About 50% back Abhisit

About one in two people commend Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his measured leadership in dealing with the souring of relations with Cambodia.

Three opinion surveys, released yesterday, were designed to gauge public sentiment on bilateral ties.

Abac Poll found that Abhisit was on the right track for staying calm in spite of the provocation.

About two in five people urged the prime minister to take "harsher" measures in light of the provocative developments.

More than half of the 1,344 respondents in the nationwide poll saw the heightening of tensions as a political game.

Suan Dusit Poll said seven in 10 people felt a stronger sense of patriotism following the diplomatic spat with Cambodia.

About four in five in the South cautioned fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra that he risked being seen as a traitor by accepting the appointment as an economic adviser to Cambodia, Hat Yai University Poll said.

Three in 10 believed Thaksin was putting his personal interest before that of the country's.

More than half of the 1,190 respondents expressed approval for the government's cancellation of the Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding on the overlapping area of the continental shelf.

One in two were optimistic that the mounting friction would not lead to war because the Thai government could keep the situation under control.

As for perceived security threats, one in four said Thaksin's offensive remarks against the monarchy were the most harmful to the country.