June 6, 2025: “Freedom” unfortunately can undermine unity. A glance through the home page of The Phnom Penh Post could give a feeling that the Cambodian government can luckily forget the local media and concentrate on smearing Bangkok.
There is zero criticism of the Cambodian administration on the website. It should be more or less the same when other news outlets of Cambodia are concerned. In Thailand, on the contrary, about half of the coverage is on military movements of both sides and the other half had to do with negative things about the Thai government regarding its handling of the latest border conflict.
One YouTube clip of a big Thai media organisation calls a senior Thai political office holder “Thai with a Cambodian heart” in the caption. That label came from what an opposition politician said, but you get the idea. The Thai media coverage has created another battlefront for the Paetongtarn government, which, believe it or not, has to assure Thais every day that the ruling politicians and the military are on the same page over Chong Bok.
Make no mistake, media freedom is great. At times like this, though, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Phumtham Wechayachai might not fully agree. In addition, we will never hear Cambodian leaders bemoan “fake news” from their domestic outlets.
Different US govt, same Gaza policy
June 5, 2025: Donald Trump has picked up where Joe Biden left off, when the Gaza atrocities are concerned.
The United States vetoing the latest UN Security Council draft resolution calling for unrestricted humanitarian aid and an immediate and unconditional ceasefire that would protect countless innocent women and children from bodily harm or even death has underlined the painful reality of the current “world order”. That reality gives politicians in office the power to determine (or disagree over) what is morally right or wrong.
This month marked the fifth time that the US has vetoed a Security Council draft ceasefire resolution in order to politically protect Israel. Biden’s Washington vetoed a similar resolution late last year.
According to The Guardian, the latest text was co-sponsored by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. Russia, China, France and the UK voted in favour.
The United States basically and solely said it did not want to make the Hamas equal Israel as the latest draft seemed to suggest. The would-be resolution “draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, or disregards Israel’s right to defend itself,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted as saying.
Simply put, that “false equivalence” is of absolute importance to the United States, more important than injuring, maiming or killing of the innocent of Gaza. Much of the world is outraged as a result, but it is helpless at the same time.
Paetongtarn scrapes through
June 4, 2025: In one media meeting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra navigated, sort of, tough questions concerning the latest Thai-Cambodian border conflict.
The group interview has come against the backdrop of fierce media scrutiny that seemed to intensify amid the latest round of territorial dispute.
In it, she addressed issues of family ties with elite Cambodians, suspected conspiracies and whether Thailand has been too soft strategically in its response to the neighbouring country’s “aggression.”
On the family ties, she basically said a usually-cordial relationship was definitely better than a usually-hostile one. The Shinawatras’ normal friendliness towards high-ranking Cambodians would facilitate talks when problems emerged, she insisted.
When asked about “conspiracy” rumours, she said: “With whom? You mean between Thais and Cambodians? I don’t think so. There isn’t anything like that.
“I don’t deny that we (highest-ranking Thai and Cambodian officials) are friends. That is not a crime. Are you (the reporter asking the question) a friend of the one beside you? When conflicts happen, you try to sort them out peacefully, don’t you?”
But she added that you would fight to keep your home if a friend invaded your privacy.
She maintained that the relationship with the Cambodian rulers was on a “direct phone call” basis, which applied to other neighbouring nations like Malaysia as well.
A longer response had to do with whether Thailand could have been more aggressive at the border and internationally.
“We (ruling politicians) have been in close consultations with the military to make our analysis of the situation as accurate as possible. (For example,) we think about whether closing borders would lead to more tension and violence. We are in communications with the military even when we write statements,” she said.
On whether Thailand had been too much on the defensive, she invoked a key part of the national anthem which says “Thais love peace but will fight courageously” if they have to.
To be fair, she was walking a tightrope and managed to get to the other end. Barely just? Time will tell.
RIP, former teen idol
June 3, 2025: Pairoj Sangwoributr changed how Thai women regarded male superstars forever.
Before him, it had to be good, muscular looks in order to go far in the Thai cinematic world. He was a man anyone can fight, and even ladies who were physically strong enough could fancy a shot.
But no woman would fight him. Everyone was head over heels. Wai-onlawon (Age of fun-filled confusion and craziness) made him arguably the first teen sensation in Thailand. Boys rushed to buy guitars. Girls scrambled to get posters.
He would be the male celluloid magnet for years. A horde of Pairoj-style lead man stars would follow. They had to have boyish silliness, cool sense of humour and annoying yet adorable smirks. Muscles were unnecessary.
His film career expanded when he got older. His talent was not limited to acting, but directing as well. But for all this time, up until he passed away at the age of 72, Where is the toilet? that he sang while playing the guitar in Wai-onlawon was his biggest and most ever-lasting legacy.
May he rest in peace.
Kiss and slap
June 2, 2025: Everyone certainly remembers MoU44. Not everyone may remember the time when Thaksin Shinawatra, representing the Bangkok government, had to make Thais run for their lives from Cambodia. (Many Thai political activists were watching cartoons or not even born yet at the time.)
Everyone surely remembers the cordial group photos portraying the close ties the Shinawatras have with elite Cambodians. It was no secret either which country top red-shirt members escaped to, or passed through, at the height of their conflicts with Thai authorities.
But border skirmishes or disputes happened. It’s bewildering if we take into account some of the above. But it will not be so bewildering if we embrace some conspiracy theories.
A surge of nationalism is, in a way, good for ruling politicians. Some corrupt ones became national heroes thanks to wars (Ask key figures in the Russia-Ukraine war or the Gaza invasion). Some major football victories triggered mass celebrations and made the public forget daily woes.
In other words, a smart use of nationalism can be a great political distraction or even game changer.
All this does not mean the Thai-Cambodian ties have involved, with absolute certainty, conspiracies. It can be just a silly relationship alternating between violence and romance. It’s like your boyfriend slaps you one day and kisses you the next, and you can do nothing but try to “MoU44” your way through it.
Doctors versus politicians
June 1, 2025: A rare battle is unfolding. If, on June 12, at least 47 members of the Medical Council reaffirm its opinion on the Thaksin Shinawatra treatment at the Police Hospital, it will send major shockwaves through the political realm.
And vice versa. If the council, which has 70 members, fails to confirm the opinion that the treatment was suspicious and unethical, critics will say ruling politicians have made professionals know their place.
In fact, the 14th floor controversy is never a “grey” matter. By “grey”, one may think one way and the other the opposite. In this case, everyone knows why Thaksin ended up at the Police Hospital. It is actually a case of whether or not the Thai society, which brings together the public, political apparatus, bureaucracy and professionals, can always accept or always be made to accept what politicians fighting for powers say is acceptable.
It’s a case of whether politicians can go only so far in dictating or influencing public opinions, or the sky is the limit regarding what they can do.
Reports say lobbying has been in full swing. Every vote for or against will be intensely scrutinised in addition to absences. Some council members are entitled to sending representatives to the crucial voting, but representation in case of an absence is apparently not compulsory, meaning some members can probably just skip the session.
Political and ideological battlegrounds keep shifting in Thailand, and a profession long priding itself on noble acts is having its turn.
Daily updates and opinions on local and international events by Tulsathit Taptim
