Thailand - International Disputes

[Gadfly]

You have to wonder: the general election is on Sunday, and Thailand has lost ground or lost completely before three international bodies. Really embarrassing for Thailand and Thai officials particularly. They look absolutely incompetent.

 

First, the temple dispute before the ICJ, where most everyone (including those who are sympathetic to the Thai position (me)) expect Thailand to lose big time. It's on shaky ground, and you have to wonder why Thailand stirred this up in the first place. The status quo is better than the likely outcome.

 

Second, in a related matter, Thailand's embarrassing "withdrawal" from the World Heritage Organization. It's not even clear if they formally withdrew, which makes the current government look, well, indecisive and flaky.

 

Third, and given less attention in the local press but more important for foreign businesses, the WTO Appellate Body decision holding that the customs valuation process in Thailand is totally, well to put in polite terms, nonsense. It's quite damning. In the long run it will be good if the Thai Customs Department and the Revenue Department take remedial action, but I suspect they will resist (the DSI is still investigating the company that initiated this trade dispute even though the highest trade body has ruled against Thailand?) its also a pretty damning indictment of protectionist double standards by the Thai government. If the don't take remedial action, future WTO actions against Thailand by importers will be like shooting fish in barrel. Tremendously embarrassing for Thai officialdom.

 

But I have to wonder: is this just a coincidence? Quite amazing if it is.

[Bangkoktraveler]

Withdrawl from the World Heritage Organization?

[Gadfly]

Perhaps I should have said "committee". It's hard to keep track, but for the last week or so there have been newsreports here about a withdrawl or a threat to withdrawl from the World Heritage Committee. It's very confusing and since Thailand has been less than clear on what it is doing I am finding it hard to describe. I talked to some Embassy folks (not US), and they said they were also totally confused about what Thailand is or is not doing.

[Bangkoktraveler]

You think Thailand would be more supportive. What is the problem?

[Flashermac]

 

I don't know that things are really that different. The election is just making people take a closer look at the situation.

 

I'd say that Abhisit is being pulled in different directions by competing pressure groups. He is trying to please them all and getting nowhere. But when Pheu Thaksin rises to power, there will be none of that nonsense! Only one man will decide for the nation, which means he has no one to please but himself. (Anyone else noticed how Yingluck is giving the fascist salute a lot these days?)

 

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

I personally think this is somewhat of a stand to look 'tough' on the border issue before the elections. It's a touchy sensitive subject for many Thais... who will be voting in a couple of days. The Dem gov is trying to look strong and decisive on the issue, but actually looks confused and petty to the outside world. I believe it is mainly for voter consumption pre-election.

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

30 Jun 2011

 

 

PM refuses challenge by Hun Sen

 

 

The government has brushed off a challenge by Cambodia that it formally withdraw from the World Heritage Committee, while denying it was playing up the issue for political gain.

 

[color:red]Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said Cambodia should stop interfering in Thai affairs, after its leader Hun Sen stepped into the debate over the government's decision to leave the WHC.[/color]

 

Hun Sen has challenged the government to officially inform the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) if it was serious about withdrawing.

 

"If you have the heart of a son, you will write a formal letter to the WHC," he told a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

 

Political commentators have criticised the government for showboating over the issue to attract the support of voters allied to the People's Alliance for Democracy, who have campaigned for the government to withdraw from the WHC to safeguard Thai territory in the disputed border area.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who walked out of a WHC meeting in Paris last week, has been forced to defend his decision amid claims that it discredits the country internationally.

 

Mr Abhisit said Thailand's decision did not concern Hun Sen, and he should not interfere in the government's work.

 

He said the government would discuss with Unesco the effects of the WHC's decision not to consider Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear temple.

 

The matter concerned Thailand and Unesco only, Mr Abhisit said. He insisted the government's decision to withdraw from the WHC was meant to protect Thai territory, and not done merely for domestic political advantage.

 

Thailand has yet to formally withdraw from the body, despite Mr Suwit's assertion from Paris last week that his withdrawal took immediate effect.

 

The government had campaigned against the WHC discussing Cambodia's management plan for the disputed Preah Vihear temple, and threatened to withdraw if the plan was put on the agenda.

 

Sources say the meeting was drafting a statement confirming that discussion of the plan would be postponed, which was in line with a decision reached at an earlier WHC meeting in May.

 

However, the Thai delegation took exception to the wording of the draft, so Mr Suwit walked out.

 

Campaigning in Samut Sakhon yesterday, Mr Abhisit, who is also Democrat Party leader, said the public should decide whether to vote for the party that was "really" protecting the national interest in a way that might upset the leader of a neighbouring country, or back the local party that was close to Hun Sen.

 

He was referring to Pheu Thai Party, whose de facto leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, worked as a consultant to Hun Sen's government in 2009.

 

Mr Abhisit said he did not believe Thais wanted to risk losing border territory, and that his government had succeeded in foiling the World Heritage Committee's consideration of the management plan.

 

He said if Cambodia sincerely wanted to solve bilateral problems, it should stop complaining to the international community about their border dispute, and resume bilateral negotiations with Thailand.

 

Cambodian complaints in international forums would only compound bilateral tension, Mr Abhisit said.

 

Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit denied a rumour in Cambodia that Thailand would attack Cambodia as a ruse to postpone Sunday's election.

 

Reports suggest Cambodia is reinforcing its military near the border. Mr Abhisit said that while the Thai army had yet to reinforce its own troops, soldiers stood ready to defend the country.

 

First Army commander Lt Gen Udomdet Seetabut, said Cambodia had fielded infantry companies at two important locations opposite Sa Kaeo province.

 

While movements on the Cambodian side did not yet justify any concerns, he had ordered troops to strictly screen immigrants and their vehicles entering the country from Cambodia.

 

In Surin province, Lt Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, commander of the 2nd Army, said Cambodia was replacing soldiers along the border, and the risk of a clash could not be ruled out.

 

Visits to the Ta Muen Thom temple in Phanom Dong Rak district had been suspended for safety reasons.

 

Cambodian soldiers visited the temple to monitor the movements of Thai soldiers. Thai soldiers told their Cambodian counterparts to disarm before entering the temple.

 

Border trade continued and gamblers still crossed the border to casinos in Cambodia through the Chong Jom border pass in Surin as usual.

 

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Convention complied with a cabinet resolution which required action in case of developments which might affect sovereignty.

 

Mr Abhisit said on Tuesday that the next government should decide Thailand's fate with the WHC.

 

 

Link

[Gadfly]

You think Thailand would be more supportive. What is the problem?

 

I see many, but let's start with having a consistent position.

 

First Thailand supported the application for World Heritage status, and now it does not. Kind of looks flaky.

 

Now this little gem from the report above: Thailand has yet to formally withdraw from the body, despite Mr Suwit's assertion from Paris last week that his withdrawal took immediate effect.

 

So you have a government official first saying Thailand withdrew, but now other government officials are saying they did not officially withdraw.

 

Thailand's position seems to change on the day of the week. This does not instill confidence in Thai foreign policy or the government.

[Flashermac]

 

As Cent points out, it is for domestic consumption. As Hun Sen has stepped in to try to help his buddy Thaksin. He would be delihted to see Takky come back, since they think alike. Turds of a feather float together.

 

 

[Gadfly]

it is for domestic consumption

 

On both sides of the border, and both sides of the domestic divide.