A lesson on diplomacy among neighbours

Sunday May 15, 2011
Comemnt by MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR
The Star Online (Malaysia)

ACCORDING to a recent Bangkok Post report, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva blamed Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem for not understanding the border spat with Cambodia.

“The Malaysian deputy foreign minister may not have understood the border situation because there was a tripartite meeting between the Thai, Cambodian and Indonesian foreign ministers last night (May 9) and the issue was settled,” the Post quoted Abhisit as saying.

For the uninitiated, Abhisit was talking about negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia with Indonesia as the mediator to resolve a border conflict that has resulted in 18 deaths so far. In February, both countries agreed to a ceasefire.

Clashes had occurred over the ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The Preah Vihear temple, which was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008, belongs to Cambodia.

Last weekend, Asean leaders including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came out in full support for the dispute to be resolved amicably after their summit nearly got “hijacked” when Cambodian leader Hun Sen verbally attacked Thailand.

Based on what Richard was quoted as saying by the media on the border dispute, Abhisit’s response that Malaysia did not understand the conflict is a natural one.

It all started in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. When opening a symposium on the Dynamics of Youth and Terrorism, Richard said he was taken aback that an agreement signed by all Asean members in February, of which he was a signatory, was not adhered to by Thailand.

News agencies Bernama and AFP quoted him in their stories. Thai newspapers including the Bangkok Post then obtained the reaction of their Prime Minister.

More than 24 hours after the wire reports emerged, Richard called for a press conference at Wisma Putra to clarify a “miscommunication” at the symposium.

It is unprecedented for a deputy minister to call for a press conference at 8.30pm in Putrajaya.

Why so late in the day? Why not just issue a written statement to clarify the matter?

Sadly, it ended up as a meek clarification at best by Richard that evening – cautious but not diplomatic enough. It is easy to blame the media.

Richard said that his remarks were misinterpreted by journalists who interviewed him.

“I was asked twice whether I blamed Thailand and I replied ‘No’. So I don’t know how it was published in the papers that I blamed Thailand,” he told reporters.

Those who attended the press conference really wanted an end to the issue.

In fact, the Malaysian embassy in Bang-kok had already met up with the Thai Foreign Ministry’s director-general for East Asia, and Bangkok had accepted Kuala- Lumpur’s explanation.

Richard had also said at Tuesday’s press conference that it was the Government’s practice not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, especially Asean members.

Spot on. That was what Najib had all along tried to explain to the Malaysian media who accompanied him to Jakarta for the Asean summit – that this matter should be resolved in the Asean spirit.

According to a veteran diplomat, there are a few basic rules of conduct in diplomacy:

• Diplomacy is always about making friends; never say anything that is unfriendly.
• Diplomacy is about being even-handed at all times; never take sides at anytime.
• Diplomacy is about contributing towards peace; forever hold your piece if you do not have anything constructive to contribute.
• Diplomacy is about being tactful on every occasion; never be indiscreet.
• Diplomacy is about being cautious every time; never try to be clever anytime.