_Opinion_ (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion) ยป Opinion
THINK PRAGMATIC
Does Hun Sen want to play in our political sandbox?
* Published: 26/10/2009 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: _News_
(http://www.bangkokpost.com/advance-search/?papers_sec_id=1)
Friends and supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's iconic democracy
crusader, may have felt insulted by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen when he
tried to compare her with his so-called "eternal friend", exiled former prime
minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"Many people are talking about Mrs Suu Kyi of Burma. Why can't I talk about
the victim, Thaksin?" said Hun Sen during his face-off with the media on
Friday when he arrived in Hua Hin for the Asean summit.
The Cambodian prime minister's attempt to liken Thaksin to Mrs Suu Kyi as
both were victims of separate military coups in Thailand and Burma was
simplistic and ignorant of the huge difference in characteristics and
dedication
to democracy between the two people, not to mention the political
backgrounds leading to their overthrow.
"Without the coup d'etat in 2006, such a thing would not have happened,"
said Hun Sen.
But what would have happened without the coup then? No one then seemed to
have the right answer although they agreed that the political stalemate
would drag on until either side in the conflict - the Thaksin government on
one
side and the People's Alliance for Democracy on the other - lost their
patience. Then what, bloodshed? But would Hun Sen care?
I don't think he would as the only thing he cares about is that he lost a
powerful friend in Thailand who seemed to have done him and his family a lot
of favours to the point that his wife had tears in her eyes when she
learned about Thaksin's fate.
Hun Sen insisted his remarks about Thaksin did not constitute interference
in Thailand's domestic affairs. He was quoted to have said: "This is just
moral support from me. As one million Thai people of the red shirt group
support Thaksin, why can't I, as a friend from afar, support Thaksin?"
But I beg to differ. His first remark, which was first conveyed to theThai
people by former prime minister and Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh and then repeated upon his arrival here for the Asean summit,
amounted to direct interference in Thailand's internal affairs. They also
demonstrated his complete lack of any diplomatic decency and statesmanship.
Hun Sen's remarks should have pleased the Puea Thai Party and the red shirt
people. In the meantime, they have incensed the yellow shirt people as
well as many non-partisan Thais who despise a foreigner like a Cambodian
interfering in our worst politically divisive issue.
It has been widely known that Hun Sen and Thaksin have had a close
relationship through their business dealings and it was believed that the
fugitive
ex-premier had, on various occasions, slipped into Cambodia. But then why
did the Cambodian premier choose to make public his sympathy and support for
Thaksin now - at first through Gen Chavalit and then by himself at the
Asean summit - despite the fact that the coup which toppled the Thaksin regime
took place more than three years ago?
Was it intended to embarrass Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva? The answer
was already loud and clear as Mr Abhisit appeared to be disturbed by Hun
Sen's remarks and hit back at the latter. "What is the purpose of Prime
Minster Hun Sen coming to Thailand?" said Mr Abhisit during a press conference
on
Friday. Was he coached by Gen Chavalit whose one-day visit to Phnom Penh,
which came two days ahead of the Asean summit, seemed quite untimely if not
suspicious?
As a shrewd politician who has survived in Cambodian politics for decades
while many of his arch-rivals have all lost out or faded into oblivion, I
don't think Hun Sen needs coaching. After having deliberately made unprovoked
inflammatory remarks against Thailand on various occasions, including his
order for Cambodian troops at the border to shoot any Thais who trespass on
the disputed territories or his recent announcement to Cambodian students
that he would tear up the Thai map pertaining to the Thai-Cambodian border
if it does not correspond with the one held by Phnom Penh, Hun Sen, this
time, may think that he wants to have a hand in Thai politics. And he has
chosen to take Thaksin's side probably believing that the fugitive ex-premier
will definitely be able to stage a political comeback in the not too
distant future.
Even Thaksin himself is not certain whether or when he will be able to
return in triumph.
Since Hun Sen has laid out his hand, it remains to be seen whether Thaksin
and his Puea Thai Party will join hands with Cambodia to fulfil the
fugitive ex-premier's wish for a political comeback.
* Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Post Publishing Co Ltd.
About the author
Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group.
This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language.
Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc
Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
