From 2006-2008, The PAD and Kasit fought side-by-side to unseat the Thaksin Shinawatra government and the subsequent Thaksin-backed regimes via ongoing street protests.
Today, the love affair between the PAD and Kasit is over. Indeed, one could argue that this partnership was terminated on the day the Democrat Party formed the coalition government in late 2008.
Many in the yellow-shirt movement believed it was the PAD that was mostly responsible for installing the Abhisit Vejjajiva regime. They lamented the fact that the PAD never got the credit it deserved as a key ally of the Democrats. And now, Kasit seems to further infuriate them by not bowing to PAD demands.
Kasit has struck back by branding the PAD a "cry-baby" for making absurd requests over the border issues with Cambodia. He made a valid point here, since any acquiescence to the PAD's demands would only drive Thailand into armed conflict with Cambodia.
However, it was Kasit's further explanation of the government's position toward the PAD that truly revealed the hypocrisy on his part.
Kasit stated, "Integrity hinges on prudence and maturity. Don't act like a baby and allow feelings to cloud your judgement." He also added, "The Abhisit government is not prone to use force or to insult a neighbouring country."
In looking back to Kasit's role in the PAD, some may wonder if "integrity" means a different thing in his dictionary. In 2008 at the height of the contentious Preah Vihear Temple issue, Kasit appeared on a television talk show and repeatedly insulted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Kasit called Hun Sen a gangster of Southeast Asia.
This is the man who once served as Thai ambassador to Russia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States. This is also the man who broke diplomatic rules as he embarked on eliminating his political enemies, without realising whether his actions would have a negative effect on Thai-Cambodian ties.
So it is puzzling now to see Kasit lecturing to the PAD for acting like a baby and disguising himself as a peace lover in the face of the Thai-Cambodian crisis.
Didn't Kasit also allow his feelings to cloud his judgement in the past, when he blatantly attacked the dignity of a leader of a foreign country?
The deterioration in relations between Thailand and Cambodia is undoubtedly partly caused by Kasit's past undiplomatic behaviour and his intimate alliance with the PAD.
The man of integrity also went on stage with the PAD and approved the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport in November 2008. He sarcastically said he enjoyed the food and music at the occupied airport, while thousands of unfortunate travellers were left stranded for many days.
The hard truth is that, today, Kasit still serves as Thailand's foreign minister. The place where he has spent all his professional life is also the place that has been highly politicised under his leadership during the past few years. Like any other state agency, once the Foreign Ministry becomes politicised, it is difficult to separate it from politics.
Traditionally the Foreign Ministry has managed to stay above politics. It is only recently that it has fallen into the pit of political conflict. Because of the growing disagreements between the PAD and Kasit, the PAD decided to exploit the territorial disputes with Cambodia and the Preah Vihear issue so as to complicate the work of the ministry. The aim is to deligitimise Kasit at the expense of politicising the Foreign Ministry.
The involvement of the PAD, a non-state actor, in the country's foreign affairs has severely constrained diplomatic options, as Thailand and Cambodia try to work out solutions to the border dispute. During this critical period, the Thai-Cambodian relationship needs to be hand led particularly strictly - through diplomatic channels and without political string-pulling.
The PAD's ongoing anti-Cambodia campaign has certainly intensified mutual suspicion between the two countries, and has thus obstructed the efforts of the Foreign Ministry in the rebuilding of a trusted friendship with Cambodia. At the same time, the PAD continues to stir up a sense of nationalism while fabricating historical memories to fulfil its own narrow interests.
Ultimately, what made the politicisation of the Foreign Ministry possible is the fact that Kasit was appointed as foreign minister. He is the reason why the ministry is in an awkward position in the current political deadlock between the government and the PAD.
The man who once politicised foreign policy issues for his political gain is now in charge of foreign affairs. His call for the PAD to refrain from using the Cambodian issue, to build up political support, is therefore not only ridiculous but also indeed very shameful.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a former diplomat, is a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
No comments:
Post a Comment