Thailand – Cambodia 0:3

You remember the Abhisit – Hun Sen 0:0 post. I was very polite to Abhisit because he looked so nice in the Asean chairman suit. A month later it is a whole different game. Our dear deputy premier Suthep obviously didn’t set Hun Sen straight on Thaksin, as claimed. Hun Sen is talking, and boy he’s talking. What Thai dignity? What a broadside at Thailand:

One has to give The Nation credit for running a Hun Sen press meeting at a decent length, see below. And Hun Sen can by all means be read as the voice of the international community. Well, Thaksin’s still not arrested … Says Hun Sen that Abhisit stole his seat from other people. That there’s nothing worth in the Thai judicial system worth respecting. That Abhisit’s a tool of Thaksin.

I doubt that The Nation intends to fuel the nationalistic ire in Thailand even further by giving so much space to an accused traitor. They obviously see that hothead Hun Sen has some valid points to make. There is only one way to deny the man’s logic, and that is by applying nationalistic, reactionary rhetoric – but that was not what Mark Vejj was taught at Eton. Deep down Abhisit must be ashamed. And true, after roaring like lions against Phnom Penh his government pusses out.

Because this Hun Sen-meets-the-press is so rich, here’s the whole thing, headlined “Cowboy Diplomacy: Abhisit could die from problems” (if you want to compare here’s the Bangkok Post’s transcript):

Problems with the Thai-Cambodian bilateral ties:

The problem with Thai-Cambodia relations is really a problem between myself and Khun Abhisit (Vejjajiva), the prime minister of Thailand. Before anybody speaks about this, they need to understand that I have been working in politics when the Thai prime minister was still a child.

Border closing:

If you want to close the border, close it. Cambodia will take up action in response. Cambodia will close the border, as well as shut out economic activities as well. Even one mouse will not be permitted to cross the border. We can get Thai goods through other countries. In 2008, Thailand exported US$2 billion to Cambodia – but Cambodia exported only US$90 million to Thailand. I don’t want to close the border as it would affect the people, but the Thai prime minister is making threats.

Appointing Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser:

I want to be clear to all Thai people that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is the one making an issue out of this. Cambodia has appointed a number of foreigners as economic advisers in the past, including Koreans and Australians and I don’t see what the prime minister is afraid of. I have explained to the Asean meeting in Hua Hin, and I have been very patient about it, but I have been at the receiving end of Thailand’s attack. It was Abhisit who went on and invalidated the MoU (on joint development of overlapping territory in the Gulf of Thailand).

Who is really serving whom?

Khun Abhisit is alleging that Thailand’s dignity is at stake. But I want to tell you that the “red shirts” support this appointment (of Thaksin) but the “yellow shirts” don’t. And there are those who are remaining quiet about this whole thing. These people know that the Hun Sen government is a good administration. My government is not being used by anybody. I think it’s Abhisit who has become a tool of Thaksin. Whenever Thaksin opens up on certain issues, it is Abhisit who reacts accordingly and acted without thinking about the interests of the country and its people. He is using personal reasons to cancel cooperation between two countries. Can Thai people live with a leader like this? Can a person like this lead Asean? Asean will eventually become one market and possibly one currency but it’s Thailand who is behaving aggressively against Cambodia. During the Angkor civilisation there were accusations that Thailand had lost territory to Cambodia. Study your history and you will see who is the real aggressor.

What can Asean do?

Cambodia is prepared to negotiate any place, any time, in a bilateral or multilateral setting. But it appeared that Thailand has already decided that this is not going to happen. Asean Secretary General Surin (Pitsuwan) needs to understand that it has to be comprehensive and should include the 19 September 2006 coup (against Thaksin), the overlapping claims along the border, the appointment of Thaksin as economic advisor. You can use whatever mechanism you want, Cambodia is ready. I helped safe Thailand and Abhisit’s face by not talking about this at Asean summit in Hua Hin. You want to solve this problem you should go to the beginning. If this is about appointing Thaksin, then we need to all the way back to the 19 September coup. If Ahisit is so capable, why not dissolve the Parliament and call for a new election. What is he afraid of? I am the prime minister of Cambodia who received two-third of the vote and how much vote did Abhisit received or did he stole his seat from other people? If so how do you expect to respect you?

Insulting Thailand:

Abhisit is faced with all kinds of problems. He could die from it. He has problem with all his neighbours, including Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar. Moreover, he has problem with the yellow shirt, the red shirt and the blue shirt and the white shirt. Even the yellow shirt are not united among their own kind. What due respect does Cambodia has to give Thailand? Appointing Thaksin has nothing to do with Thailand? I have told Abhisit that Thaksin is my friend. Friend don’t betray friend.

About disrespecting Thailand’s judicial system:

There is nothing in the Thai judicial system that is worth respecting. In the past Khieu Samphan, Nuan Chea was residing in Cambodia before they relocate to Cambodia. This was not only a violation of international laws and norms, Thailand even endorse Khmer Rogue and the peace process. I want the Thai people to know that the government don’t even respect international law and so how can we even respect Thai judicial system?

On Preah Vihear temple:

We negotiated with Thailand three times. We agreed to solve the problem peacefully. But the agreement they signed was erased with their feet. Thailand obstructed Thailand’s bid (for Unesco World Heritage) and has the nerve to say that it has nothing to do with Cambodia. It’s like they are calling us stupid. Thailand has used Preah Vihear as a hostage and used it to take down a government. I have asked parliament president Chai Chidchob for help but he said the issue has passed the parliament. Thailand politicized this issue at the expense of prolonging the problem.

Via The Nation





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  3. Abhisit – Hun Sen 0:0
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November 12, 2009 | Filed Under Politics, The Interview 

Comments

9 Responses to “Thailand – Cambodia 0:3”

  1. StanG on November 12th, 2009 2.59 pm

    Hun Sen surely likes to run his mouth, but that’s not how you behave in a civilized world, so I don’t know by what scoring system you awarded him three points.

    If a neighbor shits on your lawn, it’s not called a victory.

    The thing is, Thailand can just ignore Cambodia altogether, it’s a lot easier to send an ambassador back then apologize for your own words, if there’s ever going to be a settlement.

    Thailand can close the embassy, severe all diplomatic relationships – it costs nothing to restore them in terms of dignity. What is Hun Sen going to do to make it possible?

  2. BangkokDan on November 12th, 2009 3.06 pm

    Giving Thaksin even more exposure?

    Why doesn’t the Thai govt just ignore the man.

    Recalling an ambassador because of a fugitive implies that that fugitive is recognized on a state-to-state level.

    The fugitive throws them a bait, and they fall all over it. Thaksin couldn’t wish for better PR.

    He’s playing them exactly the way he intended to.

    Again, Bangkok should just ignore the man.

    Mighty Thailand, little Cambodia, who has lost face?

    BangkokDan

  3. Hobby on November 12th, 2009 3.44 pm

    It’s a funny old world when a Hun Sen looks credible, and has the high moral ground (which, IMO, he clearly does in this matter).

    He’s the clear winner so far, and the Thai government have acted predictably stupidly (as usual).

  4. Rich on November 12th, 2009 4.52 pm

    I agree, Hun Sen kicked the shit out of Abhisit and Thailand on this one. If Abhisit had an pride he would be screaming in pain. Instead, what we have is this:

    http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/159859/pm-calls-for-unity-and-patience

    Which (inter-alia) means that Abhisit shouted and foamed at the mouth and got all hysterical and then got his ass kicked. So now he thinks shouting is not the answer. It’s always interesting and useful to see Thais taught a lesson in how to behave.

    I must say when I read this piece I chortled a chortle. Everyone knows the cognitive dissonance that Thais are afflicted with as a consequence of being able to be aware of the facts but believe something at complete variance to the facts. But in this piece, Abhisit shows just how ludicrous it can all get when taking to extremes.

    In contrast, for him to then say there is no good reason to change the political situation seems sincere. Setting aside the extraordinary dishonesty and humbug, if I were in his shoes wouldn’t want to risk an election either.

  5. StanG on November 12th, 2009 7.45 pm

    Don’t forget that this interview is three days old and Abhisit basically ignored it then.

    Today’s issues are different, today’s he’s reacting to refusal to extradite Thaksin.

    If he plays it cool he can drive home the point that the extradition is the issue, not Thaksin’s role as an economic advisor, as Hun Sen mistakenly thinks. It’s a lot harder for Hun Sen to justify extradition refusal than talk about relatively innocent advising role.

    Thai government should also respond to “overwhelmingly and democratically elected” part in Cambodian official response – Thaksin lost that mandate when he dissolved the parliament, and he publicly promised not to assume premiership again.

    All in all, Abhisit can just really ignore Hun Sen – it doesn’t hurt him in any way, his approval rate soared, and there was no real harm done. It would be far more difficult for Hun Sen, far more difficult to get relationships back to normal, and an apology would be a minimum.

  6. Rich on November 12th, 2009 9.01 pm

    Thai government should also respond to “overwhelmingly and democratically elected” part in Cambodian official response – Thaksin lost that mandate when he dissolved the parliament, and he publicly promised not to assume premiership again.

    It is par for the anti-Thaksin course to bend the truth until it fits in respect of this gentleman. Have seen this ad-nauseam on Thaivisa.

    Saying white is green don’t make it so, however much we may think it ought to be so.

    (BD: But you can say yellow is green, na?)

  7. BangkokDan on November 13th, 2009 7.39 am

    Here is the other side, from the Post Bag:

    In only one day, Hun Sen has achieved the following:

    - Admitted that he was provoking political tensions between neighboring countries for personal reasons – ”The problem with Thai-Cambodia relations is really a problem between myself and Khun Abhisit (Vejjajiva), the prime minister of Thailand” – instead of acting in the national interest of Cambodia or in the common interest of both countries.

    - Violated international law: the refusal to even consider the extradition request and forward it to a Cambodian court is a blatant violation of international law. Clearly, if Hun Sen really believes that Cambodia has grounds to refuse extradition, then why does he not allow the process to follow its natural course and forward it to a Cambodian court?

    - Tried to draw neighboring countries into the dispute by claiming: ”He (PM Abhisit) has problems with all his neighbors, including Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Burma.”

    - Insulted Thailand and its justice system by declaring, ”There is nothing in the Thai judicial system that is worth respecting.”

    - Insulted Thailand’s Prime Minister: ”You’ve stolen somebody else’s chair to seat yourself in. You claim other people’s property as your own. How can we respect that?”

    - Showed his current contempt for Thailand: ”What does Thailand have that Cambodia has to respect?”

    - Showed his eternal contempt for Thailand: ”Where was Thailand during the Angkor era? They claimed that Cambodia trespassed into Thai territory, but how could we? Study your history and see who the aggressor is.”

    - Insulted everybody’s intelligence: ”Thailand is evidently attacking Cambodia.”

    No doubt, the events of 2003 warranted the border closing. But at that time violence was simply the act of some angry and misinformed Cambodian people. In 2009, it is Hun Sen, the leader of Cambodia, who is acting the thug.

    This cannot be tolerated. It is time for Thailand to adopt the toughest diplomatic stance: sever all diplomatic ties with Cambodia.

    CANDIDE

    BangkokDan

  8. StanG on November 13th, 2009 8.23 am

    Another thing that people tend to forget, even in local media, that current Thaksin’s exile is not directly related to the coup – he returned in 2008 and spent nearly half a year in Thailand. He fled on the eve of court decision.

    BBC routinely presents him as self-exiled after 2006 coup.

  9. Rich on November 13th, 2009 8.42 am

    Another thing that people tend to forget, even in local media, that current Thaksin’s exile is not directly related to the coup …

    Oh puhlease. This is just eccentric.

    (BD: OK guys that’s the last tit for tat. Back to substance!)

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