Bangkok: "War" warns the opposition to stir up trouble by cancelling MOU 43-44 to benefit Cambodia. Songkram Kitlertpairoj, advisor to Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra, has expressed concerns over the opposition's intention to revoke MOU 43 and MOU 44, emphasizing the potential detrimental effects on Thailand's negotiation capabilities regarding border issues with Cambodia.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Songkram pointed out that the opposition's alignment with the Cambodian government's leadership is surprising, especially given prior warnings from academics and stakeholders about the potential disadvantages for Thailand. The opposition parties, including the Bhumjaithai Party and the People's Party, continue to advocate for the cancellation of these MOUs despite the risks involved. This alignment with Cambodia, he noted, could lead to significant disadvantages for Thailand in terms of border demarcation.
"In the current situation, all parties are well aware that many countries around the world are experiencing similar problems as Thailand and Cambodia. Each side holds separate maps, but their maps overlap. What many countries around the world are doing is conducting bilateral negotiations to establish a common border demarcation mechanism. Canceling MOU 43-44 without comprehensively assessing the systemic impacts could lead to Thailand losing the mechanism to force the parties to sit down and discuss the border issue. In addition to Cambodia, Thailand has also undertaken similar actions with Myanmar, Laos, and Malaysia, with significant tangible progress," said Mr. Songkram.
Mr. Songkram further highlighted that the groups opposing the MOUs are the same ones resisting the entertainment complex project, which is being misconstrued as a casino initiative. The project, which includes a hotel, water park, exhibition center, and convention center, aims to attract global tourists. However, these groups are leveraging this misunderstanding to create unrest and potentially destabilize the government. Political parties are also obstructing the project's progress in parliament, causing Thailand to miss out on opportunities that neighboring countries like Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines are already capitalizing on with similar projects.