Newspaper section: News
Bangkok Post
In only one day, Hun Sen has achieved the following:
- Admitted that he was provoking political tensions between neighbouring countries for personal reasons _ ''The problem with Thai-Cambodia relations is really a problem between myself and Khun Abhisit (Vejjajiva), the prime minister of Thailand'' _ instead of acting in the national interest of Cambodia or in the common interest of both countries.
- Violated international law: the refusal to even consider the extradition request and forward it to a Cambodian court is a blatant violation of international law. Clearly, if Hun Sen really believes that Cambodia has grounds to refuse extradition, then why does he not allow the process to follow its natural course and forward it to a Cambodian court?
- Tried to draw neighbouring countries into the dispute by claiming: ''He (PM Abhisit) has problems with all his neighbours, including Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Burma.''
- Insulted Thailand and its justice system by declaring, ''There is nothing in the Thai judicial system that is worth respecting.''
- Insulted Thailand's Prime Minister: ''You've stolen somebody else's chair to seat yourself in. You claim other people's property as your own. How can we respect that?''
- Showed his current contempt for Thailand: ''What does Thailand have that Cambodia has to respect?''
- Showed his eternal contempt for Thailand: ''Where was Thailand during the Angkor era? They claimed that Cambodia trespassed into Thai territory, but how could we? Study your history and see who the aggressor is.''
- Insulted everybody's intelligence: ''Thailand is evidently attacking Cambodia.''
No doubt, the events of 2003 warranted the border closing. But at that time violence was simply the act of some angry and misinformed Cambodian people. In 2009, it is Hun Sen, the leader of Cambodia, who is acting the thug.
This cannot be tolerated. It is time for Thailand to adopt the toughest diplomatic stance: sever all diplomatic ties with Cambodia.
CANDIDE
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Trial was not political
For the benefit of Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra as well as the foreign media which are quoting them verbatim, the guilty verdict against Thaksin is not politically motivated. He was convicted after a thorough investigation and trial, with a sentencing that took five hours to read, and no international or respected human rights organisation criticised the outcome as unjust or flawed. He was convicted by a respected judiciary that also narrowly ruled in favour of Thaksin in another case in 2001.
The only thing ''political'' about it is that there was a coup which opened the way for a trial to proceed without influence from the defendant (as prime minister), and has had the result of barring Thaksin from politics.
JIMMY EDWARDS
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The general and Kru Se
Judging from their suspicious role in breaking ties between Thailand and Cambodia, I feel so ashamed that the Cambodian prime minister and our two Thai ex-prime ministers intentionally seem not to understand the simple meaning of ''Ethics''.
As such, they will never ever perceive the fundamental meaning of ''Conflict of Interest'' or ''Regard for Others'', and that is the major root of the problem that currently affects the majority of Thais and Cambodians.
I respectfully beg the ambassadors of Malaysia, Laos,Vietnam and China stationed in Thailand, to convey this message to their leaders: think seriously about it if they have to welcome our ex-prime minister, a man who dares to offer himself as one who will solve the problem in southern Thailand, though he has never, ever told the southern people what he and his close friend tragically did at Krue Se. This man should answer that question first, before visiting his neighbours.
NIKITA
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Name creates a stink
As the odour of treason wafts into Thailand from Cambodia, it is fascinating to discover that one anagram of ''Thaksin Shinawatra'' is: ''Ah! A stink. Warn Thais.''All along, this whiff of a prophecy has been right under our very noses.
JOHN SHEPHERD
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