PM makes his case
- Published: 24/01/2011 at 10:59 AM
Alarmed by the prospect of larger protests over the Cambodian border issue, PM goes on national TV to explain government's position.
A Google map version of PM Abhisit's map, showing route taken by seven Thais (red), barbed-wire fence bordering area occupied by Cambodia (green) and white line indicating straight line between markers 46 and 47. http://bit.ly/dF4LjN Prepared by @thattvnews http://thaitvnews2.blogspot.comAbhisit stands firm in face of joint rally
Three-sided protest arises from border spat
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva points out spot where seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.
Mr Abhisit said in a televised address last night that the government would not submit to the groups' demands, particularly the revocation of the memorandum of understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 governing the two countries' border disputes.
The PAD is calling on the government to revoke the memorandum which they say puts Thailand at a disadvantage in its dealings with Phnom Penh.
It also want the government to force Cambodians from every disputed area and to cancel Thailand's membership of Unesco's World Heritage Committee.
"[The PAD and Thai Patriots Network's] actual goal is not to push for the revocation of the memorandum, it is to oust the government from office," Mr Abhisit said.
He insisted he would not allow a repeat of the 2008 yellow shirt PAD seizure of Government House, when the pressure group targeted the Samak Sundaravej government.
Tearing up the 2000 memorandum of understanding governing border areas contested by Thailand and Cambodia will only lead to the use of force, Mr Abhisit warned.
The prime minister said in his television broadcast that the memo had helped prevent either country from taking back the border land to which they laid sovereign claim.
Scrapping it, as demanded by the People's Alliance for Democracy, would leave the two neighbouring countries with no option but to use force to reclaim the territory, he said.
Mr Abhisit used a digital map to trace the path taken by the seven Thais on Dec 29 when they entered a disputed area near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district next to Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.
The seven were charged by Cambodia with illegal entry and trespassing on a military area.
Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth and Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator with the Thai Patriots Network, which is allied to the PAD, were among those arrested.
Mr Panich and four others were given suspended jail terms and have since returned home.
The court has still to bring down a ruling on Mr Veera and his secretary, Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, for illegal entry and they also face charges of espionage with the Phnom Penh court scheduled to hand down its decision tomorrow.
Mr Abhisit said during the broadcast last night that the memorandum was a tool for keeping either country from asserting unilaterally its territorial claim over disputed border areas.
The PAD is calling for the memo to be scrapped, saying it is tantamount to giving Cambodia licence to take Thailand's border land. The group is holding a protest tomorrow in Bangkok to highlight its demand.
The premier said the memo required the two countries to determine together what aspects of the dispute could be settled and what remained contentious.
In areas which are unsettled, the memorandum also sets a course of action and protocol to be followed.
Mr Abhisit said the two countries would have no choice but to use force to settle the border conflicts if the memorandum was cancelled.
Military clashes would have far-reaching ramifications on diplomacy and also affect people on both sides of the border who now live in harmony.
barbed wire – thick wire with a lot of sharp points sticking out of it, used for making fences ลวดหนาม
firm – definite and not likely to change แน่นอน, แน่วแน่
joint – done together; belonging to or shared between two or more people ที่ร่วมกัน, ความร่วมมือกัน
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม
border – the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
spat – an argument or disagreement, especially over something that seems unimportant เรื่องทะเลาะเบาะแว้ง ในเรื่องไม่เป็นเรื่อง
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
bow to – to agree to do what someone wants you to do even though you do not want to ยอมทำตาม
pressure – a force pressing against you or attempting to defeat you ความกดดัน
People’s Alliance for Democracy – the union of several groups protesting against the past government and which staged large protests against the Thaksin government as well พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย
Thai Patriots Network – The group formed to pressure the Thai government into not approving any agreements which would result in the loss of territory to Cambodia เครือข่ายกลุ่มคนไทยหัวใจรักชาติ
sect – a small group of people who belong to a particular religion but who have some beliefs or practices which separate them from the rest of the group นิกาย (ทางศาสนา),กลุ่ม, พรรค
address – a formal speech คำปราศรัย
submit – to accept that someone has defeated you ยอมจำนน
demand – a very firm request for something ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้องrevocation – officially saying that something is no longer legal การยกเลิก การเพิกถอน
memorandum of understanding (MOU) – a document used to describe a form of a written agreement between two or more groups, countries, etc. The document is not as strong as a contract but outlines a commitment between the two to work together toward the same purpose or goals
govern – to control the way that things happen ควบคุม, บังคับ, ครอบงำ
dispute – a serious disagreement ข้อโต้แย้ง ข้อพิพาท
disadvantage – something that makes someone or something less effective, successful or attractive ข้อเสียเปรียบ ข้อด้อย
disputed area – contested area; an area claimed by two or more countries, groups or people พื้นที่ที่เป็นกรณีพิพาท
World Heritage Committee – the UN committee which determines whether a place, building, structure, etc is of great historical or culture value and should be given a special protected status คณะกรรมการมรดกโลกgoal goal – aim; purpose เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
oust – to force to leave a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
seizure – the act of taking control of something, especially by using power or force การบุกเข้ายึด
target – to direct something at someone or something ตั้งเป็นเป้าหมาย
tear up – to scrap; to get rid of; to stop using or accepting เลิก, ทิ้ง
sovereign – of the right of a country to rule itself and its land อำนาจอธิปไตย
lay claim – to demand or ask for something because you believe it is your legal right to own or to have it อ้างสิทธิ, ยืนยัน
option – a choice; something that you can choose in a particular situation ทางเลือก
reclaim – to take back something that was yours เรียกกลับคืน, เอากลับ
territory – an area of land controlled by a particular country, leader or army อาณาบริเวณ อาณาเขตประเทศ
trace – to follow the same route or path that someone else used before ตามรอย ตามทาง
charge – to accuse someone officially of committing a crime ตั้งข้อกล่าวหา
illegal – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
trespassing – going onto someone's land or enter their building without permission การบุกรุก,การรุกล้ำ
coordinator – someone whose job is to organise the various parts of an activity and make sure that all the people involved work well together (used to identify Surasai Katasila, PAD coordinator) ผู้ประสานงาน
allied – connected with something ซึ่งมีความสัมพันธ์กัน
arrest – (of the police or, in this case, soldiers) to take someone under control because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม
suspended jail term – a situation when the court decides that the person who has been proven guilty of a crime does not have to undergo the punishment given, usually under certain conditions ไม่รอลงอาญา
ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
espionage – the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another country or of finding out another company's secrets by using spies จารกรรม
assert – to state firmly that something is true ยืนยัน
unilateral – done or decided by one country, group, or person, often without considering what other countries etc think or want ที่เป็นฝ่ายเดียว, ด้านเดียว, ฝ่ายเดียว
tantamount to – being almost the same or having the same effect as, usually something bad เท่ากัน
license – freedom to do or say whatever you want, often something bad or unacceptable เสรีภาพ, ความเป็นอิสระที่จำทำสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่ง
highlight – to stress; to made something more noticeable เน้นย้ำ
determine – to officially find out or decide something ตัดสินใจ ชี้ขาด
aspect – one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc ด้าน,มุม
settled – reached a formal agreement that ends a disagreement ทำข้อตกลง
contentious – causing or likely to cause disagreement ซึ่งโต้เถียงกัน, ซึ่งเป็นที่ถกเถียงกัน
unsettled – (of a problem or argument) not having been dealt with successfully ยังไม่ตัดสินใจแน่นอน
course of action – actions that are taken or can be take ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ การกระทำ ลงมือทำ
protocol – a formal international agreement สนธิสัญญาชั้นต้น
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง
clash – a fight or battle between two groups of people การต่อสู้ด้วยกำลัง
ramification – the possible results of an action ลักษณะหรือปัญหาที่เกี่ยวข้อง
diplomacy – the ability of being able to deal with people in a sensitive way that does not upset or offend them and which builds good relations among groups of people การคบค้าสมาคม, การเจรจาต่อรอง
harmony – when people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together ความสามัคคี
0 comments:
Post a Comment