MANILA, 4 December 2005 — Practically reiterating the statement released by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Friday, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop stressed yesterday that the Philippines and Thailand “have very good relations.”
“Our leader and your president are good friends,” said Suwat during a brief press conference yesterday at the Southeast Asian Games’ main press center at the Philippine International Convention Center.
“Any comment up to now, all the clarification, I would like to leave with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is the official statement.”
“I think they made a good effort,” said Suwat, when asked to comment on the Philippines’ hosting job.
Suwat, accompanied by Thailand Olympic Committee vice president Chaiyapak Siriwat, arrived yesterday for the traditional passing of the flag to the next host country. Thailand will host the Games in 2007.
Before dropping by the press conference, Suwat watched the men’s tennis finals between Filipino bet and eventual champion Cecil Mamiit and Thailand’s Danai Udomchoke
“The atmosphere (in the match) was very good,” he said. “I was greeted well by the Philippines. You won the game, we lost the game but the friendship remains.”
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier released a statement saying remarks made by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that raised questions about the officiating at the games had been taken out of context.
The remarks caused a furor in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Malacañang Palace assured the public that sports officials are acting on the concerns raised by Thailand.
“The issue is being threshed out fairly and quietly by our sports officials in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs,” said presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye. “Let us not allow the issue to spoil the finale of the games this weekend.”
“Let the spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity prevail even as we continue to cheer the excellence and fighting spirit of the Filipino athletes,” he added.
Partisanship
Soured ties between Thai and Filipino partisans was accentuated yesterday as Thais beat Filipinos again in a match-up of boxers in the central city of Bacolod.
Jeering fans pelted the ring with bottles, coins and food in protest when the referee declared Thailand’s Olympic bronze medalist Suriya Prasathinpimai winner over Filipino middleweight Reynaldo Galido.
The referee was forced to stop the match when Galido went down after the first round with Suriya leading 11-4.
“Robbery! Who is cheating now?” said home fan Joey Espinosa.
Two years ago in Hanoi, a similar row erupted when Thailand won five out of five finals against the Philippines.
A small row also erupted between Thai and Filipino journalists, upset with calls that went against their boxers.
As of last night, the Philippines continued to hold a commanding lead in the 11-nation Games, with 90 gold, 60 silver and 70 bronze medals, for a total of 220. Thailand dislodged Vietnam from second place by winning 58 golds our of a total of 213 medals.
Vietnam was third with 52 golds, followed by Malaysia with 49, Indonesia with 38, Singapore with 36, and Myanmar had 13. Laos bagged only 1 gold so far out of 12 medals, while Brunei, Cambodia and East Timor have yet to win a gold medal.
More than 100 medals are set to be awarded today, called “Super Sunday,” the second-last day of the Games, including the men’s soccer final between Thailand and Vietnam.
