Close, profound friendship can withstand spat: George Yeo

By Peh Shing Huei
The Straits Times, February 13, 2007



BE RATIONAL in reacting to the ongoing spat between Singapore and Thailand, Foreign Minister George Yeo advised the House yesterday.

Singaporeans should take the 'current unpleasantness' in their stride, he said.

The Singapore Government is confident, he added, that its close friendship with Thailand will withstand the current problems.

'Relations between countries, even close neighbours and partners, sometimes have their ups and downs,' he said.

'The current state of our relations with Thailand has its basis in the complex dynamic of Thai domestic politics since the coup.

'We have to take the current unpleasantness in our stride. Our ties of friendship and cooperation with Thailand are profound and will withstand this present problem.'

Relations between the two countries hit a rough patch in recent months, after former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra sold his family's shares in Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings.

Thailand later cancelled a civil service exchange programme after Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in September last year, met Singapore Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar during a private visit here.

The kingdom has also set up a panel to probe allegations that Singapore was spying on the phone conversations of the Thai military.

These developments led to fears that anti-Singapore sentiments would be stoked during the Asean Football Championship final in Bangkok earlier this month.

But neither fans nor the Lions were harmed even though Singapore defeated the hosts.

Mr Yeo was responding to questions from Ms Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who asked for details of the suspended exchange programme, as well as the Government's official response to the eavesdropping allegations.

While emphasising the two countries' strong ties, the minister made it clear there is no basis to the numerous allegations made and actions taken by the Thais.

He reiterated the Government's position that there was no reason to deny Mr Thaksin entry to Singapore and that Professor Jayakumar could not refuse to have a meal with an 'old friend'.

Singapore was therefore 'saddened' by the reactions of the Thai government and some quarters in Thailand, Mr Yeo said.

As for the phone-tapping accusations, Mr Yeo said it made 'no technical or economic sense to route domestic calls within Thailand through Singapore'.

In any case, neither the communications authorities in Thailand nor the Thais who operate the Temasek-owned telcos would allow it.

'It would also have been absurd for Temasek to sully its reputation by doing something like that,' he added.

He also gave an update on the state of bilateral cooperation activities. Although the Thais suspended the civil service exchange programme and cancelled a meeting to coordinate future activities on this front, no other activity has been affected.

Hence, last month, 48 Thai doctors and nurses were here. Singapore has also received requests from Thai schools and agencies, via the Thai embassy here, to facilitate their study visits here next month.

Ms Lee suggested, to laughter, that if the Thais were not interested in the exchange programmes, the money could be better spent on lift upgrading for her Nee Soon South residents.

But Mr Yeo replied: 'It is important for us to be very rational in our responses.'

He added that he hoped Thailand can return to constitutional rule soon.

'They are going through a difficult patch... Our hearts are with them and we wish them well. So it is certainly not in our interests to aggravate the situation by reacting in an emotional way.'