Thu, November 27, 2008
By Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation
Thailand must postpone the upcoming Asean summit, scheduled for 15-18 December due to the current political crisis. The lack of decision within the coming hours would further damage the country's reputation and Asean's creditability.
Leaders from Asean and dialogue partners have already urged their citizens to avoid traveling to Thailand due to the latest development. So, there is no reason that their leaders would themselves make such trips.
Of course, it would be undiplomatic to be the first country to pull out from the scheduled summit, especially among the Asean members. Therefore it is imperative for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsavat to announce the postponement. Further delays will increase the cost of damages.
Like it or not, Somchai Wongsawat is no longer the leader who can represent the country. At the end of today's Cabinet meeting, the government announced the imposition of emergency decrees at Suvarnaphoumi and Don Mueang airports. There could be crackdowns on the protestors in coming hours. If it happens, it could be messy.
The summit's delay would be a better option for the country instead of insisting on with the scheduled meetings. Both Somchai and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat have yet to provide any useful inputs to the summit,
At this moment, the government must have the courage to acknowledge that the country is in transition and would require some time to set its house in order. The letter signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent to Asean Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan reflected the concern of fellow Asean members of the ongoing political crisis. He urged Surin: "To consult with the host country, Thailand, and other ASEAN Member States if we should maintain the schedule of the forthcoming ASEAN and related Summits as planned."
Surin, whose flight was diverted on Wednesday's morning back to Jakarta on the flight to Bangkok's Suvarnaphoumi, has expressed concern with the present situation and called for utmost restraints from all sides.
He said that the invited leaders would understand the situation if Thailand decides to postpone the summit. Leaders from various international financial institutions including World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UNTAD, ADB have already confirmed the participation.
Today, the regional and global papers splashed their front pages with bold headlines like: "Thai army chief calls for polls as crisis worsens" (Jakarta Post), "Turmoil in Thailand: Land of Chaos" (Today of Singapore), "Protesters wreck chaos, Bangkok Airport siege by anti-government demonstrators leaves thousands stranded" (Straits Times of Singapore), "Thai Strife and standoff worsen: Premier rejects calls to quit as siege at airport continues" (The Wall Street Journal- Asia), "Thai PM rejects military's demand to resign" (Financial Times), "Thai Army chief calls on leader to quit: Protesters consolidate control of airport" (International Herald Tribune).
Straits Times on its A 8 page screams: "Army Chief's poll call shot down" and carried the news on the appeal from the Laotian leader, Thongloun to Surin. And quoted George Yeo from Santiago, Chile, as saying: "The situation appears rahter confused. We are very troubled by it. We hope that all groups in Thailand will have political will to compromise and find a way out for the country.
And indeed, it is something that the Thai people need for themselves..I am worried that the ASEAN Summit will be affected." In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, was quoted as saying "They (the host) are convinced that holding the summit in Chiang Mai is logistically feasible so there's been no discussion (about postponing it) from our side."
In the past 48 hours given all negative publicities about Thailand's internal situations, the best course of action now is for the government to decide quickly to postpone the summit. That will save more complication and more loss of national image and credibility.
Now, Thailand can decide to postpone. If the situation worsens, it will be the issue of suitability of ASEAN chairmanship. Certainly, with the ineffective Thai leaders, there will be that call if they do not decide now and cut the losses by postponing.
Leaders from Asean and dialogue partners have already urged their citizens to avoid traveling to Thailand due to the latest development. So, there is no reason that their leaders would themselves make such trips.
Of course, it would be undiplomatic to be the first country to pull out from the scheduled summit, especially among the Asean members. Therefore it is imperative for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsavat to announce the postponement. Further delays will increase the cost of damages.
Like it or not, Somchai Wongsawat is no longer the leader who can represent the country. At the end of today's Cabinet meeting, the government announced the imposition of emergency decrees at Suvarnaphoumi and Don Mueang airports. There could be crackdowns on the protestors in coming hours. If it happens, it could be messy.
The summit's delay would be a better option for the country instead of insisting on with the scheduled meetings. Both Somchai and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat have yet to provide any useful inputs to the summit,
At this moment, the government must have the courage to acknowledge that the country is in transition and would require some time to set its house in order. The letter signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent to Asean Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan reflected the concern of fellow Asean members of the ongoing political crisis. He urged Surin: "To consult with the host country, Thailand, and other ASEAN Member States if we should maintain the schedule of the forthcoming ASEAN and related Summits as planned."
Surin, whose flight was diverted on Wednesday's morning back to Jakarta on the flight to Bangkok's Suvarnaphoumi, has expressed concern with the present situation and called for utmost restraints from all sides.
He said that the invited leaders would understand the situation if Thailand decides to postpone the summit. Leaders from various international financial institutions including World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UNTAD, ADB have already confirmed the participation.
Today, the regional and global papers splashed their front pages with bold headlines like: "Thai army chief calls for polls as crisis worsens" (Jakarta Post), "Turmoil in Thailand: Land of Chaos" (Today of Singapore), "Protesters wreck chaos, Bangkok Airport siege by anti-government demonstrators leaves thousands stranded" (Straits Times of Singapore), "Thai Strife and standoff worsen: Premier rejects calls to quit as siege at airport continues" (The Wall Street Journal- Asia), "Thai PM rejects military's demand to resign" (Financial Times), "Thai Army chief calls on leader to quit: Protesters consolidate control of airport" (International Herald Tribune).
Straits Times on its A 8 page screams: "Army Chief's poll call shot down" and carried the news on the appeal from the Laotian leader, Thongloun to Surin. And quoted George Yeo from Santiago, Chile, as saying: "The situation appears rahter confused. We are very troubled by it. We hope that all groups in Thailand will have political will to compromise and find a way out for the country.
And indeed, it is something that the Thai people need for themselves..I am worried that the ASEAN Summit will be affected." In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, was quoted as saying "They (the host) are convinced that holding the summit in Chiang Mai is logistically feasible so there's been no discussion (about postponing it) from our side."
In the past 48 hours given all negative publicities about Thailand's internal situations, the best course of action now is for the government to decide quickly to postpone the summit. That will save more complication and more loss of national image and credibility.
Now, Thailand can decide to postpone. If the situation worsens, it will be the issue of suitability of ASEAN chairmanship. Certainly, with the ineffective Thai leaders, there will be that call if they do not decide now and cut the losses by postponing.
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