April 13, 2011
The Nation
Opinion by Citizen Jane
Bangkok, Thailand
One does not have to be an apologist for the less-than-fragrant Phnom Penh regime to recognise the accuracy of the Cambodian foreign minister's complaint that Thailand's government and military speak with different tongues over the border dispute (The Nation news report, April 10).
Anybody with a modicum of experience of Thai affairs realises that ultimately it is the military that calls the shots (excuse the pun). This was shown during the domestic crackdown last May, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was a "house guest" at Army HQ, and earlier this year, when fighting broke out on the border unbeknown to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was in Phnom Penh ostensibly negotiating at the time.
Of course, persistent and credible accusations of the inexcusable use of cluster bombs by the Thai side at Preah Vihear in February may well reinforce the reluctance of the Thai authorities, and the Army in particular, to involve outside observers, facilitators or mediators. This topic is very well covered in your editorial of April 11.
It is all a far cry from one of the generally accepted tenets of a functioning democracy, that the military is subject to the authority of an elected executive and has a duty to protect civilians.
To adapt an old saying to the situation here: the government proposes; the army disposes.
5 comments:
Thai put all their military strength near Preah Vehear.
Cambodia should build up equipments, convoys and troops and enter Thailand where there is little resistance.
You move all the troops to the center of Thailand and strike from there.
Thailand will react and naturally move many of their troops from Preah Vehear.
When they do that you squash the remaining troops that they would left behind.
Enter Thai all the way to chase after the troops who would be moving toward Khmer troops inside their territory.
The Thai troops are then sandwiching between two side of Khmer troops inside their own territory.
Capture all and use them for invading Vietnam to free Khmer Krom.
I agree! Cambodian troop should build up all modern millitary equipped along our border...like anti-air defense systems, i think we should strenghten our air-defend up to fully high tech..equipped! Stop messing around with an old outdated weapons!
Those FN-6 from Ching is useless...
Cambodia should buy Missile from North Korea...Don't let Thailand pushing us around again and again..
Cambodia must strengthen its military capability as well as working hard on the diplomatic front to resolve the border issue with Thailand. If Cambodia is weak on the battle ground, Thailand will continue to intimidate us and push us around. If our military is strong, Thailand will take us seriously on the negotiating table.
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