Bangkok Post
Editorial
The partial turnaround by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on attending a General Border Committee meeting in Indonesia is a step in the right direction. Gen Prawit last week said he would never attend a meeting with Cambodian military counterparts in a third country.
He has had second thoughts, however.
He said on Monday that he may attend the meeting next week in Bogor. But he put a condition: that no Indonesian sit in on the talks.
The impression remains that the government and military brass are not together on the negotiations with Cambodia.
Gen Prawit has given no clue on why he reversed his several statements last week that he would not attend a border meeting except in Thailand or Cambodia. He was voluble about the point, talking to reporters for several days in a row to make his point. No third party was needed, not as organiser and certainly not as participant, he said. "If Cambodia is not ready to host" the meeting, then "Thailand is willing to host it". And then, both in person and through his spokesman Col Thanathip Sawngsaeng: "We will not go to Indonesia."
His unexplained U-turn is welcome. But there is work to do before Gen Prawit, army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha and their subordinates head for Bogor next week. The defence minister and top army commander are not in sync with the government.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier this month that he had no objections to Indonesian observers at the border talks, or stationed at the actual border. Gen Prawit and Gen Prayuth said they only felt comfortable dealing directly with their Cambodian counterparts, with no third party involved. Gen Prayuth has said he will never allow Indonesian observers into the area of the disputed 4.6 square kilometres around the Preah Vihear temple. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he wants Indonesian observers directly embedded with Thai forces at the front lines. It is vital that Thailand always present a totally united face in any negotiations.
There also is the matter of who is in charge. Gen Prawit's announcement last week that he and Gen Prayuth would not attend the Bogor talks was surprising. The Cambodian border has become something of a flash point. There have been several deadly clashes between the two armies. Only the shakiest of informal agreements currently separates the two forces. Relations between Cambodia and Thailand are cool at best, unfriendly at times. Even the slightest appearance of division at the top of the Thai government will be exploited by the Cambodian authorities, including Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The GBC is staffed by military officers and tasked with keeping the peace and other bilateral matters. But GBC meetings, like all action under the constitution, are subject to government control and liable to government accountability.
National policy matters such as this must be directed or delegated by the prime minister.
Mr Abhisit is responsible for mediating and then deciding on differences between the ministries when necessary. Ministers may enter a cabinet meeting with different ideas, but all must speak with one voice after the issue has been discussed.
The premier must clear up discrepancies over who is in charge before the Bogor meeting next week.
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