A demonstrator from Thailand's royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement holds a sign showing fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (left) hugging Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a rally in Bangkok on November 15. Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday attended a protest by Thailand's royalist movement against a visit to Cambodia by their arch-foe Thaksin.
(AFP/Christophe Archambault)
Published: 16/11/2009
Bangkok Post
The diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia has led to a surge of patriotism, a survey has revealed.
A Suan Dusit poll showed that 70% of Thais felt more patriotic as they believed people should be united to protect the country's pride.
The survey also showed the diplomatic row has given many people the impression that the country is divided and weak.
The issue, however, has made 57% more interested in politics while 30% insisted their interest in politics remains unchanged.
Thirty per cent said the conflict has stressed people with 45% saying they must now spend less and save more because they do not know if the problem will have an economic impact.
In Khlong Yai district of Trat, Cambodian businesses are stocking up on sugar, one of the most important basic commodities, after fears there would be a border closure.
Sanguan Chusinfah, who drives a sugar truck, said distributors have received an unusually large number of orders of sugar from Cambodia. But the stocks are held up at the border port because there are not enough boats to transport the goods. At the Ban Klong Luek border checkpoint at Sa Kaeo province, border trade is reported to be brisk again after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Cambodia on Saturday.
Thaksin's arrival last week caused diplomatic mayhem, with many business owners fearing a threat to border trade.
Some operators said that since his departure, trade was bustling. Business owners, however, still fear border channels may be closed if the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia worsens.
Border sources also confirmed many people have crossed the border to visit casinos over the weekend.
Opposition Puea Thai Party MP Suchart Lainamngern said Thaksin would come to Cambodia often because of his role in providing economic advice to Phnom Penh. Before leaving Cambodia, Thaksin said he planned to visit five other countries this year but remained tight-lipped about the destinations.
"I don't want to let you in on where I'm going because I'm afraid that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would send letters seeking my extradition," the fugitive former prime minister said in Siem Reap. Meanwhile, the New Politics Party has demanded the government put greater effort into bringing Thaksin back to Thailand so he can serve the two-year jail term he was given for his conviction in the Ratchadaphisek land case.
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