Govt urged to withdraw bid for UN Security Council seat
THE GOVERNMENT should withdraw Thailand's application to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2017-18, as the country has little chance of being successful, former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said.
He urged the government to apply again when the political situation in the country returns to normal.
“It is better if we explain to our friends abroad that we are undergoing a reform period and that we would reapply our candidature again in the future,” Kasit said in an interview with The Nation.
Thailand kicked off its UNSC campaign in 2008 and formally applied to become a non-permanent member in 2009 when Kasit was the foreign minister in an elected government.
Under the theme “Building Bridges for Partnership”, the Foreign Ministry highlighted Thailand’s strength as a moderate and democratic country capable of finding compromise and mobilising cooperation from all UN members in a peaceful and prosperous world. But Thailand lost those strengths after the military coup on May 22 last year when the elected government was toppled.
“Decisions [of our friends at the United Nations to support] the Thai candidature were taken when Thailand was ruled by a democratic regime. The decisions [on this issue] at the UN General Assembly and UNSC are dependent on whether the military government will stay on in power,” said the former foreign minister.
“Thailand is unlikely to receive the backing of Western governments under these circumstances,” Kasit added.
The government should also make clear its policies on matters related to violence in the deep South since the issue has an impact on Thailand’s relations with Muslim countries. According to Kasit, Muslim countries account for 50 votes in the UN General Assembly.
The repatriation of 109 Turkic ethnic people to China recently would also reduce Thailand’s support from Islamic countries, he said.
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All of the aforementioned factors put Thailand at a disadvantage with Kazakhstan, another candidate from Central Asia. As an emerging oil exporter and a democratic country that earns support from Muslim and Western countries, Kazakhstan stands a better chance of success, said the diplomat.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, an expert in international relations at Chulalongkorn University, also suggested that the government withdraw its application to the UN Security Council this time around.
“Thailand is taking a ‘time out’ to mend its domestic affairs; until its house is in order, the country will face daunting tasks trying to gain acceptance abroad. Securing a UNSC non-permanent seat would normally be very doable for Thailand in view of its illustrious diplomatic track record and global friends. However, international norms and rules are not favourable to topsy-turvy Thai politics in recent years,” said Thitinan.
“It is better to cut our losses and spend the time and resources getting our act together and go for it another day,” he said.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, said the UNSC campaign began a long time before this government assumed power. Withdrawing the Thai candidacy would undo all of the positive work Thailand has achieved over the last few years.
Kasit’s advice should be taken into account, he said, but it is crucial to look at the overall capacity of the Kingdom and not merely focus on the coup factor.
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