Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Thai and Khmer ambassadors are back. But why so sudden?


Ambassador Prasart Prasartvinichai left this evening for Phnom Penh to resume his ambassadorial post in Phnom Penh. His counterpart will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow.
The question remains: What's behind this dramatic, abrupt resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries?

Did Thaksin Shinawatr "resign?" or was he politely asked to quit?

And even he had actually been requested to resign by Premier Hun Sen as had been rumoured here, it was still a "lightning" move, considerating the fact that Hun Sen and Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva were exchanging heated words, both submitting their angry letters of protest against each other to the UN.

Ambassador Prasart was said to have been told last Friday to make preparations for his return to Phnom Penh. That means behind-the-scenes moves had been on a few days before the official "resignation" of Thaksin was made public Monday.

Were the military officers on both sides of the border instrumental in convincing their respective political leaders to call a "political truce"? Was there intervention by a super-power or two to persuade Hun Sen to reach out to Thailand?

These questions and others remain unanswered as of now. Stay tuned. We will find out soon enough.

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