Writer: Thanida Tansubhapol
Published: 13/04/2011
Bangkok Post
Signs of conflict between the Foreign Ministry and the Thai Army emerged when Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara (pictured) said last week that Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area.
Gen Songkitti also said an agreement the Foreign Ministry had reached with Cambodia and Indonesia to send Indonesian observers to the disputed border area "has nothing to do with the military".
The deal was made on Feb 22 when Indonesia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Jakarta to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting ended with the two countries accepting an Indonesian observer team be stationed along their common border.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not directly respond to Gen Songkitti's comment but said Thailand is an open society and everybody is free to express their opinions.
Mr Kasit confirmed he held talks with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha over the Thai-Cambodian issue almost every week.
But he could not make public details of the discussion because some issues have not been finalised.
"Although we [the ministry and the army] have different opinions, we can still sit and talk with each other," Mr Kasit said.
Regarding the deployment of Indonesian observers, a ministry source said the only inconclusive section of the terms of reference was the "areas of coverage". This is an important point because it determines where the Indonesian observers team will be stationed.
In fact, the Foreign Ministry and the army have both agreed that the Indonesian observers should not be posted in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
The army also planned to inform the Cambodian military about the Thai stance regarding the Indonesian observers at the General Border Committee (GBC), which is led by defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia.
But the army changed its mind and refused to join the GBC meeting when Cambodia, the host of the next GBC meeting, insisted the talks must be held in a third country, which is Indonesia.
This has led to the impasse and prompted Mr Kasit to offer to clear the issue during a meeting with Gen Prawit last Wednesday. Although Mr Kasit has decided to take over from the Defence Ministry the task of defining the roles of Indonesian observers and the locations along the Thai-Cambodian border where they would be posted, it could not handle the matter alone, the source said.
Signs of conflict between the Foreign Ministry and the Thai Army emerged when Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara (pictured) said last week that Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area.
Gen Songkitti also said an agreement the Foreign Ministry had reached with Cambodia and Indonesia to send Indonesian observers to the disputed border area "has nothing to do with the military".
The deal was made on Feb 22 when Indonesia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Jakarta to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting ended with the two countries accepting an Indonesian observer team be stationed along their common border.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not directly respond to Gen Songkitti's comment but said Thailand is an open society and everybody is free to express their opinions.
Mr Kasit confirmed he held talks with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha over the Thai-Cambodian issue almost every week.
But he could not make public details of the discussion because some issues have not been finalised.
"Although we [the ministry and the army] have different opinions, we can still sit and talk with each other," Mr Kasit said.
Regarding the deployment of Indonesian observers, a ministry source said the only inconclusive section of the terms of reference was the "areas of coverage". This is an important point because it determines where the Indonesian observers team will be stationed.
In fact, the Foreign Ministry and the army have both agreed that the Indonesian observers should not be posted in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
The army also planned to inform the Cambodian military about the Thai stance regarding the Indonesian observers at the General Border Committee (GBC), which is led by defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia.
But the army changed its mind and refused to join the GBC meeting when Cambodia, the host of the next GBC meeting, insisted the talks must be held in a third country, which is Indonesia.
This has led to the impasse and prompted Mr Kasit to offer to clear the issue during a meeting with Gen Prawit last Wednesday. Although Mr Kasit has decided to take over from the Defence Ministry the task of defining the roles of Indonesian observers and the locations along the Thai-Cambodian border where they would be posted, it could not handle the matter alone, the source said.
8 comments:
Thailand is a cancerous state of the United Nation.
1st Thailand is a self colony.The South,the North and Northeast regions of Thailand are colonized by the Central Bangkok. The military establishment runs this long lasting colonial state up into the 21st century.
2nd Thailand oppresses it own people by overthrowing 3 consecutive elective governments and install a puppet Abhisit regime.
3rd Thai military invades Cambodia to evoke false nationalist sensation and make war with Cambodia hence reenforce it own supreme enterprise.
4th Thai regime never respect international laws,treaties,conventions etc...
The world should take a closer look at this cancerous cell before it spread out of control.
Cambodia now forces itself into an arm race with Thailand. Do not blame Cambodia if it gets closer to North Korea to get weapons for self defend.
The world had successfully eliminated the apartheid regime of South Africa. Now the world should get rid of this Thai colonial dictatorship hidden behind civilian administration and keep produce false pride to its own populace by claiming that Thais are the only one nation which had never been under European colony in SE Asia.
Thai want to launch attack cambodian like NATO did to Lybia..?
Cambodia should buy Missile from North Korea...Don't let Thailand pushing us to the corner again and again..
5:53 AM, you stupid son of the
siamese bitch!
5:53 AM,your country will be divided like former Yugoslavia.
Thailand will be scattered like pieces of straw according to Buddhist prediction.
After Phumibol AdulaDeathj death, you guys the thais top brass will fight each other over stuffs you have looted and exploited from thais people.Your origin was the barbaric thug tribe no less evil than of Genghis Khan tribe of Mongolia.You are the lowest animal of SE Asia.
Just remember, Thailand invasion of Cambodia won't be as simple as white men trying to get a piece of action with Thai girls or an easy slow death from sickness of King Phumibol. Cambodia will not allow Thailand to come in at will without fighting back. Cambodia is dealing with the international community because it's the right thing to do. Just because Cambodia is dealing with international community, does not mean Cambodia is backing down or afraid, and seeking protection. If this is what Thailand saw, it's a mistake. If Thailand wanted to attack and invade Cambodia, please don't hestitate. By all means, come on over with your fancy weapons. Let see how much Thailand can perform. One thing for sure, Thailand better prepare itself for a loooooong war with Cambodia. Whatever Thailand wants to do with Cambodia, just remember, as much as Thailand want Preah Vihear, Cambodia also want that long lost huge chunk of lost territories of Thailand. A war between Thailand and Cambodia might also open up that opportunity for Cambodia.
So if I were 5:53AM and Thailand, I wouldn't be so stupid about how cool it is for Thailand to attack Cambodia.
There are plenty artilleries in Cambodia. What Cambodia need now is to infiltrate 10 thousand spies in Bangkok and Northeastern cities and ready to strike in order to defend itself from brutal attack by the Thais. From within, they need to invest in human resources and strengthening the standard of living. Then purchases fighter jets, at least 300-500 of them plus naval ships that can strike back at Thais without being over ran at sea...South Korean can help Cambodia with those weapons, if ask.
10:51AM, I take it that you're be that one of those 10,000 spies concealing yourself and wake up when the bell of war between Cambodia and Thailand rings. Why need 300-500 jets. That would be a waste of money. Bro..let be realistic O.K. Stop day dreaming about military wishes. Cambodia should not try to play military catch-up with Thailand. There is no sense in that. Cambodia would go broke. Thailand spend shit load of money(over $ 6 billion) to arm itself to the teeth to protect its stolen properties, while Cambodia spent roughly $300 millions in military, that's 20 times more than Cambodia. Let Thailand slurch on military spending. Cambodia should just play it cool and focus on what is really important, that is the politic of making Thailand look like an ass for bullying and picking a fight with Cambodia. Thailand can't just come over with its Rambo attitude of ass kicking and happy trigger pulling its way by attack and invading Cambodia just because it thinks it could. It's not going to be that easy. 21th century isn't 15th century. Thailand thinks that it is living in 15th century or something because those days, that's how Siem was, mobilize troops and start robbing here and there to enlarge itself. Nowadays, it ain't going to happen without anyone knowing about it and not get involve with it.
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