Letter from Phnom Penh
Letter from Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh’s roads are crowded with cars as usual. But these days vehicles have to give way frequently to heavily-guarded motorcades as two famous figures are in town at the same time
One is the world-class martial arts actor from Hong Kong, Jackie Chan, and the other is the fugitive politician from an undisclosed location, but very close, Thaksin Shinawatra.
The two have contrasting backgrounds and intentions but both claim they will speak only good things to Cambodians.
Chan will deliver the keynote address in the Peace Foundation’s “Bridges” series on Wednesday. His talk on “Arts and culture as a pathway towards peace” is scheduled to be held at the University of Cambodia.
The next day, former prime minister of Thailand Thaksin will lecture to a forum of some 300 economists from the public sector, hosted by Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance. Thaksin will discuss a “Strategy to Fight the Financial and Economic Crisis” on Thursday.
People in Cambodia expect different things from the two different guest speakers who would appear at different forums for different purposes.
Chan will talk on peace, which Cambodia is about to reach now, while Thaksin will show them how to develop a good economy, which this country is still far from reaching.
Thaksin’s arrival in the capital is the talk of the town here. People love to discuss the topic if they know the foreign guest is a Thai.
Immigration officials who usually are not so friendly to journalists gave a quick clearance to Thai reporters who told them that they came to cover Thaksin’s story. All media were allowed to witness Thaksin’s landing and took pictures when he got off the plane at Pochentong airport. His plane was allowed to park at a military base at the airport.
Heng Ly, a taxi driver, said he liked both Thaksin and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, who he believes could make the Cambodian economy get better.
Thaksin could help Cambodia to become rich like he did for Thailand years ago, he said with high hopes.
Nobody here wants to discuss Thaksin’s corruption as they say it’s a Thai problem. Cambodians are also familiar with the case but don’t want to talk about it now.
Thaksin’s presence in Cambodia has raised tensions in Thailand but nothing like that would likely be seen in Phnom Penh as residents here are still friendly with Thais.
A local media colleague said this time is absolutely different from 2003 when a rumour sparked anti-Thai sentiment and an arson attack was launched on the new Thai embassy.
This time Prime Minister Hun Sen has stepped forward and kept the conflict with Thailand only at the government level, he said.
Cambodians know those who stirred up the conflict over Preah Vihear Temple are in the current Thai government and Hun Sen told his citizens that he would deal with those people by himself.
Economic retaliation by Thailand wouldn’t be really painful, said Heng Sring, a motorcycle shop owner. “Yes, we import a lot of motorbikes from Thailand but now we have a lot of choices from other countries too,” he said.
“We don’t expect Thailand to seal the border to block goods but if your government really tries that, we won’t get hurt anyway,” he said.
Life in Phnom Penh goes on as usual. Ordinary people do not care much about the dickering between the two governments. Hun Sen can deal with it, they say.
Point of no return
Thakin’s arrival in Cambodia crushes hope of late U-turn; visit coincides with rumour of ‘war room’ in Phnom Penn
Yesterday was the first time Thaksin Shinawatra had come so close to Thailand since he fled the country about a year or so ago. He landed in Phnom Penh at the controversial invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Yet the hero’s welcome, the embraces and the elaborate “family” photograph he took with the Cambodian elite may have pushed several issues well past the point of no return.
Already suffering bilateral relations were in even worse shape yesterday as Thaksin and Hun Sen had a celebratory dinner and the Cabinet in Thailand resolved to tear up the memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime claims.
Earlier speculation that Thaksin might decide to make a last-minute U-turn due to political concerns from his main political backers in Thailand was quelled by the presence of his brother-in-law, former PM Somchai Wongsawat, and Somchai’s wife Yaowapa in Phnom Penh.
In one of the most tantalising political photos ever taken, Somchai and Yaowapa were seen posing with Hun Sen, his wife and their family members. Hun Sen, shrugging off the fast-deteriorating ties with the Abhisit government, obviously wants everyone to know that Thaksin is the Thai political horse he is betting upon.
Thaksin’s private jet landed at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning and he was escorted to the capital by a convoy of cars under tight security. He suddenly became a media star, with local and foreign reporters scrambling to cover every detail of the visit, which was also featured on television news.
“Thaksin is here for the economy and not activities related to politics. It is an honour for Cambodia’s economic sector and we hope that Cambodians nationwide welcome him warmly,” Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan said.
However, Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party was left suffering from a political backlash at home, so much so that some party members wished he would just thank Hun Sen for the invitation and return to his exile as far away and as soon as possible.
With Hun Sen and Cambodia as a whole being dragged into Thai politics – leaving Thaksin’s supporters seething and Hun Sen’s supporters worried – the already slim chances of reconciliation have become even slimmer.
Cambodian state television, showing Thaksin and Hun Sen embracing, reported that the Cambodian leader had pronounced him an “eternal friend” and “the best adviser with economic leadership”. In return, Thaksin reportedly thanked Hun Sen for offering him the post of an adviser, adding that “nothing could compare” to his excitement over the new job.
Thaksin also plans to visit the famous Angkor Wat temple during his trip, TV reports said.
Hun Sen was also seen hugging Somchai and Yaowapa, whose presence in Phnom Penh coincided with earlier rumours that Thaksin’s innermost circle was setting up a “war room” in the Cambodian capital amid concerns that the Hun Sen saga was threatening Thaksin’s popularity back home.
There was also the possible complication of a Thai extradition request, although Hun Sen has unequivocally said such a demand from Bangkok would be rejected.
Even before landing in Phnom Penh, Thaksin’s future in Thailand looked particularly grim after Times Online published an interview quoting him as calling for a reform in the institution of monarchy. Thaksin strongly denied having criticised the monarchy, but his defiant touchdown in Cambodia is unlikely to help his political predicament.
>From his Phnom Penh sanctuary, Thaksin again last night insisted on his loyalty to the Thai monarch and his love for the country. He attacked the Democrats for taking advantage of the “distorted” Times Online report and using it to smear him.
Thaksin said he had “made a mistake” in responding to a question posed by the British journalist about the succession of the throne, adding that he had simply thought of the rule of succession in general, without thinking of His Majesty’s health.
“I want to bang my head against the floor. I forgot that His Majesty was in hospital,” he said during a broadcast from Cambodia. “I pray for the King to recover quickly from his illness and remain the guiding light for Thai people for a long time to come.”
He said on the Internet-based ThaksinLive radio and People’s TV that he had complained in writing to The Times for misinterpreting what he had said and making the headline and lead paragraph in the article offensive to the Thai people. He said he expected the newspaper to rectify the report in a day or two.
As a new economic adviser to the Cambodian government, Thaksin said he would be lecturing Cambodian cabinet members and senior bureaucrats about how to reduce the country’s poverty tomorrow.
“I won’t come to this country too often. I am afraid the [Thai] government will have no time to work,” he said.
But coming just once might be enough to damage many things beyond repair, some observers believe.
Chavalit : the Master of intrigue
It merely took two strokes for General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to win the heart of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra as well as to destroy him. His first move was to travel to Phnom Penh and tell Prime Minister Hun Sen to take Thaksin on as an adviser, and his second move was to express support for Pattani becoming an independent state.
And Chavalit is initiating all his moves from his seat as adviser to the opposition Pheu Thai Party.
He clearly isn’t worried about the heavy attacks he is undergoing for propping up Thaksin’s ghost and getting him a job that was endorsed by the Cambodian king. Nor is he worried about the frowns he is getting for having suggested the inconceivable idea of Pattani becoming an independent state.
Still, at least Thaksin appreciates the fact that Chavalit has put his own head on the block for opening the country’s door to an enemy. As for Thaksin, getting the post in Cambodia is great – it gives him a perfect platform to cause further political agitation in Thailand. Operations from Dubai were obviously not as effective due to the geographical distance and Thaksin will find it much easier to reclaim his power if he is based in the neighbouring country.
As for Hun Sen, he wants to play along and drive the wedge of division even deeper in Thai society. After all, he wants to do what no other Cambodian leader has done so far – stand up against big brother Thailand. Hun Sen has already outsmarted Thais by getting the Preah Vihear Temple inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Plus, he refuses to budge an inch in the border conflict and his troops are ready for combat.
However, if one were to stand back and study the situation, one would realise that Chavalit has done perhaps the best and the worst thing. For instance, Thaksin’s credibility seems to have dropped to the lowest, while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is gaining popularity. In the meantime, the Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts are in disarray because they know that the longer the conflict with Cambodia drags out the more votes the party will lose.
This is because nothing brings Thais together more than a conflict with a neighbour, particularly Cambodia, a former vassal of Thailand.
Thais will certainly be united in expressing their dissent against Cambodia in general and against Thaksin in particular.
Abhisit made the right move by recalling our ambassador from Phnom Penh, and as expected, Cambodia responded by recalling its own envoy to Bangkok and some staff. The Foreign Ministry then followed up by scrapping a maritime memorandum of understanding and subjecting several other pacts to close review. As the two country’s relations sink even further, the government is re-examining all the past policy practices. Still, the situation doesn’t look bad enough for an all-out battle.
It did not take Chavalit too long to create this political mess. Though people have laughed at him from time to time, his talents in political intrigue should never be underestimated.
As we all know, Chavalit is still close to General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council. So, could it be possible that Chavalit has served as a Trojan Horse or is he playing the part of the clever Brahmin Vassakara who served King Ajatashatru in ancient India?
A contemporary of Buddha, King Ajatashatru had the insatiable desire of conquering other kingdoms, especially that of the unbeatable warrior race, the Vajians. Since he was not very sure about the strength of the Vajians, he sent his chief minister Vassakara to seek advice from the Buddha. After all, Ajatashatru wanted to use the Buddha’s ability to predict the future to gain victory.
When Buddha realised the real reason behind Vassakara’s visit, he turned to his chief disciple Ananda and asked him if the Vajians were powerful and had a commendably noble democratic confederacy. Ananda replied in the affirmative. The Buddha then inquired if the Vajians strictly followed the rules of dharma so they could continue flourishing. Ananda once again said “yes”.
Then Buddha declared: “As long as they follow what I taught them earlier in Vasali, they will not be defeated.”
After hearing this, the shrewd minister realised that the Vajians could never be defeated on the battlefield, so instead plotted to take them down through disunity.
So he went back to the court and told King Ajatashatru to have him publicly whipped and exiled for resisting royal orders and betraying the kingdom. Vassakara explained that this would help him enter the Vajian kingdom to work as a spy and sow the seeds of disunity.
Sure enough, three years later the Vajian king’s children were disunited and King Ajatashatru rode in to annexe the state.
Looking back on history, one can’t help but wonder if Chavalit is going to turn out to be the Vassakara of modern times, and if indeed he is the master of all political intrigue.
Bangkok-Phnom Penh sister city exchange suspended
BANGKOK: — The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would indefinitely suspend the plan for sister city exchange with Cambodia’s Phnom Pen City, Bangkok Governor revealed Tuesday.
MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra insisted that this had nothing to do with the Thai government’s conflict with Cambodia regarding the extradition or the overlapping Thai-Cambodian maritime boundary demarcation.
He said it was because he could not find time to travel to Cambodia yet and the contract for sister city exchanges was still in process of drafting.
Government seeking international community help in capturing Thaksin
Thailand is turning the heat on fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra by asking fellow Asean members and others in the intentional community to assist the government’s determination to capture the former premier.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Tuesday besides Asean countries, the Interpol (International Police) and others in the international community have been asked to keep a look out for Thaksin’s whereabouts and to arrest him immediately and turn him over to the Thai authorities.
Panitan said all the documents along with evidence have been gathered and are ready to be submitted to the Cambodian authorities so they can arrest Thaksin.
Abhisit urges Chavalit to review his role
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday urged former PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to review his role after he had caused a diplomatic spat between Cambodia and Thailand.
“I thought he returned to politics to bring about reconciliation. But just one trip abroad caused problems to the two countries and caused an hostile atmosphere,” Abhisit said.
“He should review his role. If he wants to work in politics, he should give priority to national order, interest and the honour of the country.”