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Partial transcripts of Hun Sen's press conference was in most of the Thai language papers yesterday, but The Nation has excerpts of it in English (were they translating from Cambodian? Or is it a Cambodian to Thai to English translation?). The excerpts in The Nation are on problems with the Thai-Cambodia bilateral ties, border closing, appointing Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser, who is really serving whom?, what can ASEAN do?, insulting Thailand, and on Preah Vihear Temple. The quote though that BP wants to include is:
BP: Both Khieu Samphan and Nuan Chea (named "Brother No. 2') were wanted for their role as leaders in the Khmer Rhouge government. This gets into Thailand's sordid past of supporting the Khmer Rhouge and providing refuge and/or support to some of the Khmer Rhouge leaders for decades. Didn't this constitute interference in Cambodia's internal affairs? Wonder if Abhisit will respond on this... BP doesn't profess to be a Cambodia expert, but does know a bit about Nuan Chea (aka Runglert Laodi) because of his extensive Thai links. He was actually educated at Thammasat and even worked for the Thai Foreign Ministry - all the details of his Thai links can be seen in this detailed paper (PDF) by Eiji Murashima. There are details of him even in the '90s. NOTE: First, to be clear this is not a blog about Cambodian politics so just about as when mentioning Myanmar, will not get into specific details of Hun Sen and his role in Cambodia. You can find his Wiki profile here. Second, yes am aware that other countries supported the Khmer Rhouge, but Thailand supported them unofficially for a long time and even in the '90s long after the US and China. For some details of Thai support and Hun Sen's role in the Khmer Rhouge, see this HRW report.
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What is there to say regarding those old Khmer Rouge leaders? It's just a trolling bait from Hun Sen. I can't think of any case where a country leader would describe another country's judicial system in such a way if he wasn't looking for a war. There's simply no ground for bilateral relationships with such an attitude. On the other hand, you don't choose your neighbors and you have to learn to live with them regardless. My guess is that Abhisit will go for maximum diplomatic impact without affecting the business side too much, ie closing the border.
just watched Thaksins economic advisor speech to about 100 assembled Cambodians and a fair sprinkling of farangs (one introduced himself as a lawyer resident in Cambodia) Thaksin spoke confidently and lucidly, covered a lot of ground globally, across Asia and specifics for Cambodia. He included references to his policies while PM in Thailand - Village Fund, OTOP, 30 Baht Health, etc. He specifically acknowledged his and Thailands indebtedness to the King and the Queen for their work in projects and demonstration farms in the countryside that he said enabled him to rapidly spread and implement reforms in the country. The highlight for me was a beautiful and meaningful statement of his philosophy for economic management: the economy is like a tree where the poor and farming people are the roots rising to the middle class and the elites at the top, if the government applies water to the top of the tree very much water is required to reach the roots if the water is applied to the roots then smaller quantities will be required and the whole tree will benefit, but the top of the tree will have to wait if the top of the tree is not patient then it can topple the government, as happened to him so it is important for a government to apply at least some spray to the top of the tree just so it can get on with its real job of tending the roots |
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