Published: 7th April, 2011
Bangkok Post
The disclosure by the Cluster Munitions Coalition that the Thai army used cluster munitions in recent border clashes with Cambodian forces may further dampen the strained relations between the two countries. Surprisingly, one Thai company has managed to weather all the political and military conflicts and perform remarkably well.
The Thai army top brass may have to cover their heads with buckets to hide their embarrassment – if they actually are embarrassed – after it was confirmed by an international non-governmental body that Thai artillery fired cluster shells into Cambodia during the border clashes in February.
The Cluster Munitions Coalition claimed Thailand had confirmed its findings to CMC officials at a meeting on Tuesday, acknowledging the first known use of such munitions since the ban came into force last August. The Thai army had constantly denied using cluster munitions.
Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but each of them is party to a 1997 landmine ban treaty. The convention bans production, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions - which disperse bomblets from the air over a wide area.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn argued last night that the shells used by the Thai army against Cambodian forces were not the same as the cluster munitions mentioned by the CMC. He did confirm that the Thai army used "dual-purpose improved conventional munitions". He said these are artillery shells designed to be used against missiles and said they are not considered to be cluster munitions.
Mr Panitan’s argument will ring hollow, as does the Thai army’s steadfast denial of using cluster shells. The CMC’s findings seem more credible, more convincing.
The international community's reaction will be interesting to note.
And the best defence now for the Thai government or the Thai Foreign Ministry is not to put up another strong denial, but to admit the truth and try to control the damage to our reputation.
Why cluster munitions? My guess is that the Thai army wanted to avoid using high-explosive munitions against Cambodian forces hiding in and near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn as Thais call it, for fear of causing extensive damage to the temple. It opted instead to use cluster munitions to target Cambodian troops rather than the temple itself.
Regrettably, it was a wrong decision because of the worldwide convention against the use of cluster munitions.
The CDC’s findings are likely to further dampen the relations between Thailand and Cambodia, already badly strained by the post-clash conflict over other issues - the Thai army’s refusal to attend the General Border Committee meeting in Indonesia, the minutes of the Joint Boundary Committee meeting over the disputed area which are yet to be endorsed by the Thai parliament, and Cambodia’s refusal to withdraw troops from the disputed area.
While there are grim prospects that the relations between the two governments will be improved in the near future, business sector relations between the two countries are a different matter - and especially in the case of the Thai Nakorn Patana group of companies.
The group, which has been investing in hoteling and pharmaceutical industries for more than 20 years, last week officially opened its new five-star hotel in Phnom Penh. The 201-room Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra was built at a cost of about four billion baht on 50-rai of land beside the Bassac river - land leased from the Cambodian government.
It replaces the 40-room hotel burned down during the Cambodian anti-Thai riots in 2003.
Vice president of the group, Supachai Veerapuchong, said the Cambodian government did not have the money to compensate the company for the destruction. Instead, the Cambodians offered to extend the land lease to 70 years.
The grand opening ceremony of the hotel was presided over by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh and attended by VIPs in business and political circles from Thailand and Cambodia.
Commenting on his company’s investment in Cambodia, Mr Supachai offered a thought-provoking remark.
“I do business, which is not complicated. I show sincerity towards the country where I have invested my money," he said.
"Thailand is a big country in the region and should behave properly as such, then the good things will go back to the country and its people.”
He said that the border conflict had hurt Thai product sales in Cambodian, which saw a drop of 40-50 per cent. These goods were replaced with goods from Vietnam.
“If we cannot separate military and political issues from trade, then everything will be messy,” he added.
With this sort of attitude, it is no wonder that the Thai Nakorn Patana group has been successful in Cambodia, despite the continual on-and-off conflicts and bickering between the two governments.
The disclosure by the Cluster Munitions Coalition that the Thai army used cluster munitions in recent border clashes with Cambodian forces may further dampen the strained relations between the two countries. Surprisingly, one Thai company has managed to weather all the political and military conflicts and perform remarkably well.
The Thai army top brass may have to cover their heads with buckets to hide their embarrassment – if they actually are embarrassed – after it was confirmed by an international non-governmental body that Thai artillery fired cluster shells into Cambodia during the border clashes in February.
The Cluster Munitions Coalition claimed Thailand had confirmed its findings to CMC officials at a meeting on Tuesday, acknowledging the first known use of such munitions since the ban came into force last August. The Thai army had constantly denied using cluster munitions.
Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but each of them is party to a 1997 landmine ban treaty. The convention bans production, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions - which disperse bomblets from the air over a wide area.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn argued last night that the shells used by the Thai army against Cambodian forces were not the same as the cluster munitions mentioned by the CMC. He did confirm that the Thai army used "dual-purpose improved conventional munitions". He said these are artillery shells designed to be used against missiles and said they are not considered to be cluster munitions.
Mr Panitan’s argument will ring hollow, as does the Thai army’s steadfast denial of using cluster shells. The CMC’s findings seem more credible, more convincing.
The international community's reaction will be interesting to note.
And the best defence now for the Thai government or the Thai Foreign Ministry is not to put up another strong denial, but to admit the truth and try to control the damage to our reputation.
Why cluster munitions? My guess is that the Thai army wanted to avoid using high-explosive munitions against Cambodian forces hiding in and near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn as Thais call it, for fear of causing extensive damage to the temple. It opted instead to use cluster munitions to target Cambodian troops rather than the temple itself.
Regrettably, it was a wrong decision because of the worldwide convention against the use of cluster munitions.
The CDC’s findings are likely to further dampen the relations between Thailand and Cambodia, already badly strained by the post-clash conflict over other issues - the Thai army’s refusal to attend the General Border Committee meeting in Indonesia, the minutes of the Joint Boundary Committee meeting over the disputed area which are yet to be endorsed by the Thai parliament, and Cambodia’s refusal to withdraw troops from the disputed area.
While there are grim prospects that the relations between the two governments will be improved in the near future, business sector relations between the two countries are a different matter - and especially in the case of the Thai Nakorn Patana group of companies.
The group, which has been investing in hoteling and pharmaceutical industries for more than 20 years, last week officially opened its new five-star hotel in Phnom Penh. The 201-room Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra was built at a cost of about four billion baht on 50-rai of land beside the Bassac river - land leased from the Cambodian government.
It replaces the 40-room hotel burned down during the Cambodian anti-Thai riots in 2003.
Vice president of the group, Supachai Veerapuchong, said the Cambodian government did not have the money to compensate the company for the destruction. Instead, the Cambodians offered to extend the land lease to 70 years.
The grand opening ceremony of the hotel was presided over by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh and attended by VIPs in business and political circles from Thailand and Cambodia.
Commenting on his company’s investment in Cambodia, Mr Supachai offered a thought-provoking remark.
“I do business, which is not complicated. I show sincerity towards the country where I have invested my money," he said.
"Thailand is a big country in the region and should behave properly as such, then the good things will go back to the country and its people.”
He said that the border conflict had hurt Thai product sales in Cambodian, which saw a drop of 40-50 per cent. These goods were replaced with goods from Vietnam.
“If we cannot separate military and political issues from trade, then everything will be messy,” he added.
With this sort of attitude, it is no wonder that the Thai Nakorn Patana group has been successful in Cambodia, despite the continual on-and-off conflicts and bickering between the two governments.
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