A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 13 April 2011

Observers' boundaries set [on Khmer-Thai border]


Wednesday, 13 April 2011
By Cheang Sokha
Phnom Penh Post

Indonesia's foreign minister has said that unarmed observers from his country, set to monitor the border conflict ceasefire, will not be sent into land claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.

The Bangkok Post reported yesterday that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (pictured) said that military observers will not enter the 4.6-square-kilometre area near to Preah Vihear Temple.

Observers will also follow any recommendations made by Thailand and will not undertake any action perceived to violate Thai sovereignty, the newspaper stated.

Thailand was said to have reiterated that Indonesian observers must be unarmed, be considered members of a diplomatic mission, and would not be allowed into the joint-claim area. Speaking in Bangkok, Marty Natalegawa said the decision was made after a sidelines meeting with the Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya at the Special ASEAN-Japan Meeting on giving assistance to Japan, held in Jakarta last week.

Indonesia also hosted talks of the Cambodian-Thai Joint Border Committee last week, which Kasit Piromya did not attend. Thai military officials also boycotted scheduled talks of the countries’ General Border Committee, which deals with security issues.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Sunday that little progress had been made in Indonesia and the Kingdom had “conceded at the maximum level” in regard to the deployment on observers.

He said that his Thai counterpart “didn’t speak a word” during sideline talks about their deployment. Phnom Penh and Bangkok agreed in February to allow unarmed military observers to monitor the ceasefire, after deadly fighting left at least 10 dead.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said yesterday that Cambodia had already outlined its terms of reference for the observers three times – allowing them access to all of Cambodian soil.

He said Indonesia has accepted the plans and that the government of Phnom Penh would keep to its stance regarding the observers.

“I don’t know what Indonesia discussed with Thailand on this issue,” Koy Kuong said.

8 comments:

The Great Khmer Empire said...

What ever is discuss at the meeting with Thai FM needed to be transparent. Beside, Siem is playing political games it cannot win. Indonesian need to assert themselves a little more leadership role as this year chair o ASEAN and not allow Thai militarily push around. More over, I thought the parameter was set and agreed by all parties in February. As a chair representative, you cannot allow subbordinates push you around. Thanks and Sousdei chnam tmei.

Anonymous said...

Just like i used to said, the Asean's team will not do any good...

Anonymous said...

Asean is too weak!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

United Nation is too soft!!!

Anonymous said...

Indonesian and Thailian are gay gay...They both gay gay...

Anonymous said...

Because of cambodian is a poor country, this is why outsider looks down on cambodia?...No body seems to care or helping cambodia, they only taken side with rich country with more$$$$$$$ only...!

Anonymous said...

Asean and Indonesia need to assert their authority as a mediator. They can't allow Thailand to act like a wild child, but bring it to the fold. Indonesia must make Thailand respecting its agreement of allowing the Indonesian observers to the disputed border. If not, some sort of pressures, like referring the case back to the UN, so that Thailand will learn how to respect the international community. A wild child must be treated like one.

Anonymous said...

War is inevitable why Thailand eager to go to war with us they want to show theirs military powers secondly in the name of protecting the land they have been stolen from us Thailand have pre-meditated and brainwashed from generation to generation Preah Vihear is belong to Thailand some of the book even go as far Angkor wat was build by Thai king they known very little about trues history.
Cambodia military wide look weak and not enable to sustain the power of theirs modern weapons and Thailand is a bigger country diplomacy wide Cambodia leader lack in language skill depend on the translators not able fully make his expression by himself god know what translators have translate Hor num hong English quite poor sometime use the wrong phase for the dialogue.
If this issue is a do or die issue like internal conflicts it is a big war but this issue is an external conflict and not jeopardy the leadership of the country.
Just the opinion?