Surin calls for rapid end to dispute

Published: 13/11/2009 at 02:50 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The diplomatic conflict between Thailand and Cambodia should be brought to an end before the Asean-US summit scheduled for Sunday, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean), Surin Pitsuwan, said on Friday.

“The dispute is no longer an internal affair of Thailand or Cambodia. It is a conflict between two member countries of Asean and could affect the organisation’s plan to become an economic community in the near future,” he told reporters in Singapore.

Mr Surin said he had sent letters to foreign ministers of all member countries of Asean asking for help in settling the escalating dispute between the two countries.

The conflict arose after prime minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra economic adviser to his government and his personal adviser.

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Dan

Discussion 9 : 14/11/2009 at 12:49 PM9
The conflict started when Thailand tried to take Cambodia's temple. And the ASEAN secretary general is Thai. How can we trust him to be unbiased in this conflict?
chavalit

Discussion 8 : 14/11/2009 at 12:39 AM8
Thaksin is seen laughing and smiling on just about every photo. He's clearly very happy to be in the lime light again. If I was him I would be over joyed at Thailand's over-reaction to his rather shallow economic advisory. No way could he have envisaged how this would be on the front page of every newspaper and headlines of all the tv channels for more than a week now. He must be so happy.

Really, the best thing that Abhisit could've done is not even bring up the subject. Just say so what? Let Thaksin advise them. Then we'd only see a sad Thaksin face if any at all but I think that it's the PAD trying to create as much trouble from this as they can. Don't forget they also want rid of Abhisit. He's only a stop-gap for them on the road to their undemocratic politics.
Aek

Discussion 7 : 13/11/2009 at 10:59 PM7
Cambodia has EVERY right to appoint anyone it wants to as an advisor. This government should stop acting immature and unprofessional in instigating and inflaming the situation even further and taking the low road instead of the high road as has been the case so far.

Yes, Thaksin is a crook and corrupt politician BUT so have most if not all the previous old time politicians who have governed Thailand--history proves the fact. No one in Thaksin's situation could have received a fair trial with those appointed by the coup junta that conducted a wide scale purging of any and all things having to do with Thaksin. They were only taking orders from a higher authority and we Thai people are very well aware of that. We are not fools and know the hand behind all the animosity, confusion and divisions that have transpired in Thailand.
mikey

Discussion 6 : 13/11/2009 at 09:39 PM6
Agree with discussion 1, 2 and 3.

Taksin is definitely not the root to all the problems that Thailand is facing.

Sure, he was corrupt and he did'nt deserve his place as PM, but military coups are not the answer.

The military is the root of these problems along with all the other corrupt officials in goverment, who have made decisions which have worsend realtions with Cambodia.
Tony

Discussion 5 : 13/11/2009 at 09:02 PM5
Here is ASEAN illustrating why supernational organizations are both useless and infringing on national sovereignty.

This most certainly is a dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. If the US has the right to invade Iraq on the other side of the world, Thailand has the right to defend itself from a 3rd world tyrant and a fugitive traitor sitting right on their border.
eEconomist

Discussion 4 : 13/11/2009 at 08:31 PM4
The way to solve the problem is for Abhsit to dissovle Parliament and call for new elections.

All colours, red, yellow, blue and white to conform with the outcome of the election.

That will solve the problem!!
Bert

Discussion 3 : 13/11/2009 at 06:25 PM3
I fully agree with Discussion 1. The real problem is that this government is obliged to have a FM like this Mr Kasit.
Billabong

Discussion 2 : 13/11/2009 at 03:40 PM2
The Bangkok Post is wrong to state that the conflict arose after prime minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra economic adviser to his government and his personal adviser. The truth is, it started when Thai soldiers trespassed into Cambodian territory near Preah Vihear temple. Please be more balanced in your reporting and editorials etc.
Concerned!

Discussion 1 : 13/11/2009 at 03:00 PM1
BP has written..."The conflict arose after prime minister Hun Sen had appointed in-exile former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodian government and to himself".

My understanding of this conflict is that it has been going for a while with efforts from the PAD making it much worse......... I am not a fan of Mr Thaksin, but isn't time to stop blaming him for EVERYTHING that is going wrong in Thailand........ any thinking person can see this is irrational and silly.

A strong leader will stop trying to blame everyone else for his woes.......... find solutions without mud slinging.......... only weak leaders find "mud slinging" an appropriate form of leadership!

Just some thoughts from a concerned on looker who loves Thailand.

Surin calls for rapid end to dispute