True reconciliation needed before sanctions are lifted

Re: Sanctions to stay until Burma reforms: US, National Affairs, yesterday

At this point, keeping sanctions in place is the only reasonable stance the US could take.

Like US Ambassador for Asean Affairs Scot Marciel said, without a fully inclusive process, which includes the party that won by a landslide in the previous election, it would be difficult to make Burma's 2010 elections creditable.

Reconciliation has been a buzzword for some time in the Burmese political arena. But the earnest overtures have only come from opposition political parties and non-Burmese ethnic groups in the form of federal proposals and tripartite dialogues to end the internal conflict. However, the Burmese junta has been pressuring and oppressing its contenders to yield to a self-drawn, military supremacy constitution, leading to the establishment of a so-called "disciplined democracy", without offering any genuine give-and-take options for further reconciliation.

According to Alternative Asean's press release on October 30, the 2010 elections based on the junta's 2008 constitution, will be a recipe for continued conflict. The constitution has given the military immunity from prosecution and freedom from public accountability; control over future constitutional amendments; and legitimacy to subjugate ethnic communities.

In short, the junta's 2008 constitution should be viewed in light of whether it is really in line with the people's political aspiration or not. For without the people's endorsement, which is the heart and soul of the issue, there would never be a democratisation process.

The solution to resolve this ongoing crisis would be a constitutional review process involving all stakeholders and the election law that guarantees an all-inclusive participation, after the constitutional amendments, to reflect common practice.

And this could only happen, when Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, ethnic groups - political parties and as well as armed opposition - and the junta are able to thrash out their differences in a tripartite dialogue that is endorsed by the UN and reaffirmed by the US.

SAI WANSAI

BANGKOK

Watch out, they might trade Thailand for their own gains

Thais should worry about the behaviour of their two former prime ministers: Have Thaksin Shinawatra and General Chavalit Yongchaiyuth endangered Thailand's sovereignty by using their status and classified information acquired during their tenure in the highest office for personal benefit?

Firstly, it is apparent that Chavalit sparked off a bitter row between Thailand and Cambodia - even though he had no official authority to represent Thailand in his recent visit to Phnom Penh. Chavalit has declared that if he were in the government, negotiations over the disputed Phrea Vihear would "go very smoothly". What does that mean? Have Chavalit and Thaksin promised to give any part of Thailand's soil to Cambodia in return for Hun Sen's help to reinstall Thaksin? Have the three engaged in any secret negotiations that would benefit them personally but could harm Thailand's sovereignty instead?

Secondly, Chavalit is supporting autonomy for Thailand's three southernmost provinces in tandem with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's proposal. This issue is very sensitive and could possibly put 20 per cent of that region's Buddhist population subject to Sharia law if it is put to use after the region becomes autonomous. I am not against autonomy, but who can guarantee this will not happen? At least we should be sure that nothing like this happens.

Thirdly, Chavalit also plans to visit Burma. What if he and Thaksin promised the Burmese junta to keep mum over Burma's ongoing nuclear project? Burma's nuclear ambition is very dangerous to Thailand too, since Burma and Thailand have fought each other for centuries. What if they promised to drive the Burmese refugees and political exiles back for punishment in Burma, which is against humanity?

It is clear now that Thaksin and Chavalit have negotiated with foreign leaders, and/or may have promised something to them, behind the Thai government's back. Are they putting our country in danger without us knowing it?

CHAVALIT VAN

CHIANG MAI

When will this good cop, bad cop game end?

Cambodia is playing a game that nobody wants to play. What is the point in Cambodia hurting bilateral ties? When the relations are already bad, where is the need for Cambodia to play a nasty game?

Now it looks like Cambodia wants to hurt Thailand by using ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra. But why is it taking such a long time for Thailand to understand that what we are most interested in is not Thaksin or Thai internal affairs, but the border issues and Preah Vihear.

Thailand has never stopped meddling in Cambodia's Preah Vihear issues and is not showing any intention to proceed with border talks, and this is what is really frustrating Cambodia. But why are the Thai newspapers overlooking this?

Now here is a point I don't understand. Who is the real actor? The Democrat-led government or the Army? To me, it appears as if they are both playing good cop, bad cop. Earlier, the Democrat government said they did not want to strain bilateral ties, but the Army didn't care, and continued pushing their forces forward to the border. Yet we were given the impression that it was not the Democrat-led government that ordered the deployment of troops.

But now it is the reverse. The bad cop's role is being played by the government. They took the issue to the international stage by protesting against Cambodia and Unesco on the matter of Preah Vihear. And the Army is playing the good cop. Now you can read articles quoting Army chief General Anupong Paochinda and other Thai generals on the border saying: "Bilateral ties are normal. The border situation is normal. We don't want to see any conflicts. Everything needs to be settled peacefully…"

But the question is when will Thailand return to border talks and who will be the most trustworthy negotiator? For Cambodia, I don't think we can sit at a table with a Thai making diplomatic chit-chat, while another is pressing a gun in our back.

CAMBODIA BEYOND SHADOW

PHNOM PENH

Some memorable gaffes from our very own Thaksin

Thaksin Shinawatra's rise to power was incredibly quick. His downfall is even more spectacular and unstoppable. It is time to forget the man and start thinking about his legacy. Here are some unforgettable quotes, which will no doubt enter the annals of history. The man should follow soon.

When promoting international understanding: "The UN is not my father" (in reaction to the UN's inquiries on the extra-judicial killings back in 2003 following the infamous "war on drugs").

When promoting the ailing national carrier: "If I were not a public figure, I wouldn't fly with Thai." Clearly, he always had national interest in his mind.

Demonstrating his scientific acumen: "A tsunami does not automatically happen, but if the earthquake is strong enough there is a possibility"

Promoting his personal concept of justice: "Seventy four of the culprits were killed and four were wounded" (in reference to the Krue Sae Mosque "incident"). Wait a minute, weren't they suspected terrorists? Unlike Thaksin, they didn't have a chance to stand trial in court to prove their innocence.

Promoting his personal concept of Democracy: "Where in the world is there a single-party government called a dictatorship?" Well, let's say in Burma, North Korea, Libya ... Cambodia would probably fit the bill as well.

Promoting national reconciliation: "Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution. And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country". Well, we've been expecting you for a long time now. Feel free to come back anytime. We've already prepared a house for you.

Thaksin and the invisible-hand theory: "They've pushed me into a corner, if they could use the law to kill me, they would". Seriously, who are they?

Thaksin showing empathy for the Thai people: "The guy was infected with bird flu because he took a sick chicken, slaughtered it and then ate it.

"There are some who died because they were fasting, and they were crammed in tight." (In reference to Tak Bai)

Psychic Thaksin: "All kinds of relations with Cambodia must be halted until we get a satisfactory explanation."

Visionary Thaksin: "Our country needs to move on. Our children need to have a much better future. There's no point if adults keep trying to beat each other up and finally destroy the country."

Finally, my personal favourite quote about Thaksin: "Petty, vindictive and not very well-informed autocratic leader who is enamoured of his own sense of grandeur." Apparently written by a journalist at The Nation while Thaksin was still PM in 2005.

CANDIDE

BANGKOK