Border dispute with Cambodia to bring social unification or division in Thailand?

By Nutthathirataa Withitwinyuchon
20/08/2010

BANGKOK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The current border issue between Thailand and Cambodia has been more complicated by the emergence of patriotism in Thailand and the internal political game played by local politicians.

The recently frequent demonstrations against Cambodia's management plan of Preah Vihear Temple and government's resolution on the issue by Thai Patriot Network allied with People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) reflects the nationalism mood which has been lately spurred in this nation. The question posed concerns whether the rising nationalistic sentiment will further divide Thai society or finally restore unity to this divided country.

"The patriotism is now complicating the issue and intensify division in Thai society..It is more difficult to find the truth ( amidst all the information from various groups) and people choose to agree with what they believe," said Dr. Kitti Prasirtsuk, a lecturer at Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.

Surveys shows among Thai people there are hardliners who want the government to take decisive action swiftly and moderates who want to see the border dispute being solved peacefully.

An opinion poll on the Preah Vihear Temple issue conducted across the country earlier this month by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that 69.55 percent of 1, 133 respondents agreed that the government should, through diplomatic means and military forces, push Cambodians out of the overlapping area near the temple as it is Thai territory. And 77. 93 percent of them, who saw the issue is crucial, said the government should make it part of the national agenda.

On the other hand, the Dusit Poll conducted in August in Bangkok and its vicinity showed that 49.77 percent of 1,059 respondents did not agree with the demonstrators for fearing the rally will create conflict among Thai people. And 37.10 percent of respondents are afraid that the demonstration will increase tension over the issue.

The temple and its surrounding area has been an age-old territorial dispute between the two countries for more than half a century. And the problem root dates back to 1904 when Thailand and French, colonial authority ruling Cambodia, set up a joint commission for the purpose of border demarcation. Even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided to award the temple to Cambodia in 1962, the row over a land plot of 4.6 square kilometers around the temple has never been resolved.

For Dr. Kitti, another factor that put additional pressure on the Thai government when dealing with this border issue is the domestic politics game. "The internal politics game going on in the country has also further complicated the issue," he said.

As the government held live discussion with representatives from Thai Patriot Network and the Yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Aug. 8, in an effort to explain its position over the controversial issue, it received hard criticism from the opposition Puea Thai Party.

"The prime minister's explanation on Preah Vihear and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 was still unclear but the PAD supporters hailed at him to make people believe that the government is working rightfully," a Puea Thai core member was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post.

"The New Politics Party (a political party founded by PAD in 2009) is trying to stir patriotism because it wants to win the Bangkok City Councilor elections on Aug. 29. If not, the party may not be able to emerge in the next general election," the same member was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post.

PAD allied with Thai Patriot Network to demand the government to revoke the MoU signed with Cambodia in 2000 pertaining border demarcation as they believe the MoU puts Thailand at disadvantage. The group also asked the government to force Cambodians out of disputed area along Thai-Cambodian border, to nullify 1907 French- made map of 1:200,000 scales, and to ask the ICJ to review its 1962 ruling on the ownership of Preah Vihear Temple.

Thai government is currently facing tough challenge of bringing Cambodia back to the table of bilateral talks as Campodia 's Prime Minister Hun Sen set a precondition of resuming the meeting of Joint Boundary Committee (JBC). This means Thai government has to get the results of former three meetings of Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) approved by the Parliament as soon as possible so that the schedule of next JBC meeting could be set for discussion of border demarcation with Cambodia.

"Joint Boundary Committee is an important mechanism to achieve solution but the government should move faster," said Dr. Kitti.

Division in Thai society has become widely acknowledged since the prolonged protest of Red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Bangkok from March 14 to May 19, which left 89 people died and nearly 2,000 injured. The government has since been tasked to bridge the disparity in society. The nationalistic sentiment over the disputed border issue, however, is hardly helpful to ease the crisis faced by the government.

Editor: Bi Mingxin