Thailand: Abhisit lost his credibility

Thailand has lost its credibility on both cases--the border talk and the use of cluster bombs.
Although Thailand managed to make Mr. Hor Nam Hong and Gen. Tea Banh feel like a fool by showing up alone in Bogor, Abhisit and his administration has shown to the world their shameless character that have made Mr. Hor and General Tea looked like a saint.

It is a lesson for Cambodian leaders to learn that, " Siem min Chaol (tricky) Kboun, Yuon min Chaol Put."

And while the Bangkok Post reported: "Govt united on border observers, says Abhisit," the Nation reported that: "Thailand 'split on observers."

Which one is it? Is it a messed up country or a mixed up media?

It's the military that controls Thailand.


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Govt united on border observers, says Abhisit,

• Published: 11/04/2011 at 03:10 AM
• Online news: Asia

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insists that there is no conflict between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the army over Thailand's refusal to accept Indonesian military observers into the disputed area on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The prime minister said Sunday that the ministry and the army understood the government's stance that Thailand would not allow Indonesian observers to enter the 4.6 square-kilometre disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple.

"If the Indonesian observers were allowed to go into the disputed area, it would make the border situation worse," said Mr Abhisit.

He was responding to Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who said he was disappointed that Thailand had refused to accept Indonesian military observers into the disputed area.

Mr Hor Namhong was quoted as saying that Thailand sent conflicting messages on Indonesia's role as mediator in the border dispute between the two countries. "Frankly speaking, it's really difficult to deal with them," he said.

"The government, the foreign minister, says one thing while the military says another thing.
"We don't know who we can trust, who to deal with. We don't know who really has the right to negotiate."


Mr Hor Namhong was speaking to reporters in Jakarta ahead of the Special Asean-Japan Meeting to discuss post-disaster assistance for tsunami-hit Japan.

But Mr Abhisit said Thailand had discussed the matter with Indonesia and it was well understood.
Mr Abhisit also said that the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting between Thailand and Cambodia which ended last Friday in Bogor, Indonesia, went smoothly. He said Thailand could tell the international community that Thailand and Cambodia could successfully resolve their border conflict through these kinds of bilateral talks.

Meanwhile, Thailand is being criticised in the region for its decision to deploy cluster bombs in its February border clashes with Cambodia.

The Cluster Munition Coalition, based in the UK, last week condemned Thailand's use of the munitions. The army responded, denying it used cluster bombs.

Lao Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith was quoted Sunday by the Phnom Penh Post as saying that use of cluster bombs during the clashes was a serious concern, as they were "horrific" weapons.

Thailand has admitted using 155-millimetre Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) - large shells launched from the ground that split open and release dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area - but the the army said it does not define the weapon as a cluster munition.

Mr Thongloun urged all countries to sign and adhere to the 2008 convention banning the use of cluster bombs.