Thailand Calls for Enhancing Connectivity Between India and ASEAN (30/12/2011)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Thailand Calls for Enhancing Connectivity between India and ASEAN (30/12/2011) Thailand has called for enhancing connectivity between India and ASEAN and it sees ASEAN-India relations as a significant factor leading to peace, stability, and dynamism in the rise of the greater East Asia region. Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul expressed Thailands appreciation for Indias commitment to forging closer links with ASEAN and East Asia during the past 20 years, which is a vital component of Indias "Look East policy. He touched on the issue in his statement at the Sixth Meeting of the ThailandIndia Joint Commission, held in New Delhi on 27 December 2011. The meeting discussed many issues concerning economy, culture, tourism, security and defense, science and technology, and natural resources and environmental management. Regarding connectivity issues, both countries discussed cooperation on the construction of the Trilateral Highway project linking India, Myanmar, and Thailand and on the linking of Dawei Deep Sea Port in Myanmar to ports along the Bay of Bengal, Chennai, and the Pak Bara Deep Sea Port project in Thailand's southern province of Satun. Foreign Minister Surapong said that Thailand and India should work together to enhance connectivity through bilateral and regional undertakings, such as the Trilateral Highway project and the expanded economic corridor by way of a sea link from the port of Dawei to South Asia. He cited the expanding of Thai-Indian relations as a central part of Thailands "Look West policy. According to his statement, bilateral trade between the two countries has grown from 4.7 billion US dollars in 2007 to 6.7 billion dollars in 2010. It was expected to reach eight billion dollars by the end of 2011. Around 900,000 Indian tourists visited Thailand in 2011 and Thailand expects this number to reach one million in 2012. On the other hand, the number of Thai tourists to India is currently 60,000 and is also expected to rise substantially in the next few years. Mr. Surapong pointed out that Thailand and India should plant the seeds of mutual understanding for the next generation of Thais and Indians, by encouraging business and people-to-people interaction, through educational and cultural activities. In this connection, Thailand welcomes the proposal to set up a ThailandIndia Foundation. He also called for every effort to conclude the bilateral Free Trade Agreement by mid 2012, as well as the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement. "BIMSTEC" stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has accepted the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit India from 24 to 26 January 2012, when she will attend the Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest. Only one head of state or government is invited to attend this event each year. 29/09/2021 Page 1 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

The Pluralistic Poverty of Phalang Pracharat
ISSUE: 2021 No. 29 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 12 March 2021 Thailand’s Elected Junta: The Pluralistic Poverty of Phalang Pracharat Paul Chambers* Left: Deputy Prime Minister and Phalang Pracharat Party Leader General Prawit Wongsuwan Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prawit_Wongsuwan_Thailand%27s_Minister_of_D efense.jpg. Right: Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha Source:https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C:Prayu th_2018_cropped.jpg. * Paul Chambers is Lecturer and Special Advisor for International Affairs, Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand, and, in March-May 2021, Visiting Fellow with the Thailand Studies Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 1 ISSUE: 2021 No. 29 ISSN 2335-6677 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Thailand’s Phalang Pracharat Party is a “junta party” established as a proxy for the 2014-2019 junta and the military, and specifically designed to sustain the power of the generals Prawit Wongsuwan, Prayut Chan-ocha and Anupong Paochinda. • Phalang Pracharat was created by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), and although it is extremely factionalized, having 20 cliques, it is nevertheless dominated by an Army faction headed by General Prawit Wongsuwan. • The party is financed by powerful corporations and by its intra-party faction leaders. • In 2021, Phalang Pracharat has become a model for other militaries in Southeast Asia intent on institutionalising their power. In Thailand itself, the party has become so well- entrenched that it will be a difficult task removing it from office. 2 ISSUE: 2021 No.
[Show full text]
The International Court of Justice Has Ordered Thailand and Cambodia To
The International Court of Justice has ordered Thailand and Cambodia to create a demilitarized zone around an 11th century Hindu temple, which has become a flashpoint for deadly clashes in a long running border dispute. By Jared Ferrie, Chiang Mai The July 18 ruling comes after a request from Cambodia that the ICJ clarify a 1962 judgment that granted Cambodia ownership of the temple and demarcated the border. Thailand accepted Cambodian sovereignty over Preah Vihear temple, but has maintained that the court had no jurisdiction to rule on the border. Cambodia asked the ICJ to issue a clarification on the 1962 judgment in the hope that a more precisely worded judgment would pressure Thailand to accept the frontier. On Monday, the ICJ said it would review the 1962 judgment as requested – a statement that can be seen to favour Cambodia over Thailand, which initially demanded that Cambodia withdraw its request to the ICJ. Cambodia had also asked the ICJ to order Thailand to remove troops from the disputed area. The court instead issued a map outlining a demilitarized zone and ordered both countries withdraw troops from the area. Many analysts welcomed the even-handed nature of the order “By removing troops from the border and its immediate surroundings, nationalist sentiments will hopefully be diffused and issue can be dealt with in a more sober and reasonable way,” said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR). Leaders on both sides of the border have used the dispute to stoke nationalism for their own political gain. Politicians in Thailand are particularly vulnerable to nationalist groups that accuse them of ceding Thai territory to Cambodia.
[Show full text]
The Ongoing Insurgency in Southern Thailand: Trends in Violence, Counterinsurgency Operations, and the Impact of National Politics by Zachary Abuza
STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES 6 The Ongoing Insurgency in Southern Thailand: Trends in Violence, Counterinsurgency Operations, and the Impact of National Politics by Zachary Abuza Center for Strategic Research Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University’s (NDU’s) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for Technology and National Security Policy, Center for Complex Operations, and Center for Strategic Conferencing. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by conducting research and analysis, and publishing, and participating in conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Unified Combatant Commands in support of the academic programs at NDU and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and the broader national security community. Cover: Thai and U.S. Army Soldiers participate in Cobra Gold 2006, a combined annual joint training exercise involving the United States, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia. Photo by Efren Lopez, U.S. Air Force The Ongoing Insurgency in Southern Thailand: Trends in Violence, Counterinsurgency Operations, and the Impact of National Politics The Ongoing Insurgency in Southern Thailand: Trends in Violence, Counterinsurgency Operations, and the Impact of National Politics By Zachary Abuza Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 6 Series Editors: C. Nicholas Rostow and Phillip C. Saunders National Defense University Press Washington, D.C.
[Show full text]
Keynote Address by H. E. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand the Royal Thai Government
Keynote Address by H. E. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand The Royal Thai Government Delivered by H.E. Mr. Woravat Auapinyakul Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office at the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2012 Bangkok Celebration on 17 May 2012 United Nation Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand ________________________ Dr. Xuan Zengpei, Director of Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Dr Eun-Ju Kim, Regional Director of ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Distinguished delegates and participants, Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning, It is an honour for me to deliver keynote address at this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2012 Bangkok Celebration, which is jointly organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the International Telecommunication Union. It is another year that the Thai Government, the Ministry of ICT in particular together with ESCAP and ITU are organizing WTISD celebration and I am delighted to see that the three organizations have given importance to this important event because ICTs, as you know, play a significant role in not only national development but also in many aspects of lives. The theme of this year WTISD is also very important – Women and Girls in ICT – and hence I wish to share with you about three things today. First, women and girls and the role of ICT. We must first recognize that women have been increasingly contributing to the social and economic development in many countries.
[Show full text]
Women's Political Participation in Southeast Asia
Worrying Flattening Curve: Women’s Political Participation in Southeast Asia Bridget Welsh While the goal of public health officials has been to flatten the curve of Covid-19, another, less positive, flattening has been taking place over the past few years – the political empowerment of women in Southeast Asia. After decades of gains in the numbers of women in national executives and legislatures and among ordinary women participating in politics, a plateau pattern has emerged. In fact, in some countries – accompanying rising authoritarianism and populism tinged with anti-women rhetoric – we see outright backsliding in female political representation and participation. This chapter examines trends in female political participation/inclu- sion in the ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste over the last five years, 2015-2020. It builds on and incorporates the discussion of a similar chapter in an earlier publication, updating numbers and pointing to important developments in recent years.1 The problems for female political par- ticipation noted earlier – exclusionary cultural norms, resistant patriarchal political parties and “dirty” politics – have been compounded by narrowing political spaces and less welcoming environments for female participation. Once again, however, there continues to be conflicting trends. While levels of representation and attitudes towards women participating in politics plateau and even in some places decline, data shows the importance of ordinary women in politics and a modest narrowing of gender gaps in the political participation of ordinary citizens. 1 Bridget Welsh, “Promoting Inclusion: Women’s Political Participation in Southeast Asia,” in Women, Policy and Political Leadership, (Singapore: Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, 2014), pp. 9-25.
[Show full text]
A Coup Ordained? Thailand's Prospects for Stability
A Coup Ordained? Thailand’s Prospects for Stability Asia Report N°263 | 3 December 2014 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. Thailand in Turmoil ......................................................................................................... 2 A. Power and Legitimacy ................................................................................................ 2 B. Contours of Conflict ................................................................................................... 4 C. Troubled State ............................................................................................................ 6 III. Path to the Coup ............................................................................................................... 9 A. Revival of Anti-Thaksin Coalition ............................................................................. 9 B. Engineering a Political Vacuum ................................................................................ 12 IV. Military in Control ............................................................................................................ 16 A. Seizing Power
[Show full text]
India, Thailand and the Burma Connection
Asia Paciﬁc Bulletin Number 151 | February 23, 2012 India, Thailand and the Burma Connection BY SASIWAN CHINGCHIT Burma’s ongoing democratic and economic transition has created an unprecedented opportunity for India and Thailand to cooperate and strengthen economic links between South and Southeast Asia. It was therefore no coincidence that the Indian government invited Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s prime minister, to be the chief guest at the country’s annual Republic Day parade on January 26. Even more symbolic was that the Thai premier’s visit to New Delhi overlapped with that of Burma’s foreign minister, Mr. Wanna Maung Lwin, who came to discuss progress on economic and security relations and extended an invitation to India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit his Sasiwan Chingchit, former country. Research Scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, explains that After lukewarm India-Thailand diplomatic relations until the end of the Cold War, followed by progressive economic re-engagement since 1991, the window of opportunity India and Thailand both look to the created by Shinawatra’s visit is notable, and should not be overlooked. India’s “Look democratic and economic opening East” and Thailand’s “Look West” policies were created in 1992 and 1996 respectively, of Burma as giving “a much- but it is Burma’s recent opening that has now created an unprecedented opportunity for closer India-Thailand bilateral relations and coordination. India and Thailand both feel needed boost to the connectivity vindicated by their past engagement strategies towards Burma, as both states persistently and economic integration between refused to jump on the bandwagon of Western sanctions against the military junta.
[Show full text]
Chapter 2 Background of the India - Thailand Strategic Partnership
13 Chapter 2 Background of the India - Thailand Strategic Partnership Historical Perspective of India - Thailand Relationship 1. Relations between India and Thailand are not of recent origin. Religious, cultural, linguistic, mythological and trade links have existed for over two millennia. References are found in ancient Indian literature characterising Thailand as “Swarnabhumi” or the Golden Land. Hindu influence reached Thailand over 2,000 years ago, soon after senior monks Sona Thera and Uttara Thera were sent, by Emperor Ashoka, to spread the gospel of Lord Buddha in 3rd Century BCE. Hindu influence is clearly visible in Thailand’s religious practices, customs, traditions, deity worship, architecture of palaces, temples (wats), in the arts, sculpture, dance, drama and literature. Royal coronation ceremonies are conducted with Brahmanical rites and Thailand monarchs of the current Chakri dynasty have adopted the title of “Rama” on ascending the throne (the present King, His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn is Rama X). Several other socio - cultural habits and festivals of Thailand and Indian people are similar. The Thai lore of Ramakien, a local version of Ramayana and the wisdom of Lord Buddha bind the peoples together. Loy Krathong and Songkran are inspired by the two major Indian festivals, Deepavali and Holi. The 800-year-old connection between the Thai people and Ahoms of North East India has served as an enduring link. King Chulalongkorn or Rama V paid a royal visit to India in 1872. In 1915, another royal visit of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) took place. 2. For long, India has influenced the cultural, political and economic evolution of Southeast, including Thailand.
[Show full text]
“My Face Burned As If on Fire” Unlawful Use of Force by Thailand’S Police During Public Assemblies
“MY FACE BURNED AS IF ON FIRE” UNLAWFUL USE OF FORCE BY THAILAND’S POLICE DURING PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES Amnesty International is a movement of 10 million people which mobilizes the humanity in everyone and campaigns for change so we can all enjoy our human rights. Our vision is of a world where those in power keep their promises, respect international law and are held to account. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and individual donations. We believe that acting in solidarity and compassion with people everywhere can change our societies for the better. © Amnesty International 2021 Cover photo: Police fired water cannon with chemical irritants directly at protesters on 16 October 2020 Except where otherwise noted, content in this document is licensed under a Creative Commons © MobData Thailand (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives, international 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode For more information please visit the permissions page on our website: www.amnesty.org Where material is attributed to a copyright owner other than Amnesty International this material is not subject to the Creative Commons licence. First published in July 2021 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK Index: ASA 39/4356/2021 Original language: English amnesty.org CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 1. BACKGROUND 10 THE 2014 COUP: A LEGACY OF REPRESSION 10 THAILAND’S YOUTH MOVEMENT 12 2. POLICING OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES 15 UNLAWFUL USE OF WATER CANNONS AND CHEMICAL IRRITANTS 15 #16OCTGOTOPATHUMWANINTERSECTION 16 #RATSADONSARN (PEOPLE’S MESSAGE) 18 #MOB17NOV #ICOMMANDYOUTOSTAYUNDERTHECONSTITUTION 19 #MOB28FEB #MOBWITHOUTLEADERS 24 EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL IRRITANTS 25 EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PROTESTERS AND UNLAWFUL USE OF BATONS BY POLICE 27 PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PROTESTERS BY THIRD PARTIES 28 UNLAWFUL USE OF RUBBER BULLETS 30 LACK OF VISIBLE IDENTIFICATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS 32 3.
[Show full text]
January/February/March 2012
JETRO Bangkok Newsletter January/February/March 2012 Nantawan Building, 16th Fl., 161 Rajdamri Road Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: (66) 0-2253-6441-5 Fax: (66) 0-2253-2020 Web site: http://www.jetro.go.jp/thailand/ E-mail: [email protected] HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE JETRO UPDATE PAGE 2 Courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand by Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman of JETRO Over 10,000 jobs on offer to flood-related Laid-off workers at Japanese Job Fair Results of 2012 survey; Thai flooding impact on Japanese affiliated firms released by JETRO Bangkok Task force established for agricultural, forestry, marine product, and food export promotion Subsidy for foreign companies to expand in Japan Incentives for foreign companies aimed at disaster recovery JETRO Business Support Center opens in Chennai, India In Myanmar, JETRO promotes Japanese firms’ investing and their human resource development First-ever “Japan Festival” in Myanmar to promote Japanese products EVENTS IN JAPAN PAGE 8 Thai Flood Recovery Seminar held across Japan -Japanese manufacturers optimistic- Laos Investment Seminar featuring Laos’s Prime Minister Thammavong WHAT’S NEW ON THE NET? PAGE 11 Business Circumstance on Japanese Corporation in Thailand by Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok, Thailand, (Autumn/2nd Half of 2011) FY 2011 Survey on the International Operations of Japanese Firms Interest in overseas expansion at a record high Analysis of Japan-China Trade in 2011 and Outlook for 2012 Newsletter EXPLORING JAPAN PAGE 12 Presentation on “Cool Japan Strategy”, released on January 2012 available at Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) website JETRO Bangkok Newsletter January/February/March 2012 JETRO Update 1.
[Show full text]
The Sihanouk Era: the King and I シハヌーク時代王様と私
Volume 11 | Issue 6 | Number 1 | Article ID 3894 | Feb 05, 2013 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus The Sihanouk Era: The King and I シハヌーク時代王様と私 Benny Widyono chamber of the elabor $5 million 47 meter high fifteen story pagoda built specifically for the Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk was occasion and illuminated with thousands of tiny cremated on the fourth of February at the Meru lights. King Sihamoni symbolically lit hhis field next to the royal palace in the capital, father's sandalwood oil-soaked body and smoke Phnom Penh. His embalmed body had been was seen rising into the sky from the lying in state since he died of a heart attack in crematory. It will be dismantled later in Beijing on 15 October 2012 at the age of 89. keeping with Cambodian tradition. A 101-gun Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians, most of salute echoed through the night and fireworks whom have not known life without theburst over the city. charismatic monarch in one capacity or another flocked to Phnom Penh, to pay their last respects as Sihanouk was given elaborate funeral rites on a scale not seen since the death of his father King Suramarit 53 years ago. With the passing of Sihanouk and decline in the significance of monarchy we will probably never see such elaborate funeral rites again in Cambodia. The pyre being lit to cremate King Siihanouk body while fireworks lit up the sky. February 4, 2013. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who today holds all executive power, declared a seven day period Chariot carrying King Sihanouk’s gilded of mourning from 1 to 7 February as a last coffin being paraded in phnom Penh tribute to the King father.
[Show full text]
Download Publication
No. 52 Working Papers Working Thailand’s Security Sector “Deform” and “Reform” Paul Chambers and Napisa Waitoolkiat February 2021 1 Thailand’s Security Sector “Deform” and “Reform” Paul Chambers and Napisa Waitoolkiat ABSTRACT Despite a 2019 election, Thailand remains dominated by the military and monarchy. The state implemented security sector reforms at the national level and the Deep South regional level, before and after a 2014 military coup, which overthrew the country’s frail democracy. Thailand offers an impressive example of pitfalls and contradictory practices in security sector reform (SSR) because the country’s military junta supported globally transferred notions of SSR but applied them distinctively at different regional levels. Nationally, the military utilized universalist SSR notions to rationalize its prolongation and even expansion of autocracy. But regarding the Deep South insurgency, the junta applied a more progressive version of SSR, continuing negotiations with insurgents while reducing military abuses in the Deep South region. This study analyzes Thailand’s simultaneous “deform and reform” dynamics in the field of security sector governance. The authors examine why national SSR has been such a deform of more sincere SSR efforts in Thailand’s South. INTRODUCTION 2021 finds Thailand in a crisis of intensifying political pandemonium. But in a country which has experienced different levels of political turmoil over the last decade, it has not been uncommon. What is new this year is the almost daily demonstrations by large numbers of youth-led protestors who are boldly calling for military and monarchical reform, as well as their demand that the current Prime Minister resigns.
[Show full text]