Veera Prateepchaikul
Bangkok Post
The disclosure by the Cluster Munitions Coalition that the Thai army used cluster munitions in recent border clashes with Cambodian forces may further dampen the strained relations between the two countries. Surprisingly, one Thai company has managed to weather all the political and military conflicts and perform remarkably well.
The Thai army top brass may have to cover their heads with buckets to hide their embarrassment – if they actually are embarrassed – after it was confirmed by an international non-governmental body that Thai artillery fired cluster shells into Cambodia during the border clashes in February.
The Cluster Munitions Coalition claimed Thailand had confirmed its findings to CMC officials at a meeting on Tuesday, acknowledging the first known use of such munitions since the ban came into force last August. The Thai army had constantly denied using cluster munitions.
Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but each of them is party to a 1997 landmine ban treaty. The convention bans production, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions - which disperse bomblets from the air over a wide area.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn argued last night that the shells used by the Thai army against Cambodian forces were not the same as the cluster munitions mentioned by the CMC. He did confirm that the Thai army used "dual-purpose improved conventional munitions". He said these are artillery shells designed to be used against missiles and said they are not considered to be cluster munitions.
Mr Panitan’s argument will ring hollow, as does the Thai army’s steadfast denial of using cluster shells. The CMC’s findings seem more credible, more convincing.
The international community's reaction will be interesting to note.
And the best defence now for the Thai government or the Thai Foreign Ministry is not to put up another strong denial, but to admit the truth and try to control the damage to our reputation.
Why cluster munitions? My guess is that the Thai army wanted to avoid using high-explosive munitions against Cambodian forces hiding in and near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn as Thais call it, for fear of causing extensive damage to the temple. It opted instead to use cluster munitions to target Cambodian troops rather than the temple itself.
Regretably, it was a wrong decision because of the worldwide convention against the use of cluster munitions.
The CDC’s findings are likely to further dampen the relations between Thailand and Cambodia, already badly strained by the post-clash conflict over other issues - the Thai army’s refusal to attend the General Border Committee meeting in Indonesia, the minutes of the Joint Boundary Committee meeting over the disputed area which are yet to be endorsed by the Thai parliament, and Cambodia’s refusal to withdraw troops from the disputed area.
While there are grim prospects that the relations between the two governments will be improved in the near future, business sedctor relations between the two countries are a different matter - and especially in the case of the Thai Nakorn Patana group of companies.
The group, which has been investing in hoteling and pharmaceutical indusrires for more than 20 years, last week officially opened its new five-star hotel in Phnom Penh. The 201-room Sofitel Phnom Penh Pokitara was built at a cost of about four billion baht on 50-rai of land beside the Basak river - land leased from the Cambodian government.
It replaces the 40-room hotel burned down during the Cambodian anti-Thai riots in 2003.
Vice president of the group, Supachai Veerapuchong, said the Cambodian government did not have the money to compensate the company for the destruction. Instead, the Cambodians offered to extend the land lease to 70 years.
The grand opening ceremony of the hotel was presided over by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh and attended by VIPs in business and political circles from Thailand and Cambodia.
Commenting on his company’s investment in Cambodia, Mr Supachai offered a thought-provoking remark.
“I do business, which is not complicated. I show sincerity towards the country where I have invested my money," he said.
"Thailand is a big country in the region and should behave properly as such, then the good things will go back to the country and its people.”
He said that the border conflict had hurt Thai product sales in Cambodian, which saw a drop of 40-50 per cent. These goods were replaced with goods from Vietnam.
“If we cannot separate military and political issues from trade, then everything will be messy,” he added.
With this sort of attitude, it is no wonder that the Thai Nakorn Patana group has been successful in Cambodia, despite the colntinual on-and-off conflicts and bickering between the two governments.
2 comments:
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,
Khmer Surin must not be forgotten
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