Towns and businesses must adapt: academics
During the "War of Powers: From Poipet Ridge to the Middle East Desert" seminar, organised by KU Radio Thailand recently, academics from Kasetsart University pondered how the Middle East conflicts, the rising oil prices and border trade, and the Thailand-Cambodia border tensions, will shape a new political and economic reality of all Thais.
Speaking on the heated stand-off at the border between Thai and Cambodian troops in recent months, Asst Prof Lalita Hanwong said the fire had been fanned on social media by "urbanites" happy to "leave locals at the border to bear the true costs of danger and suffering".
Assist Prof Lalita, from the Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasetsart University, and an adviser to the House of Representatives' Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and Country Reform, referred to nationalism as "a tool driving pride to the edge".
She mentioned the 2003 arson attacks on the Thai Embassy and Thai shops and businesses in Phnom Penh when Cambodians had reacted angrily to reports that Thai actress Suwanan Kongying had claimed the ancient Preah Vihear temple belonged to Thailand.
The veracity of her statement was never established, but the news still spurred anger among Cambodians. In 2013, the International Court of Justice ruled that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole territory.
People living near the Cambodian border face financial hardship due to the closures of many border checkpoints, according to the Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration faculty member, Acting Second Lieutenant Jul Thanasrivanitchai.
"Local sellers are having a hard time, and Thai gamblers have not travelled to Cambodia as much. Around 5,000-20,000 Thai gamblers used to go to Cambodia a day," he said.
During the border closure period, Acting Second Lieutenant Jul suggested the group look for new revenue streams to make up the shortfall. He added that local businesses and residents must devise plans to ensure a prompt response to any unforeseen events.
The Middle East conflicts mean national security is a focus for Thailand, even though the country is not a member of the United Nations Security Council, said Jatuchatra Chommai, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations.
Dr Krit Won-in, Vice President of the university's Innovation and Social Missions, said that while the Middle East conflicts have led to high oil prices and rising living costs, "In 2025, the Israel-Iran war represents a new dimension of power under the economic surface of the demand and supply of oil."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Evacuee slams Thai PM Paetongtarn for indifference
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has visited an evacuation centre in Surin province amid escalating tension along the border with Cambodia, where she was admonished by an evacuee who blasted the government's indifference and slow reaction. Ms Paetongtarn visited this northeastern province on Sunday to offer moral support and distribute basic supplies to residents who have been displaced by the border skirmishes. However, the visit was marked by public frustration over the government's handling of the conflict, with one displaced resident confronting the suspended premier for her indifference to the plight of those affected. After arriving in Surin shortly after noon on Sunday, Ms Paetongtarn made her way to a shelter in Muang district to offer support and distribute supplies. As she arrived at the shelter, Chayanuch Choksukudom, who was displaced from her home in Kap Choeng district along the border, approached her to express her plight. However, upon stepping out of her vehicle, Ms Paetongtarn proceeded directly into the shelter, seemingly unaware of the woman's presence. An aide informed Ms Chayanuch that the premier would return to speak to her, to which she responded emotionally: 'So heartless.' Speaking to the media afterward, Ms Chayanuch expressed deep disappointment over what she perceived as the prime minister's indifference. 'I feel so hurt by Ung Ing's words,' she said, referring to the prime minister by her nickname. 'The government's handling [of the border situation] is very slow. Thai people should not die in vain. Right now, the whole country is in pain.' She urged Ms Paetongtarn to reconsider her approach. 'I want her to truly open her heart and see how much we're suffering. We understand there are interests involved, but please, think again and act anew — for the nation and its people,' Ms Chayanuch said. She was referring to critics' claim that the border flare-up was due to a personal dispute between her father Thaksin and Cambodian strongman Hun Sen — an accusation which the ruling Pheu Thai Party has denied. Ms Paetongtarn has been suspended from acting as prime minister since the beginning of this month pending a court ruling on her controversial phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. She holds a concurrent cabinet position as the culture minister.
Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Malaysia FM says Cambodian, Thai leaders to discuss conflict on Monday: report
KUALA LUMPUR - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will come to Malaysia on Monday to discuss an escalating border conflict between the two countries, Malaysia's state news agency reported on Sunday, citing Malaysia's foreign minister.
Bangkok Post
12 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia continues to attack Thailand while claiming ceasefire intention: Thai govt
Cambodia is continuing to attack Thailand and deploy more weapons near the border despite its claimed intention to cease fire, according to Thai authorities. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Sunday that Cambodia had opened fire on Thai soil and Thailand had called for a ceasefire long before Cambodia did. Cambodia attacked Thailand and just called for a ceasefire while claiming that Thailand was the invader, he said. 'Cambodia has opened the firing frontier for as far as 800 kilometres from the Northeast to Trat province (in the East),' Mr Phumtham said. 'The attacks affect civilians along the border. We condemn the acts of Cambodia as international crimes against civilians, which violate international laws,' he said. During his visit to Trat province which borders Cambodia on Sunday, Mr Phumtham said Cambodia had used heavy weapons which damaged houses, hospitals and a petrol station in Thailand. Thai authorities had no choice but to take defensive measures, he said. Cambodia could prove that it sincerely wanted a ceasefire by withdrawing its forces from the border, he said. Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said Cambodia continuously fired its long-range weapons, and shells hit many non-military locations in northeastern provinces, including Ban Sammoeng hospital in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket Saturday afternoon. There were no casualties because the facility had been evacuated beforehand, he said. Movements on the Cambodian side suggested the possible deployment of high-performance multi-barrel rocket launchers, including PHL-03, RM-70 and BM-21 systems, prompting concern from Thailand, the army spokesman said. 'Cambodia has not stopped attacking Thailand with all kinds of weapons. The army confirms it will exercise its full capacities to respond to the attacks and aim only at the military targets which threaten public safety,' Maj Gen Winthai said. RAdm Surasant Kongsiri, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, said Cambodia fired artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers at hospitals and houses and used its citizens as human shields by deploying the weapon launchers in its citizens' communities. 'Such actions represent an inhumane use of innocent people and are a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions,' he said. RAdm Surasant also claimed Cambodia had been reinforcing its military presence along the border, laying anti-personnel landmines, levelling unfounded accusations against Thailand, and increasingly deploying heavy weaponry, including the PHL-03, RM-70 and BM-21 systems. He said Cambodian attacks had killed 13 Thai civilians and injured 36 others, including 11 who were seriously wounded. Deputy Defence Minister Gen Natthaphon Narkphanit said Cambodia had repeatedly shown its insincerity. A clear example occurred when Cambodian troops withdrew from Chong Bok on June 8 – but left landmines there. Cambodia again showed insincerity by firing at Thailand early Sunday morning after discussing its ceasefire intention with United States President Donald Trump at 11pm Saturday, Gen Natthaphon said. "Cambodia started firing at 2am after a talk with Mr Trump at 11pm. That's insincerity. The armed forces feel sorry that its targets were civilians," the deputy defence minister said. He admitted he was concerned about Cambodia's long-range weapons which could fire rockets at distances of over 100 kilometres.
