This afternoon, the security unit has reported that as many as more than 35,000 people are gathering at the Victory Monument, built to honour the bravery of Thai soldiers and civil members, who fought with the French troops during the Indochina War nearly 100 years ago to reclaim the lost territories.
As explained by the organiser, named under the group of Ruam Palang Phaendin (The gathering of the mootherland’s forces), comprising key political leaders from various color coded political groups, including the People’s Alliance for Democracy once pressured the military until it toppled the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, the present PM Paetongtarn’s father, the venue was chosen to signify the new round of fight to protect the country’s territory once again from the threat posed by Cambodia, once the French protectorate.
Contesting for the territories once lost and gained by both countries has a long and painful history. It draws enormous attention from the citizens of both sides every time a border dispute erupts, and every move by their governments will then be kept an eye on closely.
This time is not different. Since the new border dispute erupted in late May following the exchange of fire that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier, conflict between the two countries has escalated as both sides have been elevating their demands to gain advantage from each other.
The Thai military claimed that Cambodian troops in the disputed areas, especially at the Emerald Triangle in Ubon Ratchathani province, have made unusual moves since early this year, including building a trench in the areas claimed by both countries following their use of different maps; 1 : 200,000, and 1 : 50,000, respectively.
On June 7, the Thai National Security Council (NSC) decided to impose the border control measures, prompting Cambodian authorities to reach out and propose coordinated troop “repositioning” near those sensitive areas. Things seemed to return to normal, as both sides then entered the negotiation through their bilateral platform, the Joint Border Commission (JBC). But then Cambodia forwarded the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra decided to make a personal phone call to Cambodia’s Senate President, Hun Sen, to try to settle the issue. But instead of being able to do so, the phone just backfired as it was leaked by the Cambodian leader. What is more critical is the conversation between her and Mr. Hun Sen as it’s deemed to breach national security.
PM Paetongtarn swiftly offered an apology to the public and reshuffled her cabinet, but it couldn’t allay the resentment against her and her cabinet. There is now a growing call for her to resign to take responsibility for what she has done to the country. (Read: Thai PM apologises for leaked phone call audio over border dispute with Cambodian leader Hun Sen whereas public resentment growing)
At the heart of the issue is political conscience, which never exists among Thai politicians’ minds.
Some Thai leaders have resigned from their leadership positions due to unfortunate political events, but there has never been a time that they willingly stepped down to take responsibility for their mistaken steps in their administrations.
Political conscience is never honoured here, and PM Paetongtarn’s case is putting the whole country to the test, whether this key element of democracy can be planted and nurtured in the Thai political landscape —just like other developed countries— so that we can have an alternative to political deadlocks and a coup.
At the protest site and elsewhere, people are gathering and expressing their political will peacefully, and they have every right to do so as this is guaranteed under Section 44 of the 2017 Constitution. It’s now PM Paetongtarn’s turn to demonstrate her contribution to democracy and the country by listening to people’s wishes and taking responsibility for her mistaken steps in the administration she is wielding.
Only then can political conscience be born here, ensuring that Thai politics and Thai people will never get lost on the road of political deadlocks and power seizures time and again.
Photos: ©Santi Setsin/ Foto United
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