Will it Be War

[Guest globalwanderer]

There is a view that says playing up the Cambodia tension plays into the governments hands,,,.... but!

 

 

Thai envoy recalled from Cambodia

BBC NEWS

Mr Thaksin remains a highly divisive figure in Thailand

 

Thailand has recalled its ambassador from Cambodia over its appointment of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra as a government economic adviser.

 

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the step was "the first diplomatic retaliation measure" to express the concern of the Thai people.

 

Mr Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006. A court convicted him in absentia of corruption last year.

 

Recent border skirmishes have also strained Thai-Cambodian relations.

 

Divisive figure

 

Phnom Penh announced on Wednesday that Mr Thaksin would serve as a special adviser both to the government and to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

 

State television said Cambodia would refuse to extradite the tycoon because it considered him a victim of political persecution.

 

A government spokesman told the BBC that Cambodia valued Mr Thaksin's leadership qualities and business experience and that he would be an asset to the country.

 

Mr Abhisit accused Cambodia of interfering in Thailand's internal affairs, and a foreign ministry official said bilateral co-operation agreements would be reviewed.

 

"Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government harmed the Thai justice system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Mr Abhisit said.

 

Mr Thaksin - who has lived mostly overseas since he was ousted - remains a divisive figure in Thailand.

 

Since the coup, both supporters and opponents of the former telecommunications mogul have repeatedly taken to the streets of Bangkok in large protests, some of which have turned violent.

 

Thailand's relationship with Cambodia has also become more volatile in recent months.

 

Troops have clashed sporadically around the border temple of Preah Vihear, which both claim as their territory

[Guest fountainhall]

I doubt if any of us have a true 'read' on this strange situation. Hun Sen is an odd figure. A one-time member of the murderous Khymer Rouge, he switched sides and eventually allied himself to the Vietnamese prior to their invading the country to rid it of Pol Pot's vile regime. When the Vietnamese pushed him into power, he inherited what had been one of the loveliest of countries totally devastated by years of war and the unimaginable genocide that had wiped out most professionals and people with any skills.

 

Whether he remains a Vietnamese puppet remains open to question. That he is corrupt is probably true. A Global Witness Report earlier this year claims he has been implicated in incorrupt dealings relating to rights to exploit the country's oil and mineral wealth. Allying himself to the equally corrupt Mr Thaksin probably seems a good idea. A case of 1+1 will equals $$$$$$ is my guess. If I'm right, then I cannot see how war would be in the interests of either.

[PattayaMale]

"A Global Witness Report earlier this year claims he has been implicated in incorrupt dealings relating to rights to exploit the country's oil and mineral wealth."

 

The Bangkok Post suggests that a possible "deal" was made with Puea Thai party, headed really by Thaskin. If Hun Sen helps Thaskin, they will help Hun Sen with the disputed maritime border which is suppose to have lots of oil underneath.

 

In my view this is possible as both men are very wealthy and in my view have no real desire to help their own countries. Ego, power, accumulation of more wealth is their only real goal.

[fedssocr]

I think I agree with that assessment. Cambodia is a one-party state. The opposition have been harassed and knocked virtually into submission. Hun Sen is all about consolidating his own power and wealth. Go through Phnom Penh and see all of the luxury houses he and his cronies have built and then go a few blocks and see the squalor so many people there have to live in. I'm not sure he is under the thumb of the Vietnamese at this point.

 

I am a teeny bit surprised that the king went along with this appointment of Thaksin. I can't figure out what his angle is unless he is under Hun Sen's ultimate control. Maybe he would rather still be dancing ballet in Paris. It would be nice if the gay king would be benevolent. Certainly the people of Cambodia deserve some good leadership if anyone does.

[Guest lester1]

There will absolutely be no war. I can imagine a convoy of soldiers setting off from their bases near Sattahip as soon as the troops are rounded up from their beach cleaning duties in Pattaya. Problems start almost immediately when lead elements are stopped by Thai police demanding to see drivers licences after claims of speeding and staying in the outside lane. Following this, lorries start to run out of gas and find that due to energy saving rules put in place by the government that all gas stations shut down at

10-00pm. Whilst waiting for clearance to buy fuel, troops are allowed to look for food sellers but find that local zoning laws prohibit this except for one illegal karioke bar and a gay gogo full of underage drug addicts.

Once out into the country the convoy makes better time but then hits roadworks at the Highway45 Bangkok Interstate (started 2002, finished whenever). Hundreds of illegal Cambodian workers employed by the Thai government, unaware of the coming war, slow things down with randomly placed coned off areas which divert vehicles into muddy tracks. Further delays occur when a motorcade with several police outriders,and carrying the deputy assistant commissioner for corruption's female concubine shunt the convoy into a ditch.

Further problems develop when the only built and working toll has just one gate open and the lady worker in the booth lets a lorry through only when she 'damn well feels like it'. Conscript drivers from the country, unused to modern driving habits in Thailand, stall at traffic lights where continuously flashing yellow lights and counting down from 200 seconds signs hinder then at a right turn, especially when the green only comes on for a nanosecond and they have fifteen motorised food carts in front of them.

Three days later, at the border, remaining vehicles grind to a halt as immigration staff state that we certainly wont let you cross, and even if you make some cash arrangement, we wont let you back. Apart from that most of you dont have the right paperwork, those who do dont have it in triplicate, there are any way at least two hours of people ahead of you in the queue, an update on subsection2 rule 4 introduced at random border crossings only demands a fully notorised bank statement, and I'm sorry but our photocopier and photo booth are not working.

Thus war fails

[Bob]

There will absolutely be no war.

 

A rather sarcastic (and funny as hell) description of the failed state of the modern Thai government.

 

The only other similar reason I can think of why any war effort would fail is that Thailand decided to send 10,000 troops for the effort and:

(1) 3,000 of that total were generals and massive delay occurred during discussions of who exactly was in charge and who exactly had to salute who. Plus, most were attending ceremonies awarding medals to each other.

(2) 4,000 of the remaining troops were unavailable - still attending the gardens of the various generals' girlfriends.

(3) 2,000 of the remaining 3,000 were cooks feeding the 3,000 generals, and

(4) As the only movies in the caravan were of the of the old wars with the Burmese, the remaining 1,000 privates were out building elephant traps.