Former Thai ambassador to the US, Pisan Manawapat, has suggested that Thailand improve its information warfare capabilities, vis-à-vis its dispute with Cambodia, and that both the government and the military should work together as a team, instead of separately, to be more pro-active in responding to Cambodia’s propaganda.
“I think we have been doing the right thing, particularly in terms of speaking the truth, because that is the role which makes us look like the ‘good guys’. Our communication is, however, too slow. I think this is a criticism which should be heeded by the government,” said the former envoy, during his talk on the “Political Corner” program on Thai PBS on Wednesday.
He said he feels that Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai missed a chance, by speaking for less than one minute during the ceasefire talks with Cambodia in Malaysia, adding that he expects, in the future, that the Foreign Ministry will be better prepared and drafts a speech for the acting prime minister.
Pisan suggested that, in every international forum set to discuss problems between Thailand and Cambodia, the Thai representatives must remind participants of how much Thailand has been helping Cambodia since the Cold War, from receiving Cambodian refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge’s atrocities, helping in the peace process in Cambodia and in demining operations, to building roads and schools in Cambodia and providing scholarships for Cambodian students to study in Thailand.
On the diplomatic front, he said Thailand is too slow, compared to Cambodia, and should be more pro-active and coordinated, particularly in terms of information warfare. “This does not mean that we have to chase after them into the abyss, but we must be pro-active and have offensive plans,” he said.
The former envoy also said he does not think that the border disputes with Cambodia can be resolved in the next 3-6 months, even after the ceasefire agreement.
Commenting on Sean Kotaro O’Neil, the prospective new US ambassador to Thailand’s statement to the Senate, during a confirmation hearing, Pisan explained that ambassador-to-be was not speaking to please a Thai audience, but to win support from the Senate for his nomination.
He said he was, however, disappointed by O’Neil for not being sensitive enough and for not mentioning the civilian losses in Thailand, resulting from Cambodia’s attacks, adding that he hopes the envoy will reconsider what he has said about Thailand.
