It comes as no surprise that
Thailand is courting the world powers. But the country's stand toward
sub-Saharan Africa has raised some serious questions.
Diplomatic ties were established
with Kampala in 1985, but Uganda suddenly became a visible and important friend
of Thailand after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra won and operated a
five-year lotto concession in 2010.
Thaksin has an honourary job
title with Global PS Lotto, a Dubai-based company with stakes held by Thai
investors.
However, after a subsequent
business feud between Thaksin and tycoon Pairoj Piempongsant, it remains
unclear if Thaksin still has a say in the lotto business and other investments
in Africa.
Before and after the collapse of
his business partnership with Pairoj, Thaksin had become a fast friend of
Museveni.
The recent discovery of one of
the largest oil reserves in Africa has fuelled Museveni's hope of leading his
nation out of poverty.
But the unexplored oil fields are
located in environmentally fragile areas. Rampant corruption is another factor
stalling exploration and production of oil in Uganda, which was initially
scheduled to start this year.
As if on cue, Thaksin intervened
to help a "friend" in need. He alerted the Thai energy industry about
investment opportunities in Kampala. Thai diplomats, speaking on the condition
of anonymity, said the instruction came from "above" to hastily
arrange an official visit for Museveni.
Thailand is neither the first nor
the last country to wine and dine a foreign leader in order to strike a deal
for black gold.
Under accepted diplomatic
protocols, a leader pays a working visit in order to drum up support of one
kind or another. In this case Museveni has made it clear he wants to seek new
partners, preferably from Thailand, for oil exploration deals.
At Thaksin's whim, the government
went overboard by extending an invitation for an official visit by Museveni,
though there were virtually no state-to-state affairs to discuss.
The Ugandan Presidential Office
even undertook a further step to brand Museveni's trip as a state visit. The
African leader chose to travel abroad at the time when his country was under
fire for human rights violations.
Unanswered questions and curious
circumstances fuel doubts on whether the country or Thaksin will benefit from
the welcome for Museveni.
First, the government billed the
visit of the Ugandan president as official, but failed to arrange for a
courtesy call to HM the King as head of state, or a designated royal
representative.
Second, the Thai business
community, particularly Thai Oil, paid due attention to Museveni but has no
long-term plans to venture into Uganda.
Third, Thailand curiously opted
to upgrade ties with Uganda despite an international outcry over human rights
violations in the country. Museveni's has cracked down on opposition groups,
whose plight has been likened to the Thai red shirts.
With the Pheu Thai government
trying to seek "justice" for the red shirts, it has surprisingly
turned blind to the bloodshed Museveni inflicted on his opponents.
Last month the United Kingdom
suspended aid to Uganda in the face of rampant corruption. The United Nations
Universal Periodic Review was critical of Uganda's compliance on human rights
and gave two years for the situation to be rectified.
Avudh Panananda
Business & Investment Opportunities
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