BANGKOK, Dec 9 (TNA) – Despite both countries belonging to the regional pact, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan (pictured) said Wednesday the bloc won’t intervene in the diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia.
Dr Surin, a Thai, said he hoped the two neighbours will exercise restraint and end their conflict soon.
The ASEAN chief made the remarks after a Cambodian court sentenced Thai national Siwarak Chutipong to seven years prison and fined him 100,000 baht (US$3,000) for stealing flight information details of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra who visited Phnom Penh last month.
Dr Surin, however, declined to comment regarding whether the issue is politically motivated or not, saying only that the case should proceed under the legal system of each country.
The ASEAN chief said that the regional bloc will not interfere in the issue, which he described as an internal affair of the two countries, while concerned officials are solving the problems.
"Personally, I don't believe the case of Mr Siwarak will be the "last straw" of relations between Thailand and Cambodia," Dr Surin said.
Many ASEAN leaders, however, expressed concern over the Thai-Cambodian conflict for fear that it could escalate to a point to cause adverse affects on the planned ASEAN Community in 2015, according to Dr Surin.
The ASEAN secretary-general warned that the conflict, if prolonged, will threaten ASEAN integration.
"Many ASEAN leaders are keeping close watch on the matter. Some express their concerns through discussion and phoning for updates," Dr Surin said. “I hope both Thailand and Cambodia will exercise restraint and end the row soon.”
The ASEAN bloc comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The diplomatic rift between the two ASEAN members flared after the Cambodian government appointed fugitive ousted Thai premier Thaksin as its economic adviser and personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Cambodian government also refused to extradite Mr Thaksin as requested by Thailand.
The two kingdoms recalled their respective ambassadors in retaliation and Thailand cancelled a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on overlapping maritime areas signed during Thaksin administration. (TNA)
Dr Surin, a Thai, said he hoped the two neighbours will exercise restraint and end their conflict soon.
The ASEAN chief made the remarks after a Cambodian court sentenced Thai national Siwarak Chutipong to seven years prison and fined him 100,000 baht (US$3,000) for stealing flight information details of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra who visited Phnom Penh last month.
Dr Surin, however, declined to comment regarding whether the issue is politically motivated or not, saying only that the case should proceed under the legal system of each country.
The ASEAN chief said that the regional bloc will not interfere in the issue, which he described as an internal affair of the two countries, while concerned officials are solving the problems.
"Personally, I don't believe the case of Mr Siwarak will be the "last straw" of relations between Thailand and Cambodia," Dr Surin said.
Many ASEAN leaders, however, expressed concern over the Thai-Cambodian conflict for fear that it could escalate to a point to cause adverse affects on the planned ASEAN Community in 2015, according to Dr Surin.
The ASEAN secretary-general warned that the conflict, if prolonged, will threaten ASEAN integration.
"Many ASEAN leaders are keeping close watch on the matter. Some express their concerns through discussion and phoning for updates," Dr Surin said. “I hope both Thailand and Cambodia will exercise restraint and end the row soon.”
The ASEAN bloc comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The diplomatic rift between the two ASEAN members flared after the Cambodian government appointed fugitive ousted Thai premier Thaksin as its economic adviser and personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Cambodian government also refused to extradite Mr Thaksin as requested by Thailand.
The two kingdoms recalled their respective ambassadors in retaliation and Thailand cancelled a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on overlapping maritime areas signed during Thaksin administration. (TNA)
1 comment:
For someone in his position, it's his responsibility to intervene. His intervention in the diplomatic standoff between Cambodia and Thailand is necessary. If he intervened, he will jeapardize Thailand's interest and expose Thailand of violations for conspiring, provoking, and attacking Cambdia who is also a member of ASEAN. This would be a serious charge.
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