Despite
numerous efforts made by the Cambodian authorities to bring clarifications
rejecting the “yellow shirt” people and a number of unprofessional and
politically motivated Thai media outlets’ allegations detrimental to the good
relations between the governments and the peoples of the two countries, Thai
Rath’s editorial on 19 December 2011 “The Fragile Relations” has once again
attempted to drive a wedge and cause mistrust among the two neighbors.
Thai
Rath’s editorialist has referred to baseless and speculative information
linking the “Sukhumvit 77’s grenade plot” to Cambodia saying that the
perpetrators were trained in Cambodia. Thai Rath should know that to set
grenade traps Thais do not need to learn from Cambodians. Thai Rath should know
also that Cambodian leaders and authorities adhere fully to the rule of
international law on terrorism and had never ever harbored Thai terrorists or
terrorists of any other nationality. Cambodia has an internationally acclaimed
reputation to fully cooperate with international organization for the tracking
and apprehension of “wanted terrorists”.
Thai
Rath’s editorialist must stay out of speculating about the “helicopter
incident” in the border area of Koh Kong (Cambodia) and Trat-Chanburi
(Thailand) and leave the matter to the military and civilian authorities of
both countries to sort thing out first. It would be fair to Thai Rath’s
readers, had Thai Rath’s editorialist spreads out its opinion based solely on
true and factual information. Misinformation and fabricated information for the
purpose of slash-and-burn could lead to disaster.
Does
Thai Rath know that Cambodia want to live in peace and in good neighborliness
with Thailand, and both country must strive to become honest and respectable
partners for development for generations to come?
Samreth
Sophoan
Expert
in Thai Affairs
Institute
for International Affairs,
Cambodia