By Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation
Published on July 21, 2011
Cambodia said yesterday it would not withdraw its troops from a demilitarised zone at the Preah Vihear temple, established by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), before the arrival of an Asean observer team.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (pictured) earlier wrote to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who chairs Asean, asking that Jakarta dispatch its observers to the border area as soon as possible.
"For Cambodia, Indonesian observers must arrive to examine the area first, before we withdraw," he said in Phnom Penh.
However, Asean will not rush the issue, but will give Thailand and Cambodia time to study the ICJ's order on the Preah Vihear dispute before pushing its plan to dispatch the observer team to the demilitarized zone, secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said yesterday.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Natalegawa sought meetings with representatives of Thailand and Cambodia attending an Asean meeting in Bali this week for consultations on whether Asean needed to adjust its observers plan, he said.
"Now we are waiting for both countries' opinions and reactions; whether and how they will comply with the court's order," Surin said.
On Monday, the ICJ ordered Thailand and Cambodia to immediately withdraw their troops from the Preah Vihear temple and its vicinity, where the court has set up a demilitarised zone in which all military and armed activities are banned pending its interpretation of a 1962 judgement on the boundary between the two countries, as sought by Cambodia.
The Thai Foreign Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Chitriya Pinthong met Natalegawa yesterday on the sidelines of the Asean meeting to discuss the ICJ's decision and Thai legal procedures on the matter.
Thailand still has no clear plan on how to comply with the court's order. Out-going Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand and Cambo-dia needed to talk first about how to comply, but basically Bangkok would not make any decisions before the establishment of a new government.
Bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) will be used as diplomatic channels to talk about the troop withdrawal, he said.
Surin, himself a former Thai foreign minister, said Thailand might need more time for the new government to study the court's order and set a policy of compliance.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he agreed with the idea of calling meetings of the JBC and GBC ahead of the troop pullout, but negotiations would happen only after the new Thai government took office as the out-going Abhisit government had no time to talk.
Cambodia said yesterday it would not withdraw its troops from a demilitarised zone at the Preah Vihear temple, established by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), before the arrival of an Asean observer team.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (pictured) earlier wrote to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who chairs Asean, asking that Jakarta dispatch its observers to the border area as soon as possible.
"For Cambodia, Indonesian observers must arrive to examine the area first, before we withdraw," he said in Phnom Penh.
However, Asean will not rush the issue, but will give Thailand and Cambodia time to study the ICJ's order on the Preah Vihear dispute before pushing its plan to dispatch the observer team to the demilitarized zone, secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said yesterday.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Natalegawa sought meetings with representatives of Thailand and Cambodia attending an Asean meeting in Bali this week for consultations on whether Asean needed to adjust its observers plan, he said.
"Now we are waiting for both countries' opinions and reactions; whether and how they will comply with the court's order," Surin said.
On Monday, the ICJ ordered Thailand and Cambodia to immediately withdraw their troops from the Preah Vihear temple and its vicinity, where the court has set up a demilitarised zone in which all military and armed activities are banned pending its interpretation of a 1962 judgement on the boundary between the two countries, as sought by Cambodia.
The Thai Foreign Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Chitriya Pinthong met Natalegawa yesterday on the sidelines of the Asean meeting to discuss the ICJ's decision and Thai legal procedures on the matter.
Thailand still has no clear plan on how to comply with the court's order. Out-going Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand and Cambo-dia needed to talk first about how to comply, but basically Bangkok would not make any decisions before the establishment of a new government.
Bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) will be used as diplomatic channels to talk about the troop withdrawal, he said.
Surin, himself a former Thai foreign minister, said Thailand might need more time for the new government to study the court's order and set a policy of compliance.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he agreed with the idea of calling meetings of the JBC and GBC ahead of the troop pullout, but negotiations would happen only after the new Thai government took office as the out-going Abhisit government had no time to talk.
2 comments:
I support the government stands not to withdraw troops at this time until further study to determine clearly of the ICJ ruling and ensure that ASEAN witnesses the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia how to comply with ICJ ordered. I beleive there is no deadline specifically set for both countries to withdraw its troop. Cambodia should use the time while Thailand fighting each other to form the new government to take over the issue. This is golden opportunity for Cambodia to put up a think tank group specifically to study the ICJ ruling and specifically setup strategic agendas, ready to call for future meeting with Thailand when the new government is formed. The think tank group should strategize different tactics to gain upper hand for Cambodia and assist FM Hor Namhong to prepare winning negotiation with Thailand and gain support from the international community. Cambodia should strategize ways to hit them in every corners; I dont mean in physical attack, rather diplomacy attack and build more support internationally. Thailand, sadly is looking more and more like isolated child in the international community. PAD is not helping Thailand's image with their extreme view. Cambodia should watch this group closely and capitalize/exploit on theirs mistake as much as possible. This is new Khmer era, I am sure the government has so many educated individuals around the world ready to support and assist them with different strategies and amazing new ideologies. Dont count SRP group of educators out eithers, they too can contribute for Khmer national interests. Cambodia should think strategically before embark on new enemy or different fights. For those political leaders, I urge you to read the book called "Art of War". You will understand what I am talking. "Measure your strength, study your enemy before you pick a fight". "Only pick a winning battle". "You won the war before going to the battle". "If you can't beat up, join them", dont look at this last word as traitor, the meaning deeper than on the surface. I am not goint to elaborate because this one has very deep meanings, you have to think through it carefully to understand the hidden meanings.
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