- By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist
There is very little in the Thai establishment controlled media about the following report-as it makes Abhisit looks negative. Thai Intel had to combined together pieces from many source.
However, the Thai prime minister, Yingluck, has ordered the Thai Foreign Ministry to probe Cambodia‘s petroleum research institute disclosure that Thailand’s former prime minister, Abhisit, ordered his security chief, Suthep, to meet in secret with Cambodia to discuss oil and gas development.
“Yingluch told the ministry to conduct an investigation to see what occurred……Because any negotiation by any government needs to be conducted in the open, follows proper procedure, transparent and can be openly investigated by the Thai society,” said the Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Thai government said its negotiation with Cambodia on oil and gas would be done openly. “If you hold secret negotiations, the public will be concern about hidden agenda and secret deals. All negotiations must be transparent,” said the spokesman.
“We will immediately launch an inquiry,” said the Thai Foreign Minister, Surapong.
- Back-Ground:
Taksin, Thailand’s former prime minister, that was ousted by the 2006 coup, was greatly criticized by the Nationalist press for an MOU negotiation on the Phra Vihear relics settlement with Cambodia, linking that MOU to a secret deal between Taksin interest and Cambodia on oil and gas development in the Gulf of Siam.
Subsequent news release said Thailand and Cambodia came within inches of reaching an agreement on oil and gas development, during the Taksin time.
A few years ago, the Abhisit government came to power, and relations between Thailand and Cambodia suffered-massively-with Abhisit while in the opposition, attacked the then government of selling out Thailand to cambodia and calling Cambodian’s leader “A Cheap Thug.”
All the attention by Abhisit pointed to the Phra Vihear relics-where some geologist, says the settlement there could have an impact on the continental shelf dispute.
However, with Thailand’s own oil and gas reserves fast running dry, Thailand’s oil and gas giant, PTT, have been on a reserve quest globally-to secure long-term supply for Thailand and also to continue its growth.
In Bangkok, PTT bought great pressure on the Abhisit government to solve the oil and gas dispute with Cambodia-as Thai Intel have reported earlier.
Yet, even with that reality, of PTT oil and gas reserves running out and pressure on the government-Abhisit focused mostly on the Phra Vihear relics-to the extent of sending spies into Cambodia to gather military information.
Oil and gas development in the dispute area is said to will take 5 years-before production-from this time.
News today is that in fact, Abhisit has sent Suthep, to meet with Cambodia representatives twice to discuss oil and gas reserves. Suthep admitted to have met the Cambodians in secret, and partially admitted to oil and gas talks-where Abhisit said the Cambodian disclosure is meant to dis-credit him.
Recent rumors surfaced in Bangkok that Taksin was planning a trip to Cambodia to discuss oil and gas reserves. Taksin, in fact, said if there is anything he can do to help in Thailand’s negotiation with Cambodia he would be open to helping.
The news, of Taksin visiting Cambodia, sparked an out-raged with the nationalist here in Thailand, that Taksin was planning to steal Thailand’s oil and gas interest. Taksin, earlier, was appointed an “Economic” adviser to Cambodia.
- Analysis:
The bottom-line analysis is that this disclosure by the Cambodians have open the way for the Yingluck government to proceed with negotiations with Cambodia on oil and gas development.
The all powerful Thai military has quietly, pulled most of its soldiers out of the Phra Vihear dispute area as Cambodia has made a major cut-back in recent days. Yingluck Defense Minister, is also planning a visit to Cambodia in the near term and the Thai Foreign Minister is also planning an ASEAN visit.
The environment appears right for an oil and gas joint development agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in the near term.
The Following is from Cambodia news:
UNDP to assist Cambodia to develop petroleum policy tool
Friday, 24 June 2011
UNDP to assist Cambodia to develop petroleum policy tool Country Director Elena Tischenko, left, and H.E. Ho Vichit, right; Vice Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, signed a cooperation agreement on 22 June to assist Cambodia in petroleum policy development. (UNDP/Chansok Lay)
The United Nations Development Programme signed a cooperation agreement with the Cambodian government on Wednesday, 22 June, to assist it in petroleum policy development, an important dimension in managing its petroleum resource.
Elena Tischenko, Country Director of UNDP Cambodia, and H.E. Ho Vichit, Vice Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA), inked the agreement, which marks a new important step in efforts to help Cambodia develop its emerging oil and gas sector.
Under the agreement, UNDP will provide financial support for the CNPA to conduct petroleum research and prepare technical oil and gas briefings, and for exchange programmes to enable its staff to gain more experience from oil-producing nations. Other activities covered by the agreement include developing human resource capacity in the agency to conduct petroleum policy analysis and to improve its strategy to communicate its work with the public.
H.E. Ho Vichit gratefully acknowledged UNDP’s assistance saying it will further strengthen the capacity of CNPA to manage the sector more effectively.
UNDP’s partnership with CNPA dates back to 2005. A highlight of the cooperation was the international conference on oil and gas which UNDP and CNPA co-hosted in March 2008.
“This agreement is a new start for our partnership to support Cambodia to develop its oil and gas sector,” Ms. Tischenko said in her remarks at the signing ceremony held at the CNPA office in Phnom Penh.
The CNPA agreement is made possible due to generous funding provided by the Royal Government of Norway, as part of a Cost-sharing Agreement between UNDP and Oil for Development programme of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Last updated: 14 July 2011
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