Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (C) walks with Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (L) and Lao Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith for a meeting in Jakarta February 22, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow Indonesian military and civilian observers to monitor a disputed border area that has been the scene of bloody clashes since 2008, a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni (INDONESIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT)
By Olivia Rondonuwu
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Tuesday to allow civilian and unarmed military observers from Indonesia to be posted along their border, where bloody clashes over territory surrounding a centuries-old temple erupted anew earlier this month, killing at least 11 people.
The agreement reached at a meeting of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a breakthrough for the 10-member group long derided as a talking shop.
Although full details were not immediately available, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, speaking for the ASEAN, said each team would consist of 20 military and civilian members charged with observing a cease-fire agreed by both sides.
"It's quite a unique regiment in the sense that Indonesian observers will be on both sides of the boundaries, on the Thai side as well as on the Cambodian side," Natalegawa told reporters after meeting ASEAN counterparts.
He said the observers would report to both ASEAN and the United Nations Security Council.
ASEAN, which prides itself on non-interference in members' internal affairs, has often appeared ineffective in resolving disputes among members.
Fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodian forces early this month on a disputed stretch of border at the 900-year old Preah Vihear temple.
At least three Thais and eight Cambodians were killed and dozens of people wounded in the February 4-7 exchanges. Sporadic clashes have broken out since then.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia 49 years ago but both countries lay claim to a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) patch of land near it.
They have been locked in a standoff since July 2008, when Preah Vihear was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, which Thailand opposed on grounds that the land around the temple had never been demarcated.
The crisis is an important test for ASEAN, which is aiming to build an EU-style community by 2015 but is riven by a host of territorial and other disputes.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodia initially asked the U.N. Security Council to deploy peacekeepers at the border and it has also asked for ASEAN observers. Thailand has called for a bilateral solution but said it welcomed ASEAN's "support.
The Preah Vihear temple, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on a wedge of land on an escarpment that forms a natural border overlooking northern Cambodia.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded the temple to Cambodia, which uses a century-old French map as the basis for its territorial claims, but the ruling failed to determine ownership of the scrub next to it.
(Writing by David Fox; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
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Thailand and Cambodia to accept monitors for border row
A Cambodian soldier walks past the Preah Vihear temple The area around the temple has been the scene of numerous clashes in the past.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow Indonesian observers to monitor disputed border territory that has been the scene of deadly fighting between the two nations, an official says.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of the Asean regional group in Jakarta.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said unarmed observers would be on both sides of the border.
At least eight people were killed earlier this month in clashes near the 11th Century temple of Preah Vihear.
The temple - high in mountains which form the border between the two nations - was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the international court.
But both sides claim ownership of the surrounding area, and there have been several skirmishes there in recent years.
The most recent violence was in early February, when each side accused the other of violating its sovereignty.
Reports from Jakarta said up to 40 military and civilian observers would be sent to the area.
"This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," Mr Natalegawa said.
----------------------------------
Thailand, Cambodia 'agree to accept observers'
AFP
JAKARTA (AFP) – Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Tuesday to accept Indonesian observers and avoid further clashes over a border dispute that has claimed at least 10 lives and displaced thousands, officials said.
The agreement came during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia, which holds the current chair of the 10-member block.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, speaking on behalf of ASEAN, said it was a "unique arrangement" for a grouping that devotes most of its time to trade and shuns conflict resolution.
"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," he told reporters after the talks.
He said Cambodia and Thailand had also requested Indonesia's "engagement" in subsequent bilateral negotiations, the first of which would be convened in Indonesia at a date to be specified.
"With hard work we can make things happen," the minister added, referring to weeks of behind-the-scenes activity by his office and the Jakarta-based ASEAN secretariat, headed by former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan.
Thailand and Cambodia have each accused the other of starting the clashes around the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. The temple belongs to Cambodia but the surrounding area is claimed by both sides.
Bangkok has resisted Cambodian calls for third-party mediation but now appears ready to allow Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN, to play a formal role as observer of future bilateral talks as well as of the border itself.
Speaking earlier in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said a third party was essential as Thailand "signs documents with hands, but cancels them by feet".
"Cambodia welcomes the Thai side's willingness to request Indonesia to send its observers to embed with their troops," he said.
"It is true that the final decision must be made between Cambodia and Thailand, but we need a third party to know."
In comments posted on Twitter, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin called the agreement a "historic day" and said both sides had agreed to "avoid further armed clashes".
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Tuesday to allow civilian and unarmed military observers from Indonesia to be posted along their border, where bloody clashes over territory surrounding a centuries-old temple erupted anew earlier this month, killing at least 11 people.
The agreement reached at a meeting of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a breakthrough for the 10-member group long derided as a talking shop.
Although full details were not immediately available, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, speaking for the ASEAN, said each team would consist of 20 military and civilian members charged with observing a cease-fire agreed by both sides.
"It's quite a unique regiment in the sense that Indonesian observers will be on both sides of the boundaries, on the Thai side as well as on the Cambodian side," Natalegawa told reporters after meeting ASEAN counterparts.
He said the observers would report to both ASEAN and the United Nations Security Council.
ASEAN, which prides itself on non-interference in members' internal affairs, has often appeared ineffective in resolving disputes among members.
Fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodian forces early this month on a disputed stretch of border at the 900-year old Preah Vihear temple.
At least three Thais and eight Cambodians were killed and dozens of people wounded in the February 4-7 exchanges. Sporadic clashes have broken out since then.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia 49 years ago but both countries lay claim to a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) patch of land near it.
They have been locked in a standoff since July 2008, when Preah Vihear was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, which Thailand opposed on grounds that the land around the temple had never been demarcated.
The crisis is an important test for ASEAN, which is aiming to build an EU-style community by 2015 but is riven by a host of territorial and other disputes.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodia initially asked the U.N. Security Council to deploy peacekeepers at the border and it has also asked for ASEAN observers. Thailand has called for a bilateral solution but said it welcomed ASEAN's "support.
The Preah Vihear temple, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on a wedge of land on an escarpment that forms a natural border overlooking northern Cambodia.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded the temple to Cambodia, which uses a century-old French map as the basis for its territorial claims, but the ruling failed to determine ownership of the scrub next to it.
(Writing by David Fox; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
---------------------
Thailand and Cambodia to accept monitors for border row
A Cambodian soldier walks past the Preah Vihear temple The area around the temple has been the scene of numerous clashes in the past.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow Indonesian observers to monitor disputed border territory that has been the scene of deadly fighting between the two nations, an official says.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of the Asean regional group in Jakarta.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said unarmed observers would be on both sides of the border.
At least eight people were killed earlier this month in clashes near the 11th Century temple of Preah Vihear.
The temple - high in mountains which form the border between the two nations - was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the international court.
But both sides claim ownership of the surrounding area, and there have been several skirmishes there in recent years.
The most recent violence was in early February, when each side accused the other of violating its sovereignty.
Reports from Jakarta said up to 40 military and civilian observers would be sent to the area.
"This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," Mr Natalegawa said.
----------------------------------
Thailand, Cambodia 'agree to accept observers'
AFP
JAKARTA (AFP) – Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Tuesday to accept Indonesian observers and avoid further clashes over a border dispute that has claimed at least 10 lives and displaced thousands, officials said.
The agreement came during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia, which holds the current chair of the 10-member block.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, speaking on behalf of ASEAN, said it was a "unique arrangement" for a grouping that devotes most of its time to trade and shuns conflict resolution.
"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," he told reporters after the talks.
He said Cambodia and Thailand had also requested Indonesia's "engagement" in subsequent bilateral negotiations, the first of which would be convened in Indonesia at a date to be specified.
"With hard work we can make things happen," the minister added, referring to weeks of behind-the-scenes activity by his office and the Jakarta-based ASEAN secretariat, headed by former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan.
Thailand and Cambodia have each accused the other of starting the clashes around the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. The temple belongs to Cambodia but the surrounding area is claimed by both sides.
Bangkok has resisted Cambodian calls for third-party mediation but now appears ready to allow Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN, to play a formal role as observer of future bilateral talks as well as of the border itself.
Speaking earlier in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said a third party was essential as Thailand "signs documents with hands, but cancels them by feet".
"Cambodia welcomes the Thai side's willingness to request Indonesia to send its observers to embed with their troops," he said.
"It is true that the final decision must be made between Cambodia and Thailand, but we need a third party to know."
In comments posted on Twitter, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin called the agreement a "historic day" and said both sides had agreed to "avoid further armed clashes".
5 comments:
Just keep an eyes on Thailand side and do not worry about CAMBODIAN side...We respect the international law better than SIAMESE- THIEF!
Usually the big and powerful country alway bothering, intimidaing, or poking the small and weak country...This is the Fact!!
That's sound good so that The aggressive Thailand don't have a chance to invade us anymore.
I don't think Asean can solve this problem yet, but atleast help stop the fighting for alittle awhie, as long as Thailand still a hard head and want preah vihear temple back, it will never solve anything, eccept more clash and more killing...Cambodia must take Thailand back to International court of Justice again...and get Sisa Ket province, Sras Keo, Chantburie province back to Cambodia!
correction=a little a while
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