Panel advises joint development

Panel advises joint development

Senate committee works behind the scenes to find resolution to Thai-Cambodian border dispute - Pheu Thai looks to be well ahead of the Democrats in winning the battle of the slogans - Despite initial pledges of civility, political parties are letting the campaign barbs fly

There is no end in sight to the strained Thai-Cambodian relations as both sides explore new options for a non-military solution to the border security crisis.

Phikulkaew: Working to find a solution

Publicly, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the military have dealt with the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. But behind the scenes, a parliamentary panel has quietly been trying to hammer out a solution to the conflict.
The Senate standing committee on foreign affairs has studied the border conflict for some time although its work has gone unreported by the media.
The panel, headed by Phikulkaew Krairiksh, has interviewed people in the know and compiled information on the impacts of the bilateral fallout.
It has interviewed local experts, academics, and individuals who have borne the brunt of the border hostilities.
Panel members have also visited the border provinces of Surin and Si Sa Ket to see for themselves the reality of the situation on the ground. They have heard the plight and the demands of local officials, soldiers and villagers living in the conflict zones.
Ms Phikulkaew, a Phitsanulok senator and sister of Information and Communication Technology Minister Juti Krairiksh, said the information collected would be presented to France's senate. Paris has played a significant role in meetings held by the World Heritage Committee on the management plan for the Preah Vihear temple in the disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia.
France is believed to have influence over Cambodia, the nation it was once the colonial ruler of.
The villagers on both sides of the common border have been crossing back and forth for centuries and they are so culturally close-knit that it is nearly impossible to tell them apart.
The panel thinks this continued cooperation between the locals can defuse the row that military efforts have failed to settle.
Most recently, Asean has tried to help the countries mediate the conflict by bringing the two sides together for talks. Indonesia, at a recent meeting of Asean ministers in Jakarta offered to send observers to the border area.
But they have yet to arrive, largely due to the Thai government's insistence that all Cambodian troops need to withdraw from the areas around the Preah Vihear temple, the Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda and adjoining areas before Indonesian observers can arrive.
The panel has proposed that the two countries jointly develop the ancient Hindu temple and the disputed area surrounding it.
The dispute might dissipate over time if the borders in the conflict zone are blurred.
The panel will bring to Paris's attention the cultural and ethnic harmony that exists between border residents in both countries and that it is too precious to be jeopardised by security woes.
The information to be submitted to the French senate will make for a strong argument that a peaceful avenue is preferred to the armed clashes in which both sides stand to lose.
Much of the information related to Preah Vihear has been put forth by government agencies and the military. The panel feels that as lawmakers and representatives of the people it has a duty to provide additional information to the WHC in order that the issue can be thoroughly vetted.
The panel has reaffirmed its stand on the joint development of the world heritage-listed site as well as adherence to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding that binds the two countries to border negotiations. The panel reiterated that the MoU must be retained if any negotiations are to have a chance of bearing fruit.
A source in the Senate said the committee disapproved of the government's closure of border posts or a downgrading of the bilateral links since the two countries depended on each other for trade and investment.

Korbsak: In the hot seat

Yingluck basks in media spotlight

The Democrat Party has lost the first battle in the election to rival Pheu Thai Party and someone's head may roll.
The ruling party's election campaign has been mundane at best when compared to the one put together by the Pheu Thai which is catchier and livelier.
Many observers have been left scratching their heads as the media's interest swung from the Democrat's campaign machine in favour of Pheu Thai's candidates.
The Democrats can't understand how their leader, caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, with his captivating persona and rich political experience, can be overshadowed by Pheu Thai's likely premiership contender, Yingluck Shinawatra who made her political debut barely a month ago.
Opinion polls were mostly kind to the Democrats in the beginning but the tide is slowly turning.
Since topping the party list, Ms Yingluck has asserted her dominance in the news, and the media space has been splashed with pictures of her hitting the campaign trail surrounded by the Pheu Thai faithful.
Mr Abhisit, on the other hand, has struggled to compete for media attention. The more publicity there is, the greater the psychological impact the campaign will have on the voters.
A political source said the Democrats started out rather strongly in the popularity ratings but that has since ebbed. News has also emerged that the Democrats are trailing Pheu Thai in popularity in some key constituencies in Bangkok where the People Power Party, now-defunct and replaced by the Pheu Thai Party, used to be the underdog.
By comparison, the Pheu Thai Party's canvassing messages are lucid and easy to understand.
The Democrat's campaign slogan, ''Get on it from our first day in office'', is relatively less accessible.
Experts said the Pheu Thai's slogan ''Restore people's happiness'' sounded more convincing even though the campaign tag lines of both parties are light on substance. Pheu Thai's slogan struck many as superfluous and vague but still it has caught the ears of more voters.
The Democrat Party has shown itself as ''inadequate'' in tailoring a tag line that promises to tackle national problems immediately upon returning to office. Some critics said the slogan left open the question of why the ruling party has waited so long, after more than two years in power, to get its act together.
The sudden change in the electoral winds has prompted the Democrats to scramble to revise their campaign plan, which is under the direction of Korbsak Sabhavasu, who is in charge of the party's electioneering.
The party's election organising team has been under fire for its poor coordination and public relations skills. Mr Korbsak has been entrusted by Mr Abhisit to steer the party's election campaign. However, some party stalwarts do not seem to share Mr Abhisit's enthusiasm for him.
They think Mr Korbsak might not measure up to the task, particularly when compared to Pheu Thai's apparatus.
Democrat supporters are watching Mr Korbsak to see how if he can turn the tide for the party with a little more than a month left of campaigning.

Gothom: Pushing for civility

Campaigns urged to not sling mud

As the election race heats up, poll watchers have lost no time organising oath-pledging rituals which they hope will help moderate candidates' behaviour.
After caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolved parliament, veteran poll watcher Gothom Arya and members of the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation and the Political Development Council convinced key parties to pledge to abide by a campaign code of conduct.
Nineteen political parties signed the pact, agreeing not to engage in violence and to respect the results of the July 3 election.
The ceremony took place at parliament before former speaker Uthai Pimchaichon and Election Commission secretary-general Suthipon Thaveechaiyagarn.
The parties promised to conduct their campaigns peacefully, avoid the use of inflammatory language that incites violence, refrain from offending the monarchy, safeguard state resources, and accept the poll result.
But less than two weeks after the ceremony, some candidates are trading verbal insults, especially on social media outlets such as Facebook, and on webboards.
Mr Gothom said the party representatives who took part in the ceremony should ensure their parties honour their word.
Meanwhile, the Poll Watch Foundation has invited the main parties to debate their policies on June 24.
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, secretary-general of Poll Watch, said six parties would be invited to answer questions.
The parties have until June 17 to respond to the invitation, said Mr Somchai.
Pheu Thai Party drawcard Yingluck Shinawatra has been invited.