BP | Asian Correspondent

To close the border or not to close the border?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0800

TNA: Thailand may consider closing the Thai-Cambodian border if Cambodia still adopts a hardline approach to the bilateral ties, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.Thailand had been tolerant but had to apply diplomatic channel to downgrade relations after Cambodia issued an official statement appointing ousted and convicted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an advisor. How long it is going to be depends on the next stance of the Cambodian side, he said. TNA though has a slightly more nuanced position from Abhisit: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday urged patriotic Thais to stand with his government, saying that the current diplomat spat with neighbouring Ca [...]

Did Thailand overreact by recalling ambassador?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0800

Yes: The government could have taken the lesser action of officially summoning Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand to protest Phnom Penh's decision instead, they said.The diplomatic fallout over Cambodia's appointment of the fugitive Thaksin could cause significant damage to the Association of South East Asian Nations, a European diplomatic source said."If the dispute is not eased, Asean might be seen as a disintegrating grouping when they meet with the US president on the sidelines of Apec [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] summit in Singapore next weekend," the source said."Asean has just reaffirmed the building-up of the [Asean economic] community, but the Asean chair [Thailand] and its [...]

Politics not law

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0800

The Nation in an editorial yesterday: In Thailand, politics dominates law. Seemingly solid evidence in Thaksin's share-concealment case in 2001 gave way to political factors. His party's violation of electoral laws, which was intended to fix a constitutional deadlock resulting from a Democrat-boycotted election, was dealt with only after he was out of power. In other words, when it comes to the really big cases affecting the status quo, it doesn't quite matter what the laws say or how strong the evidence is. The decisive force is what the politics says.Like it or not, the case is more likely to be driven by political intrigue than legal standpoints. The "opposite sides" when Saxena fled T [...]

Spinning for the government and a push poll?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0800

The Bangkok Post: The popularity of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government has soared after its diplomatic protest against Phnom Penh's appointment of convicted Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, an opinion poll has found. The Nation: The popularity rating of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has tripled after his decisive action to downgrade the diplomatic ties with Cambodia, Abac Poll said in a survey released on Friday. BP: The problem with this, as already noted on Twitter (Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5) is that the ABAC poll surveyed people between October 25-November 5 and the government only took action in downgrading relations in the afternoon of November 5.&nbs [...]

Talk of war

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0800

The Bangkok Post has this quote from Army Region 2 Commander Lt Gen Veevarit Chornsamrit who had just spoken to one of his Cambodian counterparts: “But if the war really breaks out, Thailand will be the winner.” BP: Why on earth would you even say that? BP believes it to be true, but why after meeting with your Cambodian counterpart would you even mention talk of war with the press. [...]

Abhisit was for autonomy before he was against it

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0800

The Bangkok Post (actually, it is from an AFP report) on October 28, 2009 entitled "Thai PM backs autonomy for troubled south" Razak said in a newspaper interview published on Monday that Thailand should offer "some form" of autonomy to the region, where more than 3,900 people have been killed since separatist violence erupted in January 2004.In response, Abhisit said: "That's the right approach. "My government is working to make it materialise and in early December I and my Malaysian counterpart will visit the southern region," he told reporters...."Thailand is supporting this approach but it's not an independent region. It does not contradict the constitution, but instead allows more p [...]

Who are the nationalists now?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0800

In the past, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Thai Rak Thai were known as nationalists, but well if Thaksin was a nationalist, he often faced criticism for selling out the country. Social critic Prawase Wasi and The Manager stated Thaksin murdered the country when he sold Shin Corp. Prominent author Chris Baker has noted: In 2001 Thaksin turns nationalist, 2004 anti-nationalist and liberal – and then he turned absolutely against everything he was before. He became the enemy of the establishment, if not a revolutionary. BP: Would disagree slightly. Thaksin was more nationalistic prior to the 2001 general election ranting on about the IMF etc, but once he became PM, he [...]

Out of friendship or payback?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0800

VOA: Puangtong Pawakapan is a professor of politics at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. She says Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra is pay-back against the Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for disputing the listing of a temple along the border as a world heritage site. The temple is in Cambodia, but Thailand controls land around it."I don't think Hun Sen invited Thaksin to be his advisor because he really needs Thaksin's advice on economic issues … I think it's [a] political issue and it's emotional retaliation of Hun Sen on the Abhisit government," said Pawakapan. BP: BP sees it as a mixture of anger over Kasit being made Foreign Minister and the issues [...]

Nidhi: Thai govt went too far in ambassador recall

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07:00 +0800

Well-known academic Nidhi Eoseewong is quoted in Matichon as stating that Thailand's recalling its Ambassador is a measure which is too harsh and it was unnecessary to do something to that level. He feels that this tension between Thailand and Cambodia will please many other countries. He said that Cambodian's action can be protested against, but a more appropriate measure should have been taken such as summoning the Cambodian Ambassador and handing him a protest note. Hun Sen has the right not to agree with the Thai government as he is not the underling of Abhisit and must sit and listen to what he says. He also sees Hun Sen's actions as more dictated by trying to strengthen Cambodia's bar [...]

Sneering nationalism

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:23:37 +0800

Veera in the Bangkok Post: This will be a golden opportunity for Thaksin to prove his worth, by helping the poor Cambodians first so that the Cambodian government will not have to beg for international aid each year to keep the country afloat. The Thai Foreign Ministry statement in English on the recall of Thai Ambassador (available here as PDF) also shows this same attitude: 5.3 Review ongoing cooperation that the Royal Thai Government has extended to Cambodia. It is with regret that the Royal Thai Government must undertake such a review as it has always been the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to cooperate with Cambodia for the development of the Cambodian people&rsq [...]

Singapore voices concern over Thailand-Cambodia spat

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:58 +0800

Singaporean Foreign Ministry: "Singapore is concerned about the deteriorating relationship between Thailand and Cambodia. It is not good for ASEAN. We hope that both our friends will keep the larger interest of ASEAN in mind and find a way to resolve their differences quickly in a spirit of good neighbourliness." BP: Of course, we have the Obama visit and the APEC economic leaders' meeting over the next two weeks, so the Singaporeans don't want events to overshadow their day in the spotlight. [...]

Hoodwinked by Hun Sen?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:08 +0800

The Nation in an editorial: It is unfortunate that the Cambodian media do not enjoy the same level of freedom of expression as those in Thailand. The media there should question and expose Hun Sen's personal conduct when he puts his country in harm's way. The Cambodian strongman thinks he can further divide Thai society, already polarised by different political views for the past few years. But he is dead wrong. Exactly who says the Cambodian media does not enjoy the same level of freedom as Thailand. Certainly, not Reporters without Borders: Cambodia - 117Thailand - 130 BP: This is so typical of The Nation. For those who don't follow their line of thinking, they have been [...]

Rumors about the rumor-mongers

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:37 +0800

While people differ on the definition of what a rumour is, Wikipedia has a basic definition: "an unverified account or explanation of events circulating from person to person and pertaining to an object, event, or issue in public concern" Now, The Nation reports on what Ekkayuth "pyramid scheme" Anchanbutr says on the "rumor-mongers" who were arrested earlier this week: Ekkayuth said the inspection should focus on which groups sold stocks en-masse before October 14 and bought them back afterwards. He said Korn was familiar with SET affairs and would know well how to identify those people. "But it depends on whether he has the guts to do it," he added.Citing his own sources, Ekkayuth [...]

Columnist: Rumor arrests are 'scary'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0800

The Bangkok Post has a translation of Baan Muang columnist Chalarm Kheo's take on the two arrests over recent rumors about the health of Thaland's King Bhumbidol Adulyadej: Thailand is looking more and more like a police state. As I write this, I am struck by the news that two persons have been charged with feeding untrue information through a computer system which undermined the security of the nation. They have been accused of spreading rumours about the King's health.Apparently a translation of a foreign news article is at the heart of this case. This incident is too scary for me. BP: Interesting to see further pushback. Anyone else seen any other op-eds/editorials on this issue? [...]

The Thai-Cambodia tit-for-tat

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:13:15 +0800

UPDATE: Thai Foreign Ministry statement in English on recall of Thai Ambassador is available from here as PDF Last night, Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economics advisor and Thaksin accepted today. Earlier this morning, Suthep said it was within Cambodia's right to do so, but this afternoon the government changed its tune, as AFP reports: "We have recalled the ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation measure to let the Cambodian government know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters."Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government harmed the Thai justice system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Abhisit sa [...]

Thai Embassy: Crown Prince is heir

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0800

Charn Jullamon, Thai charge d’affaires, Riyadh, in a letter to the editor published in the Arab News: With reference to Gwynne Dyer’s article, “Thailand crisis is the result of democracy” (Oct. 25), I wish to inform you that some paragraphs and the opinions expressed therein are absolutely untrue and could lead to public misunderstanding. In this regard, I wish to make the following clarifications: 1. As a constitutional monarchy, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is above politics. Throughout his reign, he has very strictly maintained his political status. Even with growing public calls for him to “royally confer” a prime minister to break the poli [...]

Confidence in Thailand

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0800

Philip Bowring has an op-ed in the New York Times: Thais are naturally preoccupied with immediate issues — their convoluted politics and the succession to the revered but ailing King Bhumibol, 81. But in the long term they may need to be thinking about how the country will rate 20 years from now against its traditional rivals, Vietnam and Myanmar, long-established nation states of roughly similar size, as well as against the nearby giants, India and China. As of now, Thailand is well ahead of all but China when measured by G.D.P. per capita and all of the other countries by most social and quality of life indicators. But there is a sense of unease that the nation has lost its momen [...]

Saxena, BBC and Group of 16

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0800

Rakesh Saxena was extradited to Thailand at the end of last week after a long court battle over his role as an advisor to the Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC). Currently, Saxena has been denied bail and is at the Bangkok Remand Centre. So far he is saying little to the police except that he did not sign any documents and was only an advisor at the BBC. For now, he only faces one charge (this was the basis for the extradition charge) but there are multiple other charges which may be brought against him. The Nation's Thanong has a very good summary of what transpired here. The key excerpt: With the credibility of the BOT [Bank of Thailand] hit hard, governor Vijit Supinit was forced to resign [...]

Thaksin appointed economic adviser to Hun Sen

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:02:20 +0800

Kyodo News: Thailand's fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been appointed as economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government, the office of the government's spokesman said Wednesday. BP: No wonder what the reaction in Thailand will be... [...]

Minister threatens to close down ISPs and DSI to go after Bloomberg

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:59:18 +0800

First, the police arrested a third person for allegedly spreading rumors about HM the King's health. As the Bangkok Post reports: A third person has been arrested and charged with involvement in the spreading of rumours that caused a sharp drop in the stock market.Somjate Itthiworakul, 38, was detained in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district yesterday after the Criminal Court approved a warrant for his arrest.Mr Somjate was taken for questioning at the Central Investigation Bureau's Hi-Tech Crime Centre where he was charged under the 2007 Computer Offences Act of posting misleading information which could pose a threat to national security. BP: One question has always been, if they could a [...]