Thailand to withdraw its troops from the “disputed area”. However, Thailand failed to implement those three agreements, using an excuse that they have to be ratified by the Thai parliament, which in turn has shelved it indefinitely. On 22nd February 2011, Thailand had agreed in front of 10 Asean foreign ministers to allow the deployment of Indonesian observers in the areas deemed “disputed”. Its latest turnaround is nothing short of dirty and dishonest. With these records of backflips, can Cambodia, or any other nations, trust Thailand enough to continue any bilateral dealings with Thailand?
Thailand has done all it can to stifle any attempts by Cambodia to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the conflict. It has blocked Cambodia from seeking international and regional diplomacy, as well as blocking Cambodia’s attempt to take the case to the International Court of Justice. If Thailand wanted a diplomatic and peaceful solution as it has consistently claimed, why then Thailand has done all it can to block any attempts to bring about these sorts of solution? If it claims that the “disputed land”, which is currently controlled by Cambodian troops, belong to Thailand, why then it is afraid of the International Court of Justice, why then it is scared of the Indonesian observers and the mediation from the United Nations?
Thailand has been dishonest with Cambodia all along during the course of bilateral talks in the last three years. While the Thai government was dealing with Cambodia on the diplomatic front, behind the scene it has used other Thai institutions to sabotage any agreements reached between the Cambodian and Thai governments. First, it used the Thai parliament to dishonestly block the implementation of any agreements with Cambodia by not ratifying those agreements. It has used the Thai army on the war fronts, with all sorts of military intimidation, while its government was dealing with Cambodia on the negotiating tables. Now, the Thai government is saying one thing while the Thai Army is saying another thing. First, the Thai government said it would allow the Indonesian observers into the territory it controlled, but now backed down because of the opposition from the Thai Army. Not only Cambodia, but any other nations around the world, will not be able to deal with any nation that is so cunning and as dishonest as Thailand. And for this reason, Cambodia must not fall into Thai trap, but must make great efforts to engage the international community, as well as international diplomacy and international legal channel such as taking the case to the UN and the international court of justice.
11th April, 2011
Thailand has employed dirty and dishonest diplomacy for flip-flopping and reversing its agreement with the Asean and Indonesia, and to a certain extent with the UN Security Council, to allow the deployment of Indonesian observers in the “disputed border” near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear.
Thailand’s dishonest conduct and backflip has reinforced Cambodia’s stance and insistence for multilateral engagements rather than bilateral talks insisted by Thailand. If Thailand is not afraid to dishonour its agreements with the Asean and the UN, then Thailand will not be afraid to dishonour any agreements reached during future bilateral talks with Cambodia. Cambodia’s claim that Thailand is untrustworthy and cannot be trusted has been vindicated because of its repeated backflips over too many agreements with Cambodia as well as its agreements with the Asean and the UN over the Cambodia-Thai border dispute.
For the last three years since Thailand invaded the Preah Vihear surrounding areas in 2008, both sides had reached three major agreements during the many bilateral talks during the course of three years negotiations, which required Thailand to withdraw its troops from the “disputed area”. However, Thailand failed to implement those three agreements, using an excuse that they have to be ratified by the Thai parliament, which in turn has shelved it indefinitely. On 22nd February 2011, Thailand had agreed in front of 10 Asean foreign ministers to allow the deployment of Indonesian observers in the areas deemed “disputed”. Its latest turnaround is nothing short of dirty and dishonest. With these records of backflips, can Cambodia, or any other nations, trust Thailand enough to continue any bilateral dealings with Thailand?
Thailand has done all it can to stifle any attempts by Cambodia to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the conflict. It has blocked Cambodia from seeking international and regional diplomacy, as well as blocking Cambodia’s attempt to take the case to the International Court of Justice. If Thailand wanted a diplomatic and peaceful solution as it has consistently claimed, why then Thailand has done all it can to block any attempts to bring about these sorts of solution? If it claims that the “disputed land”, which is currently controlled by Cambodian troops, belong to Thailand, why then it is afraid of the International Court of Justice, why then it is scared of the Indonesian observers and the mediation from the United Nations?
Thailand has been dishonest with Cambodia all along during the course of bilateral talks in the last three years. While the Thai government was dealing with Cambodia on the diplomatic front, behind the scene it has used other Thai institutions to sabotage any agreements reached between the Cambodian and Thai governments. First, it used the Thai parliament to dishonestly block the implementation of any agreements with Cambodia by not ratifying those agreements. It has used the Thai army on the war fronts, with all sorts of military intimidation, while its government was dealing with Cambodia on the negotiating tables. Now, the Thai government is saying one thing while the Thai Army is saying another thing. First, the Thai government said it would allow the Indonesian observers into the territory it controlled, but now backed down because of the opposition from the Thai Army. Not only Cambodia, but any other nations around the world, will not be able to deal with any nation that is so cunning and as dishonest as Thailand. And for this reason, Cambodia must not fall into Thai trap, but must make great efforts to engage the international community, as well as international diplomacy and international legal channel such as taking the case to the UN and the international court of justice.
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