Indonesia Proposes Asean Leaders' Meeting On Thai-Cambodia Border Dispute

JAKARTA, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is proposing a meeting among ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Bejing next week to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, ANTARA news agency quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda as saying.

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been wanting the holding of a meeting among ASEAN heads of government to discuss the global financial crisis.

With the occurrence of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, his wish to have such a meeting has even become stronger," Wirayuda said at the presidential office here Thursday.

He said approaches for the staging of an ASEAN leaders meeting in Beijing were being made to Thailand and Cambodia as well as other ASEAN member countries.

Wednesday's exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces had ended on a positve note as Cambodia had not responded emotionally to the incident although two of its soliders had died in the incident. However, it was feared the dispute could still lead to an open conflict, Wirayuda said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders.

"Cambodia had ordered its military commander to talk to the Thai military commander although it had suffered two casualties," said Wirajuda.

However, Wirajuda added, if the problem was not handled carefully the armed clash could lead to a wider conflict that would damage ASEAN's image.

"Therefore, we are considering what ASEAN can do about the case," he added.

"There is an urgency to talk about the dispute. The sooner, the better," said Wirajuda.

At a recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, ASEAN had urged the two countries in dispute to solve their problem through bilateral talks.

"If the bilateral talks fail to yield a solution, it was proposed to form a ministerial-level ASEAN Contact to mediate the dispute," he said.

Thailand is expected to host the 14th ASEAN Summit on December 15, 2008.

-- BERNAMA