In May, Abishit's government ordered a military crackdown against the red shirt demonstrators (Photo: AP)10/08/2010
Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Opinion
Bangkok Post
When Kasit Piromya was with the Democrat Party in opposition, he violated all diplomatic regulations with Cambodia. He made a number of unflattering remarks about Prime Minister Hun Sen by calling him a kui (a derogatory term meaning a tramp), a khikha (slave) of Thaksin, and a nakleng (gangster).Just when one thought that diplomacy was a fundamental ingredient behind amicable relations among nations, the current diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia simply deconstructs this illusory definition of diplomacy.
In the world of diplomatic protocol, extravagant titles, fussy dress codes and flowery language seem to be of equal importance to substance in any bilateral relationship. Former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai once said that diplomatic protocol was so vital that it could make or break a relationship with a foreign counterpart.
Yet the present episode in Thai-Cambodian relations should remind the Thai government that overlooking the basic rules of diplomatic behaviour can be extremely detrimental to the national interest.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared during a televised discussion with the Thai Patriots Network, that the use of military force would be the last option. Although Mr Abhisit emphasised that his government had done its best to avoid armed confrontation with Cambodia, he stated that the armed forces and security agencies were ready to defend the country if a border conflict appeared inevitable.
This apparently allows Cambodia to reconstruct Thailand as an aggressive nation - a perception that could further damage the image of the government which, in May, ordered a military crackdown against the red shirt demonstrators.
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