Cambodia Waits for Upcoming Thai Government on Border Issue

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen shows a map during a press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, July 22, 2011. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told the press conference that Thai troops must be withdrawn from disputed border territory at the same time as his country's troops to comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

AKP Phnom Penh July 25, 2011–If the caretaker Bangkok government does not follow the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Cambodia has no choice, but waiting for the upcoming government of Thailand, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said in the press conference last Friday.

Asking if the outgoing Prime Minister is still insisting to hold bilateral talks with Cambodia and accept only some of the orders of the International Court of Justice, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Cambodia will wait for the upcoming government which is due to be formed in August.

Now the case enters into the Hague-based international court, to the UN Security Council and to the ASEAN framework, Abhisit Vejjajiva still refer it bilateral talks, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said.

The Abhisit Vejjajiva’ s government accepted to follow the ICJ’s orders, but at the end the Thai government said if the military pullout to be conducted Cambodia should do first, he said adding that it is a childish language, not a language that a government leader should say.

The ICJ’s orders are an effective decision and a legal international obligation that the two parties have to follow, he said.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen recommended that the outgoing Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should not say so much, he should limit the sayings and do not play game and cheat his people.

In its hearing, the ICJ called for an “immediate” withdrawal of both Thai and Cambodian troops stationed near the temple and in the surrounding area. The court’s decision is made based on the French-Siam international map, not a unilateral map drawn by Thailand. Therefore the Thai government should understand the international law and learned more about the procedure of the implementation of the court’s verdict, he said.

Regarding to the role of the upcoming of the Indonesian observers to the demilitarized zone, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said first of all the two parties should work together to plant the border markers on point A, B, C and D which was directed by the ICJ’s orders then to know the military stations and the last one is to set a date for the military pullout. Cambodia does not want to take advantage of this opportunity on any party, but Cambodia want to have peace for our people.

A declaration made on February 22, 2011 is still in effective, but the package of the agreement made on May 9, 2011 is spoiled and cannot be implemented and Cambodia has no objection to anywhere the Indonesian military observers want to go and visit and hope the Thai side will do the same.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen disclosed that Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Currently ASEAN’s chairman has sent a draft of statement, but has so far objected by Thailand.

If the draft of the statement cannot work, he will ask H.E. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to bring the draft to the ICJ and make publicity.

By Noeu