WIKILEAKS CABLE
As the spat between Thailand and Cambodia reaches a stalemate, Alan Dawson looks behind the scenes
18/07/2011
Bangkok Post
US embassies around the region are closely following the Thailand-Cambodia confrontation, and believe Prime Minister Hun Sen touched off the conflict when he saw political gain in the waning days of the pro-Thaksin governments in late 2008.
Confidential US diplomatic cables flying between Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Jakarta and Washington, dated from 2008 to 2010, provide no evidence for the popular view that Hun Sen was goading Thailand to help the political fortunes of his friend, ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The fresh views of the conflict from the US State Department come as the International Court of Justice ruled Monday on Cambodia's demand for an order forcing Thailand to withdraw all troops from the disputed territory around Preah Vihear temple. The court directed both countries to withdraw their troops from the disputed area.
Some 75 US diplomatic cables provided to the Bangkok Post by Wikileaks report that Phnom Penh put increasing military pressure and threats on Thailand as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrated against the Cambodian policies of the Thaksin-backed governments in 2008.
The US urged Thailand and Cambodia to solve the disagreement through bilateral talks, and feared United Nations interference would make the situation worse.
Diplomats describe the Thai reaction to a key meeting on Oct 13, 2008 when Hun Sen issued his first startling demand to then-foreign minister Sompong Amornvivat, that Thailand must withdraw all troops around the temple "if not tonight, then tomorrow".
"Thai Foreign Minister [Sompong Amornvivat] and Permanent Secretary [Virasakdi Futrakul] came away from the visit to Phnom Penh alarmed," reported the US charge d'affaires James Entwistle in a cable referenced 08BANGKOK3082 and dated October 14, 2008.
The Thai troops at issue were a 60-man unit trying to remove mines placed by Cambodian forces inside the disputed region around the temple.
"Sompong told [Mr Entwistle on] October 14 that Hun Sen had been blunt and taken a threatening approach during the October 13 meeting," the cable said. "Hun Sen had opened the meeting by telling Sompong that 'You are not going to like what I am going to tell you,' and then gave the ultimatum."
More than six dozen secret cables from Wikileaks detail the generally dismal and at times alarming relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh following that meeting.
After the Democrats took over government in December 2008, relations overall deteriorated further.
US diplomats in Bangkok and Phnom Penh reported no connection between the fate of fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the ratcheting up of the conflict by Hun Sen. There is no indication in the cables that Thaksin's relations with the Cambodian leader led to the use of military force at the disputed border temple areas.
They note on the contrary that the first notable military action, in May, 2005, took place while "Thaksin and Hun Sen were amiably having dinner together in Bangkok at a welcoming event for the Miss Universe contestants", according to a cable referenced 05BANGKOK3333.
According to US analysts, Hun Sen seldom referred to Thaksin, but seemed to be motivated by hostile demonstrations and statements by leading Democrats and the PAD.
The low point in relations came in late 2009, when Hun Sen attacked Thailand during a visit to an Asean meeting, and invited Thaksin to visit Cambodia as an "economic adviser".
One urgent and classified cable, referenced 09BANGKOK2849 and dated Nov 6, 2009 described a meeting between Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Scot Marciel. One subject line summarises the 1,700-word report: "FM Kasit to DAS Marciel: Can you help with Hun Sen?"
Mr Marciel told Mr Kasit that the US "did not view Hun Sen's comments and naming of Thaksin [as an adviser] as aimed at improving relations" but that Washington wanted to be on good terms with both countries. He "hoped for a peaceful, bilateral resolution to the issue," the cable said.
Then-US ambassador Eric John — or a political officer — added that Thaksin and supporters may have engineered the Hun Sen invitation to visit Cambodia as a way to put pressure on Prime Minister Abhisit and the Democrat government.
"If that is indeed the case, the gambit seems to have backfired," the embassy told regional colleagues and Washington. Commentators and anti-government figures alike "have closed ranks in recent days in support of the government".
Mr Kasit told US officials Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin on Nov 4 represented an "intervention in Thai domestic politics". He added that on Oct 24 on the sidelines of the Asean Summit, then-deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban had tried to impress upon Hun Sen the "gravity of inviting Thaksin to Cambodia as an adviser".
"Since the direct, private Thai appeal to Hun Sen to de-escalate the rhetoric and avoid unhelpful actions had failed, Kasit asked the [US government] to assist by suggesting to Hun Sen to 'stop this mad game'," the cable said.
Mr Kasit also offered the opinion that key to Hun Sen's thought process was that the return of Thaksin loyalists to government would allow him to benefit from "transactional diplomacy", including an end to the deadlock around the Preah Vihear temple and claims in the Gulf of Thailand.
"Mr Kasit suggested Hun Sen's frustration was based on falsely held beliefs that Preah Vihear could be developed into a tourist destination such as Disneyland and that the Democrat-led Thai government would not come to an agreement with Hun Sen over the territorial disputes," the cable said.
1 comment:
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 30,000 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 30,000km2 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 30,000 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 30,000 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, President Ms. Rattana Keo,
Post a Comment