By Augustine Anthuvan
Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has called for maximum restraint amid a tense standoff on disputed land near an ancient temple between Cambodia and Thailand.
Governments on both sides have steadily increased their troop presence, sending worried residents fleeing.
The tensions between the two ASEAN neighbours come as foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian grouping prepare to meet in Singapore.
Ahead of a joint meeting between the militaries from both sides on Monday, Dr Surin is calling for the matter to be settled amicably.
He said: "I think the ministers may wish to address the issue in a way of trying to encourage early resolution, maximum restraint in order to avoid any repercussion on the image of the organisation."
Dr Surin also commented on Singapore's assessment of ASEAN with regards to the humanitarian efforts in Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.
"The humanitarian challenge....very, very, tough. Minister Yeo (Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister) gave us a 'C' grade, but I think probably a 'B+' from me. I'm not challenging him, but I think he's being very cautious," said Dr Surin.
Minister George Yeo had said that the past year has been a challenging one for ASEAN, but that it has made some progress.
He said: "ASEAN helped build a bridge of trust between the Myanmar government and the international community."
He also noted that the community has achieved many firsts, among them, the signing of the ASEAN Charter.
ASEAN will next see a Committee of Permanent Representatives established, to take over much of regional-level coordination.
In anticipation of the ASEAN Charter being ratified by the end of the year, individual member nations are appointing ambassadors who will be based at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta where they will be tasked with handling the many day-to-day problems.
The move, ASEAN observers say, is a clear indication that the grouping is moving further towards integration.
Governments on both sides have steadily increased their troop presence, sending worried residents fleeing.
The tensions between the two ASEAN neighbours come as foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian grouping prepare to meet in Singapore.
Ahead of a joint meeting between the militaries from both sides on Monday, Dr Surin is calling for the matter to be settled amicably.
He said: "I think the ministers may wish to address the issue in a way of trying to encourage early resolution, maximum restraint in order to avoid any repercussion on the image of the organisation."
Dr Surin also commented on Singapore's assessment of ASEAN with regards to the humanitarian efforts in Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.
"The humanitarian challenge....very, very, tough. Minister Yeo (Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister) gave us a 'C' grade, but I think probably a 'B+' from me. I'm not challenging him, but I think he's being very cautious," said Dr Surin.
Minister George Yeo had said that the past year has been a challenging one for ASEAN, but that it has made some progress.
He said: "ASEAN helped build a bridge of trust between the Myanmar government and the international community."
He also noted that the community has achieved many firsts, among them, the signing of the ASEAN Charter.
ASEAN will next see a Committee of Permanent Representatives established, to take over much of regional-level coordination.
In anticipation of the ASEAN Charter being ratified by the end of the year, individual member nations are appointing ambassadors who will be based at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta where they will be tasked with handling the many day-to-day problems.
The move, ASEAN observers say, is a clear indication that the grouping is moving further towards integration.
9 comments:
calling on restrain is good, however cambodia should strongly call on the UN to deal with thailand's violation of the international law for violating the franco-siamese treaty of 1904 - 1907 and the icj verdict. give it up thailand, this land is not yours in acordance to the treaty and the icj verdict. enough already!! go home and stay out of cambodian territory. you know well that you cannot win with the law! god bless cambodia.
As Cambodia and far away from my motherland, watching, listening, observing...Now my motherland is invaded by Seim.
I am crying now....I can't do anything...only one thing I can do is calling the world...Please help my country.
And I call the poeple of Cambodia please poll to change the leader because this government is stupid to draw the new between Cambodia-Thai. Please do not poll for Hun Sen and CPP.
a crying Cambodian...
Oh, just get a blow job from your local French whore, then call us in morning. I am sure you will feel better.
Yep, once you're done with the "French whore", just before you're cumming--crossed over to Sakeo & finished off with Siamese females.
I think the Siam should respect France they are one of the UN permanent UN member.
I guess respecting other country is not a Siam strength.
siamese is just a bunch of thieft. Thus, you don't expect them to respect the law.
Respecting law is more of a problem in Cambodia and in Thailand. Are you blind, 10:02?
We really give a damn about Siam internal problem.
But the Siam breaking the International Law and invading our territory, yes it does bother us.
What have you been smoking, 12:08? The Thai has been on that mountain for centuries. They got villagers, farmers, markets, and all. What have you got up on that mountain? How can't the Thai invade your property when you got nothing on it?
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