via CAAI
Published: 11/02/2011
With peace and quiet now restored at the border near the Preah Vihear Temple, Thailand and Cambodia should return to the negotiating table.
Prime Minister Abhisit may set the tone by seeking direct talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen. This will help create a good atmosphere before the two countries resume their scheduled talks via the Joint Border Committee (JBC) at the end of this month.
At the same time, the media in both countries must refrain from propagating false information related to the recent armed clashes. Bad feelings have been stoked during the past few days by media reports about the casualties suffered on both sides.
The JBC is the best venue for the two neighbours to thrash out their differences. Cambodia and Vietnam had resorted to this type of diplomacy and succeeded in solving their border dispute. For the time being, the Thai and Cambodian governments should stop making any statement that may generate more anger and hatred between the two countries.
For its part, the People's Alliance for Democracy should stop making inflammatory statements against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. It would be even better if the PAD leaders called off the rally in Bangkok.
The PADs vitriolic criticism of Hun Sen during the past week has not helped the situation at all. If they don't stop, the PAD leaders will be seen as the villain in this whole fracas.
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