After the ice age, the great thaw [between Cambodia and Thailand]

August 25, 2010
By Tulsathit Taptim
The Nation

Opinion polls have shown that Thais in general are more concerned about the border tension erupting into something worse than about losing territory to the Cambodians

Nobody saw it coming, but the sudden warming in Thai-Cambodian diplomacy bears all the characteristics of the unique bilateral relationship between the two neighbours.

Two weeks after Phnom Penh petitioned the United Nations for help, accusing Thailand of threatening to renege on its acceptance of Cambodia's rights over the Preah Vihear Temple - triggering a heated Thai response - the thin line between war and romance unexpectedly dissolved.

What's happened? Hun Sen has never been known as a man who budges easily. His past attacks on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested that all the bridges had been burnt. It appeared as though normalisation of relations between Phnom Penh and Bangkok was impossible as long as Abhisit remained in power.

Some say diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" until you can find a rock. Certain cynical Thai observers think that a reverse of that might have been what was happening to Cambodia. Thaksin Shinawatra, goes this theory, used to be a rock, but isn't any longer. In other words, Cambodia had bet on him but has since been disillusioned by his failure to make a quick political return here.
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