<b>Enough cooks are involved in the delicate Sri Lankan peace process </b>

Letter to the Editor - The Nation

Regarding Kavi Chongkittavorn's op-ed article on "Thailand's role in Sri Lankan peace process" [July 22]: in my opinion, Thailand should have no direct role apart from providing a venue conducive to talks between the parties concerned. Quite to the contrary, we should refrain from injecting ourselves into the sensitive negotiations and not attempt to claim credit or share the limelight in any way.

The Sri Lankan peace talks cannot be compared to the Cambodian peace process where we had a direct, legitimate politico-security interest and rightly played an active role in brokering a satisfactory settlement.

For the Sri Lankan peace process, Norway has assumed the role of mediator and go-between with the concurrence of both parties and should be allowed to discharge her duties unencumbered. This is not a situation that calls for many cooks.

Our implementation of UN resolutions in combating terrorism and our efforts to stamp out arms smuggling and other activities in Thailand by criminal groups must continue to be conducted vigorously regardless of whether the Sri Lankan peace talks are held in Thailand or what progress those talks make. Indeed, we should be wary about attempting to artificially link such issues and impose our own national concerns on to an already delicate process.

Certainly, if the talks are held in Thailand, it would be a good opportunity for the public to become acquainted with the facts and background of an important international issue, and for our authorities to become more sensitised to other related concerns. But care must be taken on our part not to turn the event unwittingly into a media circus, or "market" it as an indicator of Thailand's international standing.

Bangkok as UN regional headquarters for Asia and the Pacific should come to be regarded like Geneva or New York as a logical and natural location where parties feel comfortable to meet at any time to resolve differences without undue fanfare or host country intrusion.

By agreeing to serve as the venue of choice for the Sri Lankan parties, we already are demonstrating our commitment to the cause of international peace, and performing our duty as a member of the international community.

The government thus far is playing it just right by adopting a low-key, hands-off approach. Let's help keep it that way.

Kobsak Chutikul, MP

Vice Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Thailand