Thailand Unique Style of International Relationship

Thailand is surely glad that its two small and immediate neighbours to the southeastern are "Cambodia and Laos" and not "Myanmar and Vietnam", otherwise would have to think really hard of the dire straight consequences if troops to be deployed in such a hostile manner.


The sad fact [deployment of military/stand-off at Preah Vihear] would never have happened and can be avoided completely had certain groups of Thai publics and politicians particularly the opposition reacted more appropriately to the temple's inscription as a World Heritage site, and could somehow, in their own term and manner, sort out their differences instead of politicizing the issue [Preah Vihear Temple] and dragged Cambodia into its own domestic problem.

1962
Thailand and Cambodia took their dispute over the temple's ownership to the International Court of Justice in 1962, when Thailand lost the case.

For 46 years, the world has known that the ancient temple belongs to Cambodia, as per a the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and that Thailand has no whatsoever right to the ancient archaeological site.

Negotiations

The world has known for 46 years that Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia, as per a the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled [Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and Thailand has no right to the ancient archaeological site].

Cambodia, however, with good faith and openness of her attention, sincerity and due respects for its immediate neighbour - Thailand, has entered into dialogue after dialogue, negotiation after negotiation for a good 7 years to teething out any differences on the enlist of Preah Vihear Temple as one of many World Heritage site of cultural significant before securing a joint-communique duly signed by both side: The former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama of Thailand and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An [Thailand, in the last minute ditch during the Vancouver session, tried to block Cambodia by demanding a joint-management which was also objected].

Just days after the successful enlisted of the ancient temple [only temple was enlisted by the areas along the temple remains to be dealt by Joint Border Commission], Thailand deployed its troops and tanks to the disputed areas. Since the stand-off, there were 3 high level meetings between the Defence and Foreign Ministers from both side, and the fourth was called off by Thailand just shortly before the scheduled meeting start without any prior warning.


There were not any fruitful conclusion however both side agreed on replying of troops, to defuse tensions along the border, seeing almost all their troops from the ancient temple site on 16 August after a fraught and a month-long stand-off, but there were reports that Thailand soldiers are still occupying the Ta Moan Thom temple, claimed by Thailand that their troops are stationed there for years, and disputed by Cambodia that the temple situated in its territory.


The Tidal Waves Behind the Incursion Into Cambodia

PAD started as an organization - the "Government Watch Dog", turned politic but failed to secure enough supports and votes for the top job during 2007 election [another democratic election since 2006 after the Military Junta rolled its tanks and mobilized its elite "Black Uniform Army" to the heart of Nation, Bangkok, overthrown the then its legitimate democratic elected government of Prime Minister Thakshin Sinawatra while he was abroad, addressing the UN assembly].

There's no One Size Fit All solution but the Drop in the Bucket surely created Tidal Waves

With brilliant idea of the mainstream mass media who have always sorted to exploit all issues as a hot news commodity to their advantage, PAD surely knows the time has arrived and shall make full use of them to seizing the momentum for its political gain.

The successful enlisted of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage site of cultural significant by the Cambodia is just an excuse for PAD to legitimise its policies and actions while their main intention so far is to get rid off the months old legitimate democratic elected government whose they thought is the figurehead of the former ousted legitimate government by the Junta.

Nationalism is indeed not out of fashion.

PAD has been heavily exploiting and stirring up the sentiment of Thai publics and angering nationalist who are still naively claim ownership of the ancient temple [after 46 years, they couldn't get over the fact that Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia].

PAD has been able to push the government to one corner and holding them at bay: seeing the sudden deploying of Thai military mights and muscles to its southeastern border "Preah Vihear Temple" instead of rolling tanks, armoured personal carriers and elite black uniform army to the heart of capital Bangkok as seen in 2006; intimidating its immediate small and friendly neighbour "Cambodia".

Thai Arm Force's New Toys
Thailand recent purchase US$600m worth of military hardware, consisted of six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters, one Saab 340 aircraft equipped with the Erieye AEW radar system and a command-and-control system to link the fighters with the Erieye system, are additional to the existing fleet, and that further defence procurement is speculated to include submarines and the delayed purchase of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) this year [2008].

[the Nation: Fighter Purchase - Heralding Thai Military Modernisation Programme? written by RSIS's Ron Matthews and Curie Maharani].

The overthrown of Thaksin has failed Thailand in securing the US F16 figthers, which was initiatted by the Thaksin government [Americans were banned on selling to countries where government was overthrown].

Thailand International Relationship Style

Thailand is surely know how to employ Military Mights and Muscles as the only Mean Of Getting Attentions from its small and friendly immediate neighbour

On July 15, the well equipped Thai armies with modernized military hardware and tanks, were deployed to the disputed areas followed by Cambodian armies were there to stand guard from any farther incursion and subsequently the built up of forces by both side in and around the disputed area and tension rose accordingly; following the announcement by UNESCO that it has listed the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple as one of the world's heritage site of cultural significant.

Thailand international relationship style in this particular instance, in the eyes of Cambodians, is indeed a hostile act rather than the new trend adopt by many countries around the world; where bilateral, open and honest dialogue as mean to resolve any differences

"Russia's Attack on Georgia, "That (the use of forceis simply not the way in which international relationship can be run in the 21st century". "This is equally valid in the case of the Thai-Cambodian territorial dispute over Preah Vihear Temple", said Mr. David Miliband Brittish Foreign Secretary. [the Nation" Thais and Cambodians must learn to be good neighbours].

I do agree with Mr. David Biliband that resort to military arm conflict and stand off as the only solution and tool to settle any dispute or differences is not really a wise option to conduct international relation in the 21st century. However, Thailand has chosen to act so.

The case here is not so complicated and is really showing the unique Thailand's style of international relationship in dealing with small country without taking into consideration that:-

1] Preah Vihear Temple is not belonged to or a break away or renegaded Thai province as seen in the restive south where Thai-Muslim engaged in all kind of undiscriminating attacks whether or not they are ordinary citizens, public servants or people from different religions.

2] There are any Thai citizen[s] who reside along the border, indeed in great danger as it happened in Georgie which was seen as the motive for Russia to engage in all out war to protect those citizens are said to hold Russian citizenship.

The sad fact [deployment of military/stand-off at Preah Vihear] would never have happened and can be avoided completely had certain groups of Thai publics and politicians particularly the opposition reacted more appropriately to the temple's inscription as a World Heritage site, and could somehow, in their own term and manner, sort out their differences instead of politicizing the issue [Preah Vihear Temple] and dragged its immediate neighbour into its own domestic problem.

Thailand is surely glad that its two small and immediate neighbours to the southeastern are "Cambodia and Laos" who are indeed less population and weak in terms of military mights and muscles to stand up to such intimidation or fence themselves in case of war.

Thailand would have to think really hard of the dire straight consequences if troops to be deployed at "Myanmar and Vietnam's border" in such a hostile manner.