The issue between Thailand and Cambodia seems really bizarre and petty to me on the part of both countries. It's tiny plot of land that the dispute was initially over and neither side seems willing to back down about this. Thailand is a proud nation and I presume that Cambodia is as well. But when the media starts talking about the size and strength of both countries' military, things are getting out of hand.
It would be a truly stupid thing to start a war over and the situation seemed to have diffused about a month ago, but now internal news stories seem to be getting made to perhaps agitate the situation once again.
I think that most people would agree that an all out war between the two nations would be catastrophic, but both sides are behaving like petulant children after the peace accord was signed in October.
Recently, a Thai military patrol activated a mine while on patrol and as you would expect, the Thais are saying that they were patrolling on Thai soil and the Cambodian authorities are saying the opposite.
Immediately following the blast, which severely injured one Thai soldier, the Prime Minister of Thailand declared plans to suspend the peace agreement.
Thankfully, one of the major parties in Thailand's political system is demanding that diplomacy prevail and that another way forward must be found. When you speak to the people, I would be willing to bet that none of them actually want war, it is just the arrogant leaders that are willing to sacrifice soldiers' lives for their own vanity.
“Thailand must shape the narrative now.”
These were the words of the Thailand government when responding to what Cambodia might say to Malaysia and the United States, which were the two nations that brokered the peace agreement in the first place.
This sort of language makes me upset because there shouldn't be a narrative, there should be facts only but then again, these are politicians we are talking about here and they don't really know any other way do they?
Although it appears as though the large political party will be able to prevent the suspension of the peace agreement, even this party is calling for financial crackdown on Cambodia, a country that is absolutely riddled with poverty.
It's not like Thailand is a super-wealthy country either. A vast majority of people, including and especially near the border area in question, live on or below the poverty line.
While I am thankful that the major party is calling for more grown up measures than "throwing all of the toys out of the crib," it still seems to me and most people I speak to that are both Thai and non-Thai, that this is merely agitation and a completely unnecessary one at that.
Thailand is already facing so many problems right now with the rapid deterioration of tourism, that a combat sort of situation would absolutely annihilate it.
I hope that stronger heads can prevail and that Malaysia and the United States quickly resume talking to both sides so that this situation can get under control.
When I speak to people that have lived here considerably longer than I have they tell me tales about how Cambodia has really never been seen as an enemy by the Thai people and there hasn't been any conflict since Khmer Rouge was in control of Cambodia. Even then, it was seen as a "stay on your side of the fence and we won't have a problem."
At the moment the media is being carefully controlled in Thailand and propaganda is being spread to spread hatred towards Cambodia in Thai society. We don't need any more problems in the world do we? An all out war between these two countries wouldn't benefit anyone and at the end of it the silly tiny piece of land that this is all about would be destroyed in the end anyway.
It's pointless! Why can't the leaders of these two nations just act like adults and find a peaceful resolution?