Yellow [PAD Thai] mob fails to ignite nationalist fervour

6/11/2010
By Kamol Hengkietisak
Bangkok Post

It is quite interesting that the People's Alliance for Democracy is trying to use the Preah Vihear temple issue to mobilise its supporters to demonstrate against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration for daring to prosecute PAD leaders, noted a Post Today writer.

What has happened between the Democrat Party and the PAD? They were allies when the party was in opposition during the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat administrations. Some Democrat MPs even attended the PAD's marathon rally and spoke on stage.

Time has passed since the good old days for PAD. The Democrat Party now leads the five-party coalition government and after being accused by the red shirts of practising double standards by re fusing to prosecute the yellow shirts, the government has begun to speed up the cases by appointing assistant police chief Somyot Phumphanmuang to supervise charges over the yellow shirts' seizure of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports during the Somchai administration.

The assistant police chief has done his job well, so well in fact the Criminal Court has issued warrants for the arrest of several PAD leaders. For this reason, the PAD leaders called on Mr Abhisit to transfer Pol Lt Gen Somyot from the case, alleging they were not receiving justice, but Mr Abhisit refused to listen. This vexed the PAD leaders, especially Sondhi Limthongkul who threatened to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Pol Lt Gen Somyot's conduct.

Mr Sondhi also issued a threat that the 79 indicted PAD leaders who participated in the airport seizures would individually sue Pol Lt Gen Somyot even if he retires in a few years.

The threat was issued despite the fact that all indicted leaders were granted bail without having to spend a single night in jail, unlike most of the red shirt leaders. Yet the PAD leaders were still miffed because they believed that without their actions in seizing the two airports leading to the dissolution of the PPP, Mr Abhisit would not have been elected PM by the House of Representatives. They accused Mr Abhisit and the Democrat Party of being ungrateful.

The last straw was when the government, especially Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, refused to see eye to eye with the PAD leaders about the issue of the Joint Border Commission memorandum talks with Cambodia. Mr Kasit, a former loyal supporter of the PAD, even declared he would sever his ties with the yellow shirts over the Preah Vihear temple and the JBC issues.

The PAD then called on its faithful to gather at the parliament on Tuesday, the day parliament was to consider whether to endorse the JBC meetings with Cambodia on the border issue. The Post Today writer noted that very few PAD supporters turned up on that day and most came from the provinces, not Bangkok which used to be the bastion of the yellow shirts.

Even though some PAD leaders made the excuse that few turned up because some supporters were prevented by the floods, the Post Today writer refused to believe this argument, noting that if the Preah Vihear issue was of such crucial importance to the Thai people, the PAD leaders could easily persuade Bangkokians to surround the parliament in great numbers, as was the case during the Somchai administration. There was no need to recruit PAD supporters from the provinces.

So it means the PAD had a problem convincing Bangkokians to join the rally. It failed miserably to ignite nationalist fervour using the Preah Vihear temple as a pretext to rally its supporters.

Not only did the PAD fail to ignite nationalist fervour, the Post Today writer did not think too kindly of the strategy of the PAD to mobilise their faithful to drive out the government when the country was facing a flood crisis in every region. Furthermore, some critics even pointed out that the PAD had a hidden motive in using the rally as a bargaining chip, especially over the airport seizure cases which are close to being prosecuted in the Criminal Court.

However, the PAD's move was not without a result. At least the government agreed to take a step back by appointing a joint committee to consider the JBC talks within 30 days instead of rushing the issue through for approval as earlier declared.

Yet, the government's concession to the PAD could not be interpreted as a PAD victory as long as the PAD continues to play the nationalist card because few Thais care about this issue very much, concluded Post Today.

Floundering on Cambodian relations [by Thailand]

Thu, Sep 30, 2010
The Nation/Asia News Network

The government seems to have run out of ideas for restoring ties with Cambodia, because once again the Foreign Ministry has rolled out old stuff re-packaged as a so-called "new plan".

The first meeting between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen after months of diplomatic rows produced nothing useful either.

The latest plan announced a few days ago encourages local civilian and military authorities as well as central government agencies to come up with activities that will boost ties with Cambodia.

The activities such as cultural events, sports competitions, media and academic exchanges and economic assistance is really old wine in new bottle and does not address the actual reason for the breakdown of relations.

Frankly speaking, the poor relations between Thailand and Cambodia over the past years mostly was caused by the government and its political supporters.

Ordinary citizens living on either side of the border, local authorities and even the military have had no problems over the past few months. Relations at this end are normal, even though the two governments are at loggerheads.

The only two issues making relations with Cambodia sour are former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the controversial Hindu Khmer temple of Preah Vihear.

Thaksin's relationship with the Cambodian government seems to be a problem for Abhisit's government, not the country. The government was angered when the former PM was made economic adviser to the Cambodian government and Hun Sen last year. Abhisit used all his means, including the downgrading of diplomatic ties, to force Thaksin to step down.

Thaksin eventually relented and resigned as adviser to Cambodia in August. Then Abhisit agreed to reinstate the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh and Hun Sen reciprocated.

However, the problem with the Preah Vihear Temple is a bit more complicated because Abhisit's government has been addressing the issue in quite the wrong way. With pressure from nationalist groups, the government mixed up the World Heritage Site inscription of Preah Vihear with boundary disputes in the area adjacent to the temple.

The government has used resources and great effort in opposing the inscription of Preah Vihear on grounds that it feared losing sovereignty over the surrounding areas.

Although there is no real implication, Phnom Penh is clearly dissatisfied with Thailand's moves to delay the World Heritage Committee's consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan.

Abhisit wants the dispute over the 4.6 square kilometres surrounding the temple to be settled before accepting a management deal for the site.

One of most effective ways to settle the boundary dispute, at least for now, would be to allow the joint boundary committee (JBC) to do its job of demarcation. The committee is merely waiting for a Parliament approval of its minutes from three previous meetings.

The last meeting was in April 2009, but the minutes of this meeting were not proposed to the Parliament. There should be no problems in making the proposal, but the government does not dare put it forward for fear of pressure from nationalist groups.

The group under the umbrella of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which helped install this government, demanded that the authorities scrap the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2000 on the boundary demarcation with Cambodia.

The MoU, a basic legal instrument for the JBC, signed when Democrat Chuan Leekpai was in power, recognised the French-made map that showed the Hindu temple as situated on Cambodian territory.

What the government will possibly do now is use delaying tactics to keep JBC's minutes from being read in Parliament. It could hold a series of public hearings on the document after sitting on it for a year and a half.

Obviously, this tactic will do nothing for the bilateral relations, when the government should really let the JBC to resume its job quickly.

A new plan is unnecessary.

If a Cambodian would travel around Cambodia to raise awareness of the Preah Vihear dispute, would Hun Xen allow it?

It's a long road to save Preah Vihear

15/09/2010
Chinnawat Singha
Bangkok Post

A Phetchabun man has launched a nation-wide odyssey in his ageing motor-tricycle to raise people's awareness about the Preah Vihear temple dispute.

Nattapon Thongwan, 48, arrived at Phitsanulok provincial hall yesterday to a warm welcome from the governor and a group of supporters.

He started his journey in Phayao and so far has passed through Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit and Sukhothai before reaching Phitsanulok.

Mr Nattapon said he wanted all Thais to unite and reclaim possession of Preah Vihear from Cambodia because the government had not done its job properly.

"I could not remain silent over the issue, so I initiated this campaign to give information about the [Preah Vihear] sanctuary and raise public awareness," Mr Nattapon said.

Surly neighbours should be ready to mend the fence

August 27, 2010
The Nation
EDITORIAL

Thailand and Cambodia can restore ties knowing they are Asean members and can share economic benefits

One would not think that fence mending between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen was possible considering the viciousness behind the Cambodian leader's attack on Abhisit last October.

Nevertheless, here we are at a possible reconciliation, and it should be welcomed. It's kiss and make up time for both sides. One may end up wondering what all the fuss was about in the first place.

Perhaps bygones don't matter anymore, now that the two countries have decided to move on from microphone diplomacy and restore bilateral ties at the highest level. The respective ambassadors have been reinstated. Essentially, this means that diplomacy is back on track.

Another positive development has been the release of three Thai villagers who were detained by Cambodian soldiers when they strayed across the border. They were simply foraging for forest products to make ends meet. Nevertheless, one wonders if the three would be released if the political atmosphere were not on the upswing.

The move towards diplomatic normalisation comes with the announcement that fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is no longer working as an "economic adviser" to Cambodia. It was generally realised on both sides of the border that the position was a way of antagonising Thailand rather than assisting Cambodia and its economy in any meaningful way.

The ousted Thai leader, wanted on charges of corruption, likes to represent himself as a champion of the poor, and his appointment in Cambodia was supposed to be a testimony to that status. But the nature of his entry into this cross-border quarrel, as well as his departure, suggests that Thaksin was just a political pawn. But still, he was willing to play a part in the hypocrisy as it showed Thailand that he maintains powerful friendships.

The advisory appointment of Thaksin was simply Hun Sen's way of getting back at Abhisit for obstructing Cambodia's bid to put the 12th century Preah Vihear temple on the Unesco's World Heritage list, and holding the Hindu-Khmer ruins hostage to border demarcation. While in opposition, Abhisit had charged that the then government of Samak Sundaravej had violated the Constitution by endorsing Cambodia's bid to propose the temple for World Heritage status. The border map submitted to Unesco by Cambodia could help strengthen Cambodia's claim to disputed, overlapping territories, he argued. Since then, bilateral ties have been frosty to say the least.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for Hun Sen to realise that Thaksin had outlived his usefulness and that the only way forward was to accept the fugitive's resignation and get bilateral ties back on track. Thaksin should now realise that his departure from the Thai-Cambodia equation benefits the two countries.

A number of issues had to be placed on the backburner as the two sides carried on a lengthy spitting contest that essentially served no purpose. But beside the border demarcation, the two countries still have overlapping territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand that need to be addressed. Potential investment benefits from natural gas and oil deposits await the two countries in the Gulf, but neither side will be able to move on this until the land issue is resolved.

We hope that the economic incentives will be enough to motivate the two sides to get back to the negotiating table. But we shouldn't hold our breath. Although the political situation in Thailand is improving, there exists a group of ultra-nationalists who are prepared to cause more violence if they detect one move from the government they don't like.

Moving bilateral relations forward should now be somewhat easier, at least with Thaksin out of the immediate equation. However, both sides will have to display maturity and courage to ensure that pending issues can be resolved with any degree of normalcy. Importantly, Thailand and Cambodia are both active members of Asean, and this fact should be paramount in their attitudes.

The two leaders are scheduled to meet face to face in early October. Both have learned the hard way that politicising foreign relations for domestic consumption serves no one's interest. Now let's hope they have the courage to do the right thing.

Ties with Cambodia can now be boosted

August 25, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Thaksin's resignation and good relations with Cambodia may not be good for Abhisit, since he may have no points to divert pressure from his yellow-shirt allies on the border dispute over Preah Vihear Temple

Without Thaksin, Hun Sen will have free hand to resolve border dispute

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might be able to maintain good personal relations with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, but he was no longer useful for Phnom Penh in relations with Thailand, analysts said yesterday.

Even Thaksin's legal adviser and former foreign minister Noppa-don Pattama admitted Thaksin's resignation as an adviser to Cambodia could pave the way for the two countries to restore bilateral ties.

Opposition Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday the resignation showed Thaksin's neutrality and international skill as he realised the Thai government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would exploit Thaksin's status as a condition to spoil relations with Cambodia for domestic political gain.

But analysts were divided on the reasons for Thaksin's resignation.

A Cambodian official said it came at Thaksin's request, as he found it tough to fulfil his duty as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government and Prime Minister Hun Sen due to his overseas business.

Another argued that Thaksin made the decision not because of his business but realised Cambodia could not help him achieve his political goals.

Hun Sen opened his country for Thaksin to use as a meeting place for red-shirt groups, but the Cambodian premier could not do more.

Thaksin's red shirts were dispersed after a series of violent street clashes in April and May. About 80 red protesters died and some 1,900 people were hurt in the military crackdown - but the Thai elite and middle class still poured in support for the government.

It was clear Hun Sen played a "bad card" with Thaksin in regard to bilateral relations with Thailand as the former Thai premier - ousted in the 2006 coup - failed in several attempts to return to power. Hun Sen is no political novice. He must know that backing Thaksin is a negative for Cambodia.

A Phnom Penh-based analyst said Thaksin's resignation was a relief for relations with Thailand, from Hun Sen's point of view. From now on, Abhisit would not be able to blame Hun Sen for their sour relations. All allegations over a conflict of interest or Thaksin's interest in a border deal with Cambodia, which were often made by the Thai government, were no longer valid.

The appointment of Thaksin as Hun Sen's adviser was a key excuse for Abhisit to downgrade diplomatic relations with Cambodia. Abhisit scrapped a memorandum of understanding signed in 2001 on a maritime deal during Thaksin's administration, blaming Thaksin for having a personal interest in an oil concession in overlapping areas in the Gulf of Thailand.

"Let's see what [other issues] Abhisit can raise and blame Hun Sen to stall the border dispute settlement," a Cambodian official said.

But Thaksin's resignation and good relations with Cambodia may not be good for Abhisit, since he may have no points to divert pressure from his yellow-shirt allies on the border dispute over Preah Vihear Temple.

The yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, who helped install Abhisit in power, wants the government to revoke the pact on land boundary demarcation signed with Cambodia in 2000 and to use force to take over disputed areas adjacent to Preah Vihear.

But Abhisit could never do that while Thailand has good ties with Cambodia.

Border dispute with Cambodia to bring social unification or division in Thailand?

By Nutthathirataa Withitwinyuchon

BANGKOK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The current border issue between Thailand and Cambodia has been more complicated by the emergence of patriotism in Thailand and the internal political game played by local politicians.

The recently frequent demonstrations against Cambodia's management plan of Preah Vihear Temple and government's resolution on the issue by Thai Patriot Network allied with People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) reflects the nationalism mood which has been lately spurred in this nation. The question posed concerns whether the rising nationalistic sentiment will further divide Thai society or finally restore unity to this divided country.

"The patriotism is now complicating the issue and intensify division in Thai society..It is more difficult to find the truth ( amidst all the information from various groups) and people choose to agree with what they believe," said Dr. Kitti Prasirtsuk, a lecturer at Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.

Surveys shows among Thai people there are hardliners who want the government to take decisive action swiftly and moderates who want to see the border dispute being solved peacefully.

An opinion poll on the Preah Vihear Temple issue conducted across the country earlier this month by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that 69.55 percent of 1, 133 respondents agreed that the government should, through diplomatic means and military forces, push Cambodians out of the overlapping area near the temple as it is Thai territory. And 77. 93 percent of them, who saw the issue is crucial, said the government should make it part of the national agenda.

[PAD Thai] Network demands 'Cambodians out' [... They will have to wait a long long time!]

18/08/2010
Bangkok Post

The yellow-shirt Network of Thai Patriots has demanded the government push Cambodian people out of the disputed area around Preah Vihear temple within 24 hours and immediately revoke the border memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 and the Joint Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary accord signed in 2003.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Veera Somkwamkid, co-leaders of the yellow-shirt civil network, led a group of about 50 demonstrators to Government House on Wednesday to submit a complaint to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The complaint was received by a Government House official.

"The government must quickly revoke all the Thai-Cambodian agreements that put Thailand at a disadvantage, expel the Cambodians from the Thai territory and fulfil former prime minister Sarit Thanarat's desire to retain ownership of Preah Vihear temple," Mr Chaiwat said.

The network had pressed the government to follow its demand on Tuesday, but the government deceived the public by saying it needed more time to solve the border issue, he said.

He said the border demarcation was unclear and at odds with the natural watershed.

"The network now demands the government drive the Cambodians away from the Thai border within 24 hours and cancel all agreements with Cambodia," he said.

Cambodia lambastes Abhisit

Click on the PQRU's statement to zoom in

August 12, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Accuses [Thai] PM of sparking tensions, starting a 'toxic' pro-war campaign

Cambodia yesterday slammed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, saying he was incapable of leading a government or being a member of Asean or even the United Nations.

Abhisit showed his true character when he joined a gathering organised by the alarmist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is behaving like Cambodia's enemy and threatening to revoke the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the border demarcation, a statement from Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers said.

Tensions were sparked when Abhisit declared that under the 1962 International Court of Justice ruling, only the Preah Vihear ruins belonged to Cambodia, while the surrounding area belonged to Thailand, the statement read.

Abhisit has flip-flopped on the implementation of the MoU as his government stalled the progress of the joint boundary committee, it said.

The two countries have been at loggerheads, engaging in a war of words over the temple as Thailand continues to oppose the temple's World Heritage inscription over fears of losing its territory.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Abhisit sent separate letters to the UN explaining and clarifying their accounts accusing each other of border encroachment.

In his letters, Abhisit said that Hun Sen had "misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood" him in an earlier letter to the UN that accused the Thai PM of threatening to use military force to settle the border dispute.

However, the Cambodian government's statement said that Abhisit was just shifting the blame to the media because he wanted to avoid responsibility and hide his true intentions. It said the prime minister had intensified the "toxic" campaign of getting the public to accept Thailand's use of force against Cambodia.

PAD, which is a major ally of Abhisit's government, demanded he revoke the MoU on boundary demarcation signed in 2000 and use military force to remove Cambodians living in the areas adjacent to Preah Vihear.

Abhisit said he would not revoke the MoU, because it was a key, useful instrument for border settlement. "It is Thailand's conviction that any differences between countries can be settled by peaceful means," Abhisit said in his letters to the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

Under the MoU, the two countries set up a joint boundary committee (JBC) to survey and demarcate the boundary, but it has made little progress so far. The minutes of three JBC meetings are now pending parliamentary approval as required by the Constitution and JBC cannot resume its negotiations about the border.

The Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC), another joint mechanism on border affairs, had to postpone a meeting due late this month indefinitely due to the war of words between the two leaders.

The GBC, co-chaired by the defence ministers from the two nations, was meant to have its seventh meeting in Pattaya on August 27-28.

Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh proposed that the forum be postponed because relevant documents were not ready yet, the Thai Defence Ministry's spokesman Colonel Thanathip Savangsaeng said.

"It is not abnormal for the GBC to postpone meetings when either side is not ready," the spokesman said, adding that the tension between the two governments was not the reason for the delay.

Relations between the militaries of both countries remained good and the border situation was normal, he said.

However, an informed source said the tension was really the reason, because Tea Banh was worried about Thai and Cambodian people's sentiments over Preah Vihear.

On the other hand, Thanathip said the GBC had nothing to do with the temple dispute because it had to discuss several other issues on border affairs, including military cooperation, anti-narcotics cooperation and maritime security.

After politicizing Preah Vihear temple issue, now Thailand claims that it will depoliticize border problem with Cambodia, can you believe that?

Thailand to depoliticize border problem with Cambodia

August 02, 2010
Xinhua

Thailand will try to depoliticize the ongoing border conflict with Cambodia and to solve the problem through negotiation, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Monday.

"We don't want to have any political problem with the neighboring country. The border is still open now. And, all agreements we have had with Cambodia are still in place," Kasit told a press conference.

Kasit's remark was made after the World Heritage Committee ( WHC) decided on July 29 to reschedule its discussion on Cambodia's management plan for the Hindu Preah Vihear Temple to its annual meeting in Bahrain in 2011.

Prior to the WHC decision to postpone its discussion, Thailand threatened to walk out of the WHC meeting if the panel considered the Cambodian plan since the Thai side had not yet looked into details of the plan, which was handed in by Cambodia to the WHC panel just shortly before the meeting.

Thailand will proceed with the Thai-Cambodia memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the overlapping continental shelf area signed in June, 2000, under the then-Democrat-led Government, instead of the 2001 MOU signed under the People's Power Party-led Administration, Kasit said.

The current Abhisit Vejjajiva-led government has earlier protested against Cambodia by deciding to cancel the bilateral agreement based on the 2001 MOU, which later paved the way for Cambodia to register the Preah Vihear Temple as its unilateral World Heritage in October, 2009.

The 2001 MOU was allegedly unconstitutional. Ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinnawatra and the then People's Power Party-led government linked to Thaksin were allegedly having conflict of interest behind the 2001 MOU.

Thailand and Cambodia have historically laid claim to the site, which is located on a mountain top on the Thai-Cambodia border. The disputed area of 4.6 square kilometers has not been demarcated.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia. But, the 11th-century Hindu temple can only be easily accessed from Thailand.

Thai royal asks Thai Parliament to stop debate on Khmer-Thai border issue

With or without negotiations with Thailand, Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia!

07 May 2010
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Kanh-chanh Chek
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Thailand’s ASTV Manager Online news media reported on 07 May that Princess Walvipa Charoonroj sent a letter to the Thai Parliament asking the latter not to debate on the Cambodian-Thai border topic. Tith Sothea, mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, criticized this Thai princess, saying that she is countercurrent to the desire by the two countries that want to see a rapid end to the border dispute.

A Thai royal by the name of Princess (Mam Luong) Walvipa Charoonroj wrote a letter to the Thai Parliament to cancel the debate on the Cambodian-Thai border issue during its plenary session. This information was reported by Thailand’s ASTV Manager Online news media on 07 may 2010.

The Thai princess explained that the Cambodia-Thailand border issue, even though it is abiding by the law, is an issue in which Cambodia has the advantage over Thailand, and at the end, the result will show the trampling on history in the border demarcation at Preah Vihear temple. The temple which was the topic of a lawsuit between Cambodia and Thailand at The Hague International Court of Justice, was given back to Cambodia in 1962.

Regarding the request made by Princess Walvipa Charonroj, Tith Sothea, mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, commented that the prince is a Thai extremist who is preventing the border resolution negotiations between the two countries. Tith Sothea added that the princess’ action is countercurrent to the desire of both the Cambodian and Thai governments which want to see a rapid end to the dispute and a restart of the development and the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented that the claim that the prince made about Cambodia having the advantage over Thailand is the reality because Cambodia can base on internationally-recognized documents and maps.

It should be noted that there were numerous negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand [on the border dispute]. During these rounds of negotiations, the two sides took note on a number of agreements that Thailand must obtain the approval from its Parliament on the outcome of these discussions. However, since the beginning of the border discussions, no negotiation documents was debated by the Thai Parliament yet, this issue led to a dead end in the border negotiations between the two countries.

Noppadon eludes impeachment

Friday, March 12, 2010
The Nation

Although the Senate voted on Friday to impeach former foreign minister Noppadon Patama on charges related to his involvement in the Preah Vihear Temple controversy, its votes falled short of 90 votes needed to punish him.

Of 117 senators present, 57 were in favour of impeachment and 55 against. Four abstained and one cast vote deemed invalid.

The National Anti Corruption Commission recommended for impeachment inquiry on the ground for his bypassing the parliamentary scrutiny of the draft Cambodian-Thai communique on the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site.

[Thai] Judge calls for [Preah Vihear joint communique] case to be dismissed

30/12/2009
Bangkok Post

An Administrative Court judge has recommended that the case involving a joint communique supporting Cambodia's listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site be dismissed.

Prasak Siripanich made his recommendation yesterday before other judges during the case's first hearing.

The case has lost its validity, he said.

The court is scheduled to deliver its official verdict on the case today.

The case was filed on June 24 last year by 13 people including senators, academics and human rights activists.

In their complaint, they asked the court to revoke the June 17 cabinet resolution supporting the joint communique.

They also accused then foreign minister Noppadon Pattama and the Samak Sundaravej administration of violating the law by endorsing the communique.

The joint declaration was signed by Mr Noppadon and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 18, a day after the Samak administration gave it the green light.

Mr Prasak said the joint communique was no longer valid because the Administrative Court, on June 28 last year, issued an injunction ordering its suspension. The Supreme Administrative Court later upheld the ruling.

In addition, the Constitutional Court ruled the joint communique was unconstitutional because it was not given parliamentary approval as required under Section 190 of the charter.

After the Supreme Administrative Court upheld the injunction, Mr Noppadon sent letters asking Cambodian officials, the Unesco World Heritage Committee (WHC) and related organisations to disregard the joint communique during a meeting on world heritage sites held in Quebec, Canada.

The Unesco director-general then sent a letter on July 8 last year stating that the WHC had not used the joint declaration as a basis for approving the listing of Preah Vihear.

In November 2008, the Somchai Wongsawat administration revoked the June 17 resolution approving the communique.

As such, the June 17 cabinet resolution supporting the communique was no longer legally binding and there were no grounds for the case to proceed, Mr Prasak said.

Thaksin Shinawatra brings Thai politics to Cambodia

Tue, 11/10/2009
DPA

Bangkok/Phnom Penh - Thailand's fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has brought his country's deeply divided politics across the border to neighbouring Cambodia, where he has taken up two advisory roles.

Thaksin arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday after being appointed last week as a special advisor to the government and personal advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Thai government reacted to the appointment by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Thursday and launching a review of all bilateral agreements. Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador Friday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called Thaksin's advisory role direct interference in Thailand's domestic affairs and an affront to its judiciary.

Thaksin, 60, is Abhisit's political archrival. The Thaksin-backed Red-Shirt movement and Puea Thai opposition party have been pressing for a house dissolution since Abhisit came to power in December 2008.

Thaksin faces a two-year jail term in Thailand after being found guilty in absentia last year of abuse of power by the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders. He has been living in self-exile, mostly in Dubai, since fleeing Thailand in August 2008.

Thaksin, and now Hun Sen, claim the sentence was politically motivated. Cambodia has made clear it would refuse to extradite Thaksin to Thailand, despite a bilateral extradition treaty.

For its part, the Cambodian government continues to insist that the appointments are a purely internal matter.

"He is here for economic reasons, not for any activities related to politics," Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan told reporters Tuesday. "You must understand that Cambodia does not allow [foreign nationals] to do politics within Cambodia at all."

But one does not have to look far to find analysts who see political motivations at work. Cheang Vannarith is the executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, a political research organization in Phnom Penh.

He said a Thai election, anticipated next year, is a factor in Hun Sen's calculations.

"Hun Sen foresees the future of Thai politics in that the Thaksin group could win the next election in Thailand," said Cheang Vannarith. "By that time bilateral relations can be rebuilt and the friendship restored."

He said the root cause of the problems between the two kingdoms - and therefore the solution - is to be found in Bangkok.

"Thai politics is divided which is why there's a lot of conflict," Cheah Vannarith said. "Thailand has exported that conflict to Cambodia, such as with the border issue at Preah Vihear."

Preah Vihear, an 11th-century Hindu temple on the Thai-Cambodian border, has been a source of bilateral tensions for five decades. Although awarded to Cambodia in a ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 1962, Thailand objected to it becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2008.

The Democrat Party, led by Abhisit, seized on the Preah Vihear issue last year when it was in opposition to blame the then pro-Thaksin coalition government of allowing Cambodia to lay claim to still disputed land adjacent to the temple.

Hun Sen believes the Preah Vihear spat is unlikely to be resolved as long as the Democrats are in power.

And the Cambodian prime minister has made the most of the Thaksin card.

He announced his intention to provide Thaksin with refuge in Cambodia two days before Thailand hosted a summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) from October 23-25. Upon arrival at the summit Hun Sen drew a comparison between Thaksin and Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize laureate who is revered and admired by many.

Thaksin, a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon, was Thai premier between 2001 and 2006, before being toppled in a coup which had widespread support from Bangkok's middle class and the political elite. He has become the unlikely hero of the country's poor, whom he wooed successfully with populist policies and a sense of empowerment.

He is fighting for a political comeback at a time when Thai courts are moving in on his family's 2 billion dollars in frozen bank deposits.

"Thaksin wants his money back and why shouldn't he?" said Chaturon Chaisaeng, a close Thaksin ally.

But he may have taken a political gamble in taking Thai politics to Cambodia, both a recent and historical rival for Thai kingdoms through the ages.

"It could boomerang on him," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University. "We Thais will fight among ourselves but once you have an outside force meddling, we tend to close ranks and turn against it."

People's network threaten action against Cambodia [-Will this lead to another anti-Thai riot in Phnom Penh?]

October 25, 2009
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Cha-am - Thai protesters yesterday threatened to surround the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok next month unless Prime Minister Hun Sen withdrew troops and removed Cambodian community from the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear.

Some 30 people led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) made a brief protest at Puk Tien beach in ChaAm district, some 10km away from the Asean meeting venue in response to the harsh remarks by Hun Sen regarding fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the disputed area near the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear for a long time but the issue heated up a year ago when it was listed as a World Heritage Site.

The issue of Thaksin added fuel to the conflict when Hun Sen said he would make the fugitive expremier his economic adviser and would not extradite him to Thailand. Such remarks have heightened tensions with the Thai government which is seeking to apprehend Thaksin, who has been sentenced to two years' prison sentence in a corruption case.

The protesters handed over their letter of demands to the Foreign Ministry's Director General of Asean Affairs Vitavas Srivihok demanding the troop withdrawal and removal of the Cambodian community from the area within a week.

They condemned Hun Sen's recent remarks and wanted the Cambodian premier to leave Thailand immediately as he was not attending the Asean Summit in a spirit of goodwill.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said his government had allowed the protesters to exercise their freedom of expression in accordance with democratic principles. The government would take their demands into consideration and would convey them to the neighbouring country if necessary, he said.

The Thai government would not allow one incident to jeopฌardise relations between the two countries, which have a lot of areas of mutual interest, he said. Kasit said the government would deal with Hun Sen in a cool manฌner.

"We have been together with Samdech Hun Sen the whole day in the [Asean] meeting. I think he did participate in every sesฌsion [of the Asean meeting] in a very constructive manner," Kasit said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen even supported Thailand's intention to be a temporary unit of surveillance of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM), Kasit said.

Regarding the Thaksin issue, Kasit maintained his hope that Hun Sen would be able to distinguish personal affairs from the mutual interests of the two countries.

"I don't know whether Prime Minister Hun Sen has invited Thaksin to visit Cambodia after he has served his jail term in Thailand or not," he said.

If Thaksin were to be in Cambodia before serving his sentence, the government would seek his extradition in accorฌdance with the bilateral treaty, Kasit said.

Deputy PM calls for halt to jingoism

Suthep: Favours talks, not picketing

24/09/2009
Bangkok Post

Whipping up nationalist fervour over the Cambodian border issue is a risky game which could harm trade relations with our neighbour, says Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

Negotiations were the way to handle the dispute, not picketing, he said yesterday.

Mr Suthep was commenting on Saturday's clash between the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and Si Sa Ket residents near a disputed 4.6 square kilometre border area with Cambodia.

PAD held the protest in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket to pressure authorities to force Cambodians from the disputed area, which is near Preah Vihear temple.

The protesters confronted a group of residents who tried to stop them. A clash between PAD protesters and the villagers left scores of people on both sides injured.

Mr Suthep said the government had tried to solve the border problem through negotiation to prevent the dispute from escalating into a conflict between the countries.

People should not let their emotion drive them to stage protests over sovereignty, he said.

Demarcating the boundary with Cambodia could take as long as 10 years, as the two sides could not agree on who owns what.

PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said the government would bring together Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and PAD co-leader Veera Somkhwamkid, who led the PAD protest on Saturday, to explain problems concerning Preah Vihear temple. They would appear together in a television broadcast after the prime minister returned from his overseas trip this weekend.

Natthawut Saikua, of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), yesterday demanded Mr Abhisit clarify reports that Cambodia was building a road to Preah Vihear through the disputed area.

Preah Vihear case [in Thailand] to run till Tuesday: Klanarong

Klanarong

September 23, 2009
The Nation

The National Anti Corruption Commission is expected to complete its deliberation on the Preah Vihear impeachment case involving the Samak Sundaravej government by next Tuesday, NACC member Klanarong Chintik said yesterday.

The NACC had already started hearing the case but it would take a week to complete since the proceedings had to cover the individual involvement of each accused, Klanarong said.

"Today's deliberation has covered 12 of 44 accused ministers and officials and the NACC should be able to rule on the case by September 29," he said.

At the heart of the legal wrangling is whether the then prime minister Samak and his ministers intentionally bypassed Parliament when drafting the Cambodian-Thai memorandum of understanding related to Preah Vihear Temple dispute.

Under Article 190 of the Constitution, the government is obligated to seek approval from parliament on the framework to negotiate an international agreement when it has ramifications in regard to borders.

Based on the Constitution Court ruling last year, the government failed to comply with Article 190.

Klanarong said the NACC had to determine the involvement of each accused in order to apportion the wrongdoing involved by each of the accused.

After reviewing the wrongdoing committed by each, the next step was for the NACC to name those targetted for impeachment and those who will face criminal prosecution.

He denied speculation that the NACC might target former foreign minister Noppadon Patama to shoulder the blame alone, saying the deliberation had not even reach halfway to form any conclusion.

[Thai Defense Minister] Prawit: [Thai] Army can protect sovereignty

14/09/2009
BangkokPost.com

The Thai army is fully capable of protecting the country's sovereignty and territory, and the situation in the disputed border near the ancient Preah Vihear temple is still normal, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Monday.

Gen Prawit said the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation of the Land Boundary (JBC) meeting went smoothly. The commission was working under the agreement between the two countries.

Both sides were trying to find the best solution to the border dispute for the two countries, he said.

Speaking about the planned anti-government rally of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Saturday, Gen Prawit said all sides must follow the law.

"The red-shirt demonstrators must know what they can or cannot do, while officials must act in accordance with the orders issued by the government and the Internal Security Operation Centre," the minister said.

The government would consider if the Internal Security Act should be used during the red-shirt rally this Saturday, he said.

The police would assess the situation and decide if they would obstruct red-shirt supporters from other provinces trying to enter Bangkok. The army was ready to reinforce the police if requested, he said.

"Pad"-Thai group still wants to claim Thai ownership of Preah Vihear temple

PAD scholars want court to rule temple, land is Thai

12/09/2009
Bangkok Post

Academics from the People's Alliance for Democracy have asked the Civil Court to rule that the disputed Preah Vihear temple and surrounding land belongs to Thailand.

The 10 yellow shirt academics yesterday petitioned the Civil Court in Bangkok, which has no international jurisdiction, to make the ruling.

They also accused Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, his deputies Sok An and Hor Nam Hong and their subordinates of violating the Thai people's rights and liberty under the Thai constitution by encroaching on the area.

One of the group, ML Walwipa Charoonroj, an historian from Thammasat University, said she was glad that the court accepted the lawsuit for examination. The academics decided to take action because the Thai government did nothing to protect the land, she said.

Meanwhile, the government will discuss cutting troop numbers in the area.

According to a source, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya last Wednesday asked 2nd Army chief Wibulsak Neepal about the possibility of reducing the number of soldiers guarding the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.

Lt Gen Wibulsak said that the government would seek approval from parliament to reduce its forces and then would discuss the issue with the Cambodian government.

"We proposed the reductions in many locations in the disputed area but have not estimated by how much the military forces will be reduced and whether it will reach 50%," said the 2nd Army chief.

Lt Gen Wibulsak said Cambodia was cutting back its forces in the area where 3,000 Cambodian soldiers and 2,500 Thai troops are posted.

Cambodian Supreme Commander Gen Pol Saroeun told his Thai counterpart Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara in Cambodia two weeks ago that Hun Sen would halve Cambodian troops in the near future and would further cut his forces by another 20% late this year.

When will the PAD sore-losers stop politicizing the Preah Vihear issue?

PAD Southern Networks Urge Govt to Investigate into Land Dispute at Preah Vihear Temple

4 September 2009
Thai-ASEAN News Network

The People's Alliance for Democracy networks from 16 southern provinces held a public announcement urging the government to investigate Thailand's rights to 4.6 square kilometers in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear Temple, in order to prevent the country from losing the disputed land.

People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD coordinator for southern networks , Soonthorn Rakrong, made an address on behalf of the PAD networks from the South, acknowledging their support of a group led by Weera Somkwamkid in investigating a disputed 4.6 square-kilometer area along Thai and Cambodia border.

The area mentioned is also the location of the Preah Vihear Temple.

The group claims that evidence indicates that Thailand has obviously lost its ownership over the disputed area to Cambodia and that the Thai government remains inactive and appears to be supporting Cambodia's actions.

In this regard, they have called for the government to preserve the country's sovereignty and revoke any contracts or agreements made between the two countries.

The PAD networks said that if the government still remained inactive about the issue, they would join forces with the public sector to reclaim the nation's sovereignty. They will hold a gathering on September 9th in Nakhon Srithammarat province to put a concrete plan into action.

Thaksin tied to temple row but Thailand could lose out

Kasit: Lashed out at Cambodia over temple

2/07/2009
By WASSANA NANUAM
Bangkok Post

Border tensions over the Preah Vihear temple and the political troubles in Thailand appear to be inextricably linked - by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mistrust is growing between the Thai and Cambodian governments.

The government still views Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen with suspicion as they believe he is a good friend of Thaksin, while Hun Sen and other Cambodian politicians question Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's stance on Preah Vihear.

During rallies led by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Mr Kasit lashed out at Cambodia and Hun Sen over the listing of the historic temple ruins as a World Heritage site.

At the time, the PAD accused Thaksin of being the puppet master pulling the strings of the governments of both Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat to support Cambodia's bid to list the temple as a World Heritage site.

They claimed this was in exchange for huge benefits to Thaksin from his planned investments in Cambodia, particularly in the energy business.

Thai security agencies earlier reported that Thaksin led a group of businessmen from the Middle East to visit Phnom Penh and Koh Kong. But Thaksin repeatedly denied those reports. He insisted he had not visited Cambodia since he was toppled from power.

But the air force radar centre confirmed that Thaksin's private jet was seen flying into Cambodia on two occasions, just one to two months before red shirt demonstrators held mass rallies during Songkran.

There were also reports that the Cambodian government had granted a passport to Thaksin.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh dismissed the reports. He said Thaksin had not set foot in Cambodia.

"Thaksin didn't visit here and I never even saw his shadow. The hearsay has caused mistrust between the two countries," Gen Tea Banh said.

A Thai military unit recently reported that Jakrapob Penkair, a co-leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), was staying in Phnom Penh.

Mr Jakrapob reportedly fled Thailand after the Songkran riots to escape charges that he and his fellow UDD leaders had instigated violence in the capital.

These sorts of reports and rumours have caused suspicions between the two countries to build up. Whenever Thai military leaders visit Cambodia, they often ask businessmen if Thaksin is there. However, no one has confirmed seeing him.

When there was political tumult in Thailand, Hun Sen was seen as trying to show his leadership in the region. He faulted Thailand over its chairmanship of Asean.

He then asked Thailand to solve its political problems first.

The border tensions flared again recently when the Thai government decided to object to Unesco's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site on Cambodia's behalf last year, despite the continuing dispute over the overlapping territory around the temple.

Both Thailand and Cambodia have deployed more troops and heavy weaponry near the temple.

The tensions show no sign of easing despite a visit to Cambodia on Saturday by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

Mr Suthep claimed he held talks with Hun Sen to settle the border problems and both countries agreed to cut troop levels near the ancient ruins.

But Hun Sen, speaking to the Cambodian media, said he had warned Mr Suthep and Gen Prawit that "if Thailand wants to open fire on Cambodia, it will take at least five Thai soldiers to beat one Cambodian soldier".

Former Khmer Rouge soldiers have reportedly been deployed at military bases along the border.

Whatever happens, in the eyes of the world community, Thailand may very well end up being viewed as the loser since the issue involves the Preah Vihear temple, the ownership of which the International Court of Justice already ruled on a long time ago.