Thailand on my mind

by Rey O. Arcilla
from MALAYA

‘Of the seven countries where I served as a foreign service officer, Thailand is closest to my heart.’

YOU cannot right a wrong with another wrong.

The Supreme Court decision allowing Ms. Gloria Arroyo to name a Chief Justice to replace retired Reynato Puno, in my view, was wrong. It violated Section 15, Article VII of the Constitution.

Now, many are urging President-to-be Noynoy Aquino to take his oath before the just-appointed replacement of Puno, Renato Corona. That would be tantamount to giving his own stamp of approval to the infirm Supreme Court decision.

As I said, Noynoy strikes me as a man with a keen sense of what’s right and wrong. He will not be a party to something that is obviously wrong. It is nothing personal against Corona. I’m sure even Corona appreciates that.
Noynoy’s apparent decision to take his oath before the lone dissenter in the Supreme Court decision merely affirms his position on the matter. At the same time, it signals his intention to respect the Supreme Court as an institution.

Case closed.

***

Ms. Arroyo and her future ex-Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo seem determined to exact their toll on people’s money up to the last minute.
Arroyo is now reportedly going to Shanghai to visit the World Expo. What for? She can go there after June 30. (It’s a good thing she has decided not to proceed to Vietnam, contrary to what her executive secretary announced last week.)

Romulo, on the other hand, went to Tajikistan last week ostensibly to attend the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), together with Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael Seguis.

Curiously, Romulo did not even stay in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, for the duration of the meeting. He suddenly returned to Manila for reasons unknown. If that is not wasting people’s money, I don’t know what is.

At least in the case of Seguis who has done much traveling himself (he is probably the only one who can match or even surpass Romulo’s record), most of his foreign trips were necessitated by his difficult role as head of the government peace panel negotiating with the MILF rebel group and anchor of the Philippine bid to become an OIC observer. Sadly, he has achieved nothing conclusive so far in both fronts.

To be fair to him, however, it is not for lack of trying that he hasn’t achieved the hoped-for results in the negotiations with the MILF. (The OIC bid is another story that will need re-telling at another time.) He is working under very serious constraints, not the least of which is his mandate to work only within bounds allowed by the Constitution. The MILF, on the other hand, has made it clear that it is not their Constitution and that therefore they would not negotiate within its limits.

That biggest of hurdles will have to be ironed out first before the Noynoy administration embarks on serious negotiations with the MILF.

***

Arroyo’s feeble finance secretary, Margarito Teves, is at it again. He insists on selling the valuable government shares in the Malampaya natural gas project, against the recommendation of the PNOC-EC board. Is he not aware of the ban on midnight sale of government assets?

And then the man who, among other things, has been dragging his feet on the much-awaited implementing rules of the Revised Senior Citizens Act, is now advocating the increase of the value added tax from 12 to 15 percent. I hope he is not merely echoing the IMF stand.

Teves said both measures are necessary to reduce the expected budget deficit of close to P300 million. Whose fault was it that the deficit ballooned to such a huge sum in the first place?

***

Of the seven countries in three continents where I served as a foreign service officer, Thailand is closest to my heart. It’s like a second home to me.

I was first posted in Thailand in mid-1966 as a staff employee in our embassy and later as Third Secretary and Vice Consul after I passed the Foreign Service Officer examination. The last two of my four children were born in Bangkok. By the time we left for home assignment eight years later, I had made so many friends in both the Thai public and private sectors. (I returned twenty years later as ambassador and made more friends.)

The incumbent foreign minister, Khun Kasit Piromya, was a friend and contemporary, as were two of his distinguished predecessors – Khun Nitya Pibulsonggram and Khun Tej Bunag. Tej is now the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok. I was once a member of that board.

Another close friend, Khun Birabhongse Kasemsri (now deceased), became Private Secretary to His Majesty the King. The present Private Secretary, Khun Arsa Sarasin, is also a friend. Another friend, Khun Thep Devakul, is now a member of the Privy Council.

The current Governor of Bangkok, Khun Sukhumband Paribatra, a former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, is also a friend. He was responsible for bringing to reality my proposal to have the street next to the Philippine Embassy named “Soi (street) Philippines”. As far as I know, it is the only street in Thailand named after a foreign country. In reciprocity, Rada Street in Makati was also named Thailand Street.

(Incidentally, the black marble marker chronicling the history of the naming of the street after the Philippines disappeared sometime after the incumbent ambassador, Antonio Rodriguez, assumed his post some seven years ago. He has since restored it but in a place where nobody can see it. It is my intention to unravel the “mystery” behind the temporary disappearance of the historical marker at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, the incoming ambassador, Linglingay Lacanlale, has promised to restore the marker to a place where it can be read by passersby.)

There are other enduring friendships I have maintained. To name a few: Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui (chairman emeritus), her son Khun Chanin and Khun Kampi of Dusit Thani Hotel; Khun Chali Sophonpanich and Khun Chaisak of Bangkok Bank; Khun Yotin, a real estate mogul; Khun Sarun, Khun Artasith, Khun Thawansak, Khun Siripong, Khun Wisan, Khun Sukanya, all of Petroleum Authority of Thailand; and the twin brothers Khun Pornchai and Khun Narong who are in the real estate and hotel businesses.

There are also Filipino friends who have adopted Thai citizenship: Mar Samaniego, Ric Velasquez, Jess Ballesteros, Nick Sucharitaves, Tony Aguilar and Rudy Columbres.

It wasn’t, therefore, for lack of concern that I didn’t touch on the situation in Bangkok during the last two months. I simply kept hoping it would not last as long as it did and certainly not end in such a tragic manner.

It is my fervent wish that the country’s leaders and its people will now be able to sort out their differences in a peaceful and harmonious fashion to prevent similar situations in the future.

***

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. called on Noynoy after which the latter said the relations between the two countries will be better.

I will not second guess what he meant by that. But I am sure he is aware of the provision in the 1987 Constitution which specifically states that the country must have an independent foreign policy. He must also be aware that that provision got in there because of the US role in prolonging the dictatorial rule of President Ferdinand Marcos.

***

There are 36 days left before the end on 30 June 2010 of the stolen presidency of Ms. Arroyo, courtesy of “Garci”, et al.

“… And so I face the final curtain….”

***

Today is the 27th day of the fourth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.
Readers have asked when I would end this “reminder” on Jonas’ disappearance. My answer: Until his case is resolved to the satisfaction of his family.

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Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com