The lingering political conflict in Bangkok is starting to have a direct impact on Thailand's relations with other countries. For instance, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had to, at the last minute, cancel his trip to Hanoi last week for the Asean summit and send the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Trairong Suwankhiri, instead.
The Asean Secretariat and its members are looking at the situation with huge concern. Asean's agenda is ambitious and Thailand's driving force in the regional integration process is badly needed. The grouping held its 16th summit in Hanoi, and though the direct impact from the Thai premier's absence might not be evident, the message is clear - Thailand is ungovernable at present.
The situation is changing from day to day, and this very fact is starting to have a direct impact on bilateral relations.
Over the past few years, Thailand has been struggling with political chaos and violent confrontations among political rivals. In 2009, while the Kingdom was holding the prestigious chairmanship of Asean, the situation started to deteriorate. By the end of last December, Thailand handed the grouping's leadership over to Vietnam. This was also the moment the political situation in Thailand started to get more intense.
However, as Thailand struggles with its internal politics, people seem to have forgotten the country's importance in the region. The country, as an economic powerhouse, is a driving force in Asean, which in turn is crucial for the region's development.
The United States and the European Union are also getting increasingly nervous. At the daily press briefing in Washington on April 7, the US State Department replied to a question about the situation in Thailand by saying: "We respect the right of freedom of expression. However, entering government buildings through force is not an appropriate means of protest. Everyone has the right of assembly and to protest peacefully, but we hope that differences can be resolved through democratic institutions and not through violence."
The European Union issued a similar statement with regard to the ongoing political crisis. Lady Catherine Ashton, the recently named EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as vice-president of the European Commission, said on April 8: "The EU is following the situation in Thailand, including the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok, with particular concern. The EU commends the policy of the Thai government to use as little force as possible against the protesters, thus setting an example of moderation and restraint in the region.
"I call on the government to ensure that the declaration of a state of emergency does not lead to any disproportionate restrictions of fundamental rights and individual freedoms. While recognising the need to restore order, no unnecessary force should be used. Any escalation of violence would only hinder the possibilities for future dialogue. I also call on all parties to continue dialogue within a legal framework so as to finally restore stability, which the country so much needs and which is necessary to advance our bilateral relations."
Though this official statement is vaguely formulated, it interestingly mentions the importance of the region and the bilateral relations the rest of the world has with it.
There might be two reasons behind this: the newly appointed Lady Ashton is still trying to find her feet in international affairs, and nobody knows who will be in power in Thailand in the next six months.
The European Union has always been soft in criticising what was in fact a non-democratic government in Thailand, because it believed the administration brought stability to the Kingdom. This, however, is no longer the case. Yet, with this vaguely formulated statement, EU aims to keep its door open for cooperation with other governments to come.
Thailand is on the crossroads once again. However, the road it chooses to take will not just have an impact on the country's future and its political landscape, but will also affect its position in Asia, its ties within the Asean and its role as a driving force in Southeast Asia's external relations.
Dr Alexander Mohr was a lecturer in international relations at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris and is partner for international relations at the European government relations firm Alber and Geiger in Brussels.
