Bangkok: Mr. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a member of parliament and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, has raised concerns about the economic implications of the Thai government’s decision to elevate pressure at the Thai-Cambodian border. He emphasized the necessity of implementing parallel measures to support affected citizens and businesses, stressing that without such measures, the responsibility for potential negative outcomes would fall on the government.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wiroj highlighted the need for a multi-faceted approach to the Thai-Cambodian issue, involving diplomatic, economic, and military measures. He expressed a preference for economic measures over military ones, citing the potential loss of legitimacy for any party that initiates military action. Mr. Wiroj emphasized the importance of simultaneously providing relief to Thai business operators and citizens engaged in border trade and import-export activities.
Mr. Wiroj pointed out that the current economic pressure measures might not be effective if they adversely affect Thai citizens and businesses more than their Cambodian counterparts. He called for confidence in the measures’ ability to impact Cambodia more significantly and urged the government to pair economic pressure with relief measures for Thai citizens.
He criticized the lack of visible economic pressure measures and expressed his desire for diplomatic efforts to encourage Cambodia to engage in negotiations. Mr. Wiroj added that the central budget still has funds available, awaiting the Prime Minister’s decision, which should involve discussions with the Minister of Finance.
Addressing concerns about the government’s strategy, Mr. Wiroj urged a focus on dismantling the financial networks connected to Cambodia’s Hun family. He suggested targeting specific business interests, such as the casino sector, to exert pressure while minimizing harm to citizens. He also mentioned the potential for revelations about Thai groups allegedly involved in money laundering in Cambodia, expressing a willingness to confront such issues transparently.
Mr. Wiroj criticized the Prime Minister’s apparent reluctance to address the financial connections between the Hun family and certain political figures. He suggested that the Prime Minister’s lack of action might be due to personal ties with influential figures in Cambodia.
He also mentioned that discussions within the security sector are necessary to determine the duration of any economic pressure measures and the corresponding relief measures for affected individuals. Mr. Wiroj proposed debt repayment suspensions and short-term interest-free loans as potential relief measures.
Lastly, Mr. Wiroj called for a strategic review of measures targeting criminal activities, such as call center gangs, to ensure that legitimate businesses are not unduly harmed. He stressed the importance of focusing on national interests rather than individual or familial interests in resolving the conflict.