Directionless Thailand falters on world stage

It must be pretty awkward for Asean senior officials who have been meeting in Hua Hin over the past two days to work out plans for the upcoming Asean summit, which Thailand will host in mid-December - a little more than three months away. This summit, which will be the second hosted by Thailand, is an important one, as the leaders of sixteen countries from the region will come to Bangkok for a series of high-profile meetings. Most importantly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Asean leaders for the first time. These summits could be an ideal showcase for Thailand's diplomacy and governance. They could also be a curse if the current Thai government fails to live up to this noble duty.

Two huge problems weigh on the host - one has to do with the current political uncertainty and the other concerns the beleaguered leadership of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The political crisis deepened further when Samak adamantly maintained that he would continue as prime minister, and would not dissolve Parliament, as many had expected. At the same time, the Army, which was given a full range of powers to keep public order, has refused to use force to purge the People's Alliance for Democracy from Government House. Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda has so far kept his word. But if the current stalemate continues, it could endanger his standing and he may be tempted to use force.

Obviously, Samak has been trying to portray himself on radio broadcasts as the victim of unfair treatment by the PAD. He continues his tirades against every sector of the Thai society. In his eyes, everybody is at fault - he stands alone as an innocent man.

As far his leadership style is concerned, Samak is a menace. He thrives on contradictions and strong rhetoric. Through his radio messages yesterday, he repeatedly said that he is the window of Thailand to the world. He said he was proud of his accomplishments as the head of the government, his negotiations and his ability to forge closer friendships with foreign countries. He even boasted that he often attends national day receptions to strengthen Thailand's friendships with countries around the world.

The other day, when he talked to CNN, he could not control his temper and ended up getting nasty with the CNN correspondent. Such outbursts are at odds with his conceited portrayal of himself as the embodiment of Thai foreign policy. He does not realise that he actually is the main problem. His frequent remarks praising the Burmese junta at the beginning of his premiership and more recently his comments on the role of Aung San Suu Kyi added salt to the wounds. A leader like Samak will have difficulty meeting on a par with the foreign leaders who will converge here.

Diplomats from Asean's dialogue partners have expressed concern over the ongoing political quagmire. If the situation worsens in the coming weeks, it could affect the scheduled official visits of these leaders. It is also unclear whether Samak will remain prime minister, as the situation remains very fluid. Finally, Thailand has yet to ratify the Asean Charter. If the current Parliament session fails to do that in the coming days, it would be a shame - not only for Thailand but for Asean as well. As the summit host, Thailand is expected to implement the charter, with its expected ratification from all members. Both the Philippines and Indonesia have promised that their lawmakers will ratify the charter ahead of the summit.