Thailand MUST NOT GIVE UP THE UNSC BID

After all, it is not about winning or losing any more. There are three good reasons to gain it — a new foreign minister, an excellent team at the UN headquarters, plus new and more sensible Thai diplomatic thinking.

First of all, the long overdue removal of General Tanasak Patimapagorn from the foreign affairs portfolio was Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s best decision in the Cabinet reshuffle last week. Indeed, media attention was misplaced over the much-hyped incoming economic team. Lo and behold, they would soon learn that either group led by Somkid Jatusripitak now - or ML Pridiyathorn Devakula then – will make no major difference. Buddha knows.

Truth be told, Prayut took months of manoeuvring to edge out Tanasak, his good friend, from the Saranrom Palace in May. After the prime minister returned from the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur at the end of April, he realised that a lot more could be done to integrate Thailand into the emerging Asean Community and turn the country into a multi-purpose hub for Asean trade, tourism and logistics.

In early May, he abruptly demoted Tanasak as the chair of the preparation centre for the Asean Community and took his place. It was done quietly without fanfare — this marked the beginning of his fall. Subsequently, Tanasak’s repeated diplomatic blunders, including the poor handling of irregular migrant crises at home and abroad, numerous inappropriate comments on diplomatic activities and ties, have slowly sealed his coffin.

Worse still was his highly authoritative way of management and controls of diplomatic discourse and policy-making that demoralised officials at all levels and degraded the Thai diplomatic tradition. Rubbing more salt into the wounds, Tanasak’s ministerial lifestyle also caused widespread uneasiness among his peers. Prayut even wrote a personal note warning him on this. 

With Don Pramudwinai as the new Foreign Minister, it is expected the country’s foreign policy will be more professional, dynamic and consultative — not just for photo opportunities as in the case of his predecessor. As Tanasak’s deputy, he was gagged and back-benched. Now, he has a new lease of life to prove his mettle and show his vision. His first task: a clear instruction on the UNSC bid.

In New York, Thailand has Virachai Plasai as the Thai-UN ambassador heading the campaigning team for the UNSC. Virachai is no stranger to diplomatic and international law circles. His stellar performance at The Hague during the Thai-Cambodia border dispute two-years ago remains an excellent affidavit proving Thailand should not give up the fight for the non-permanent seat. Well, unless he does so – and that is not going to happen. This veteran diplomat has a knack for bringing out the best in Thai hidden qualities when it is least expected.

In retrospect, it was 30 years ago, in 1986, when Thailand served on the UNSC – a steep learning curve for Thai diplomacy. Bangkok understood for the first time to condemn “with a heavy heart” the US, its ally, over the Tripoli bombing. Since then the world has changed so much – with new international environment, with friends becoming foes and vice versa, among the 193 UN members. It was no longer black or white under the Cold War cloud.

So, with the bid, Thailand can update it lists of friends or others. 

The current playground is a far cry from 2008 when former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made known the country’s twin candidatures – at the UN Human Rights Council for 2014 (short by four votes) and the UNSC non-permanent seat for 2017-2018 – in his UN General Assembly speech in New York. He was confident that Thailand would win as the region’s longest established albeit rocky democracy. Sadly, his plans turned out very differently. 

Finally, the current UN effort has allowed all Thai top-diplomats and political makers to dig deep into their nation’s past diplomatic practices, identifying weaknesses and strengths that have shaped the country’s diplomatic profile and imprints on international relations for over two centuries.

As a moderate, Thailand has pursued a middle of the road diplomacy, which from time to time raised eyebrows among Western friends, especially the US. By comparison with other US allies, Thailand’s UN voting patterns were not US-oriented ones at all.

Now Thailand views itself as a bridge builder for small and medium size countries - not only South-South but North-South as well - which is willing to take up global issues on their behalf.

No wonder Thailand has been intensifying its engagement with the Group of 77. Bangkok might compete for chair of the 134-member group for 2015-2016.

Nuclear disarmament, sustainable development, gentle equity and peace-keeping and post-conflict peace-building are some key issues with which Thailand could resonate well with the majority of UN members. From now on, there will be less recalcitrance – or rather fence-sitting as in the past – in Thai diplomacy to vote on sensitive issues.

The cruel bomb at Erawan Shrine last week has given the Thais a sense of purpose and solidarity that, as a nation, we have to unite and overcome unknown challenges. Within this spirit, the Thai team should take pride to proceed with the UN bid.