The Bangkok Post
Tuesday July 22, 2008
The current Thai-Cambodian conflict over the Preah Vihear temple is highly sensitive, and everyone must try to prevent it from escalating into an armed conflict.
The last time Thai armed forces were engaged in a border conflict was in 1989, when Thailand and Laos fought a short but bloody war over the village of Ban Romklao. At that time, the army commander-in-chief, who doubled as the supreme commander, exerted his power over the defence and foreign ministers.
The fact that the Foreign Ministry was sidelined during the Ban Romklao conflict should be a lesson for the Samak government and the armed forces. If we are not careful, the Preah Vihear issue could become the next Ban Romklao.
There is a danger now that certain elements in the armed forces might try to dictate to the Foreign Ministry, at a time when its credibility is being undermined by a group of academics who have their own views and positions regarding the Preah Vihear issue.
Compounding the problem is the ongoing power play between supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and those who want to banish him from politics.
Those who removed Thaksin in the Sept 19, 2006 coup are continuing their battle. They have succeeded in unseating Noppadon Pattama _ seen as a close ally of Thaksin's _ from the Foreign Ministry. Now they are dead-set on destroying the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
The protagonists are using all resources at their disposal to destroy each other. The Preah Vihear issue is caught in this dangerous political game.
Tuesday July 22, 2008
The current Thai-Cambodian conflict over the Preah Vihear temple is highly sensitive, and everyone must try to prevent it from escalating into an armed conflict.
The last time Thai armed forces were engaged in a border conflict was in 1989, when Thailand and Laos fought a short but bloody war over the village of Ban Romklao. At that time, the army commander-in-chief, who doubled as the supreme commander, exerted his power over the defence and foreign ministers.
The fact that the Foreign Ministry was sidelined during the Ban Romklao conflict should be a lesson for the Samak government and the armed forces. If we are not careful, the Preah Vihear issue could become the next Ban Romklao.
There is a danger now that certain elements in the armed forces might try to dictate to the Foreign Ministry, at a time when its credibility is being undermined by a group of academics who have their own views and positions regarding the Preah Vihear issue.
Compounding the problem is the ongoing power play between supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and those who want to banish him from politics.
Those who removed Thaksin in the Sept 19, 2006 coup are continuing their battle. They have succeeded in unseating Noppadon Pattama _ seen as a close ally of Thaksin's _ from the Foreign Ministry. Now they are dead-set on destroying the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
The protagonists are using all resources at their disposal to destroy each other. The Preah Vihear issue is caught in this dangerous political game.
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