Updated: Abhisit talks war

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva talks peaceful means of dealing with border disputes but also speaks of war: “My intention of using peaceful approaches to settle the border dispute does not mean that the government is afraid of a war with Cambodia.” It is not surprising that the People’s Alliance for Democracy can drive such a hawkish agenda when they continue to have considerable support amongst the extremist and rightist elements of the regime. Abhisit must respond in ways that are seen as “tough.”

Meanwhile, “Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said fresh deployment of Cambodian troops and armour along border areas adjoining Si Sa Ket province are not cause for worry.”

Pushing hard, PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan “said yellow-shirt activists went to the Criminal Court on Monday morning and filed a suit against four cabinet ministers, accusing them of causing Thailand a loss of sovereignty. Mr Panthep said the lawsuit filed by Samdin Lertbutr and Tainae Mungmajon, representatives of the PAD, accused the prime minister, his deputy Suthep [Thaugsuban], Gen Prawit and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya of violating Articles 119 and 120 of the Criminal Code, for which the maximum penalty is capital punishment.”

Update: As Abhisit admitted “that Thai and Camboldian military forces were confronting each other along the border,” a court has quickly rejected the PAD suit.

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