Toward Improving Cambodian-Thai Relations

Very recently, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen suddenly announced that he would accommodate Thaksin Chinnawat, the exiled former Thai prime minister to his country. Both Cambodia and Thailand are ASEAN member countries, this offer by Hun Sen to Thaksin has already violated ASEAN principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of its member countries.
However, Hun Sen said that Thaksin was his old friend and when old friend was in trouble, there was no reason why he could not extend his helping hand. Hun Sen also said that Thaksin was a financial management expertise, he intended to hire Thaksin as his "economic adviser." He said that he did nothing wrong over such an intention.

Power Fight to Regain Control in Thai Politics
In fact, the intention of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is wrong. If Thaksin really accepts Hun Sen's offer and settles down in Cambodia, Thaksin can use Cambodia as his political base to command Thailand's red-shirted antigovernment group and continue his power fight to regain control in the Thai politics again. This, in turn, will trigger political tension between Thailand and Cambodia. If this happens, there will be no peace between Cambodia and Thailand. Moreover if situation turns worse, this might trigger war between the two countries
In handling Cambodia's foreign relationship with a neighboring county, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen did not follow diplomatic rule, but acted strangely. The underlining factor can be traced to the dispute over an ancient temple and a small piece of land between the Cambodian-Thai border. However, if we understand the background of Hun Sen, we should know why he would do this to Thailand.
Hun Sen was born in 1952. When he was small, he only received the teaching of Buddhism. He joined the Communist Party when he was only slightly more than 10 years old. There was even a time when he was a member of the Khmer Rouge, although he denied it by saying that he was just an ordinary soldier. During the 1970s, in order to escape the repressive tyranny rule of Pol Pot, Hun Sen fled to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Hun Sen joined the anti-Khmer Rouge troops.
In 1979, the Vietnamese Government nurtured and supported the formation of a new Cambodian Government. Hun Sen returned to Cambodia and became the foreign minister of the new Cambodian Government. In 1985, Hun Sen became the Cambodian prime minister. He was only 33, then. In 1993, Hun Sen's People's Party was defeated by Prince Norodom Ranariddh's party in the Cambodian general elections. However, Hun Sen refused to hand over the ruling power. In the end, Prince Norodom Ranariddh was forced to form a coalition government with Hun Sen. But in 1997, Hun Sen launched a bloodshed coup d'etat and overthrew Prince Norodom Ranariddh's rule in Cambodia. Subsequently, Hun Sen's People's Party won the 1998 and 2003 general elections and he became the Cambodian prime minister and serving until today.

Domestic and Diplomatic Affairs
In retrospect, the fact that Hun Sen lost in the general elections, but still refused to hand over political power; plus the fact that Hun Sen could launched a bloodshed coup in order to grip on to power have clearly shown that Hun Sen is a national leader who will not use any civilized way to handle domestic and diplomatic affairs.
However, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit is only 44. He was born in Newcastle in England and his parents are wealthy Thai Chinese. Abhisit used to study in the prestigious British Eton School and later on obtained a degree in political economy from Cambridge University. Abhisit has a gentle personality. Ever since Abhisit became the Thai prime minister, he has, apparently, acted according to rules and regulations. At least until today, Prime Minister Abhisit has not been caught by the general public for doing any unlawful acts.

Resolving Border Dispute
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit said that he would persuade Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen not to accommodate the exiled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin and allow him to stay in Cambodia. Abhisit said that he had advised Hun Sen to know the difference between "friendship" and "politics."
However, in order to resolve the border dispute over the ownership of the historical temple and the piece of land in the Cambodia-Thai border, we can expect Hun Sen to continue use his "friendship" policy to add more bargaining chip to negotiate with the Thai Government for the sovereignty right over that small piece of land with the ancient temple on it. But it will remain difficult for the civilized and gentle Thai Prime Minister Abhisit to carry out negotiation with the uncivilized Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen with strong military background.