It is difficult to understand how a government and military that professes a commitment to peace can so quickly and easily act violently against another nation, on the basis of land mines that are likely to have been planted decades ago.
The only reasonable explanation for such a hasty and unexpected and retreat from the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord is the obvious one, which is the Thai military and/or government never truly intended to abide by this agreement from the outset.
The unwarranted attack on Cambodian civilians that left an innocent man dead appears to be part of a wider strategy.
This of courses raises the question once again of who is really pulling the strings in Bangkok. Have the powerful generals been given carte blanche to justify their bloated defence budget at the expense of neighbouring Cambodia? Are the constant provocations an attempt to trigger a conflict like late July’s which will see Siam’s military leaders gifted a chance to play with their most expensive, destructive “toys”?
Peace is a fragile commodity in today’s world, but we must so be so blinded by our pursuit of it that we ignore the bellicose intentions of those who see war as necessary to achieve their ends.
Youkk Chhang is director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam). The views and opinions expressed are his own.
