Friday, August 20, 2010

ABHISIT IS SAID TO BE "THROWING RICE HUSKS INTO THE CROSSWIND"

Since the 34th session of World Heritage Committee  in Brasilia, Abhisit has mobilized a Herculean effort for a massive campaign of intoxication against Cambodia on the Temple of Preah Vihear’s issue. Apart from organizing a number of activities led by PAD core leaders such as Mr. Chamlong Srimuang, Mr. Sondhi Limthongkul, Mr. Veera Somkwamkid and ML. Wanwipa Charonrooj, Abhisit government sent additional troops to the border aiming at sending message to the WHC session not to go  ahead with the management plan for the Temple of Preah Vihear. Those signals were intended to be shown as a warning threat that if the WHC would not listen to Thai, they could  take any actions against Cambodia including military one. It is also understood that they were directed to bully Cambodia. 

Until last week-end, their intention to bully Cambodia was concretely evidenced by Abhisit open declaration while he was addressing thousands of members of the so-called Thai Love Nation Network at the Thai-Japanese stadium; “we will use both diplomatic and military means”, he said. This military threat was also echoed by Second Army commander Weewalit Chornsamrit: “the military was ready to force the settlers from the area if ordered to do so by the government” (BKK Post, 9 August 2010).

Abhist’s statement has immediately prompted Samdech Techo HUN SEN to inform the UNSC and the UNGA of this serious threat and flagrant violation to the UN Charter.

In order to avoid eventual criticism from the international community, Abhisit put the blame on Thai media saying his speech on the issue was “misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood” in a separate letter to the UNSC and the UNGA in response to Samdech Techo HUN SEN’s letter.

The matter of the fact is that Abhisit lied to the international body by denying what he exactly said, since everyone in Bangkok as well as some in Phnom Penh listened to him addressing the PAD gathering from ASTV live coverage. 

It is not fair for him to put all the blame on Thai media and also it is beyond everyone's belief that the majority of Thai press, both in Thai language and English, misunderstand and misquote him. As  a proof, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PRU) of the Office of the Council  of Ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia is ready to show the record of Abhisit’s speech from ASTV live coverage if he wishes to have it replayed or sent to him.

Before this flagrant volte-face, Abhisit is losing his statesmanship in the eye of Thai people and as a consequence, he is said to be a liar. 

Before becoming Prime Minister, he manipulated the Preah Vihear’s issue by stirring up ultra-nationalist sentiment amongst PAD supporters  in order to gain political support and to undermine the then pro-Thaksin governments.  During that time, he pledged to get Preah Vihear back to Thailand. The result of his promise is that he is widely known to have cheated Thai people due the Preah Vihear‘s issue has been put to an end by the ICJ verdict since 15 June 1962. As recently as in 2006, it has been politicized by the PAD. 

This time, he is cheating the international community by writing to the UNSC that Cambodia has been encroaching Thailand’s territory. What a flagrant lie is? How can a dove dare to invade a hawk’s nest?  “It is ridiculous that Thailand  accuses Cambodia of invading and using forces” responded Samdech Techo HUN SEN at a meeting on Tonle Sap on 12 August 2010 in Phnom Penh, adding that the Temple and its surrounding area belong to Cambodia.

In reality, Cambodia has been invaded and occupied by Thai black-uniform army since 15 July 2008. Thus, Samdech Prime Minister has well mentioned in his letter as follows:”  In violating the judgment of the  ICJ, Thailand currently maintains its soldiers in the Keo Sikkhakiri Svara pagoda of Cambodia, situated only about 300 meters from the Temple of Preah Vihear, well inside the Cambodian territory”. 

Everyone in Thailand knows already why Abhisit keeps telling lies and misleading Thai people on the Temple of Preah Vihear’s issue. It’s all very well saying he worms his way into the Premiership by getting involved in political manipulations with some elements of the residual spillover of the old- cliché who maintain hegemonic policy towards Cambodia and always work to inflame outmoded cliché and shopworn slogans of the so-called “Thailand’s Lost Territories” in which “The Temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Thai” with the aim of
gaining political support only for their vested interests.

But the tide has turned against him and now, he is believed to be suffering from the boomerang effect of his campaign of intoxication against Cambodia. In this regard, the head of the PRU has likened this boomerang effect to the old Khmer saying: (Abhisit is) “throwing rice husks into the crosswind “.
Sandra Rodraguez