Tuesday, October 21, 2008

If there is a meeting at ASEM....

by Pancha Seila
Because of the peculiar way the "democratic constitution processes" work in Thailand, it is expected that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat had already solicited the negotiation framework and the rights to commit Thailand from Thai parliament otherwise whatever Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said to his counterpart the Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Decho Hun Sen would have to be sanctioned by the Thai parliament.

Under this peculiar Thai "democratic constitution processes" words by Thai statesman are mere promises and more than often empty promises, unless Thai parliament sees no reasons to oppose and reject those words.

In the United States of America, when it comes to foreign affairs Congress does not have the right to interfere, only for the budget appropriation. But in the case of Thailand, Thai "democratic constitution processes" are political tools used by Thais to get the upper hand with its neighbours when dispute arises.
How much longer Thailand would be able to deceive the world and the international community with its “burgeoning democracy” under which the internal squabbles of amazing dimension and proportion which last over six months to now with no end in sight would look like a veil to mask the realities of Thai territorial ambition over Cambodian lands along the Cambodian-Thai border, the realities of Thai military incursions and occupation of Cambodian territory, the realities of Thai flexing its military muscle against Cambodia many times having less military capabilities than Thailand.

Up until now the international community seemed to fixate on the idea that Cambodia and Thailand are neighbours, which they are, that Cambodia and Thailand are brothers, which they are not. Had they were brothers, Thailand who is the big and strong brother would not have beaten up Cambodia who is the weaker brother. Had Thailand been known to be a bad brother who cannot behave, the international community would have changed its mind and would have stopped insisting that both Cambodia and Thailand must go on with bilateral talks.

If there is an informal meeting between Thailand Prime Minister and Cambodian Prime Minister at Asem, it is expected that the big brother did behave or he did promise that he would behave.
(BangkokPost.com) October 20 - Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he will attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing from Oct 23 to 25, and he may hold informal talks on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen there.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=131530

Seating at the negotiation table with Thailand is like seating with a bunch of deaf.

by Pancha Seila
"It is believed that the postponement resulted from concern that the meeting, if held according to the original schedule, won't be able to reach any agreement to settle the border dispute focused on the 11th century Preah Vihear temple without a negotiation framework approved by the Thai parliament."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=131516
Unless Thailand changes the negotiation framework, meaning the party to the negotiation is able to sign documents with Cambodian counterparts, seating at the negotiation table with Thailand is like seating with a bunch of deaf.

Thailand's "constitutional democratic processes" gave no rights to the negotiators. What Thailand said at the negotiation table is mere promises, and most of the time empty promises.
Cambodia needs to keep money to buy foods, medical supplies, and guns rather than wasting time and money speaking with deaf Thai negotiators.