Citizen Jane of Bangkok: The military is in charge on the border [Really?]

Cambodian Premier Hun Sen usually says that the Thais signs agreements with their hand and quickly erases them with their foot!

The military is in charge on the border


Published on April 13, 2011
One does not have to be an apologist for the less-than-fragrant Phnom Penh regime to recognise the accuracy of the Cambodian foreign minister's complaint that Thailand's government and military speak with different tongues over the border dispute (The Nation news report, April 10).


Anybody with a modicum of experience of Thai affairs realises that ultimately it is the military that calls the shots (excuse the pun). This was shown during the domestic crackdown last May, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was a "house guest" at Army HQ, and earlier this year, when fighting broke out on the border unbeknown to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was in Phnom Penh ostensibly negotiating at the time.


Of course, persistent and credible accusations of the inexcusable use of cluster bombs by the Thai side at Preah Vihear in February may well reinforce the reluctance of the Thai authorities, and the Army in particular, to involve outside observers, facilitators or mediators. This topic is very well covered in your editorial of April 11.

It is all a far cry from one of the generally accepted tenets of a functioning democracy, that the military is subject to the authority of an elected executive and has a duty to protect civilians.

To adapt an old saying to the situation here: the government proposes; the army disposes.

Citizen Jane

Bangkok
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