Friday July 25, 2008
BANGKOK POST AND AGENCIES
Cambodia has withdrawn its request for the United Nations Security Council to intervene in the border row with Thailand over the contested area near the Preah Vihear temple.
Phnom Penh's decision was announced after talks between Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen yesterday.
The leaders agreed their foreign ministers should meet on Monday in Siem Reap in a new attempt to defuse the antagonism on the border between Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket and the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said.
The countries failed to reach any settlement at a top-level General Border Committee meeting in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district last Monday.
Both countries insisted on sovereignty over the 4.6-square-kilometre area of the overlapping zone.
Mr Hun Sen said his Foreign Ministry had advised the UN Security Council to ''temporarily postpone [consideration of the request] while awaiting results of the negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand''.
The Security Council confirmed that it had cancelled a meeting on the dispute over the Thai-Cambodian border at the request of Phnom Penh.
''We have cancelled the meeting pending the bilateral talks,'' Vietnam's ambassador Le Luong Minh told reporters in New York. Vietnam is holding the rotating council presidency for July.
Mr Samak promised that Thailand will have a new foreign minister in time to lead the negotiators to Siem Reap.
''It is my duty to settle this issue,'' the prime minister said.
The foreign affairs portfolio has been vacant since Noppadon Pattama resigned this month after the charter court ruled the joint communique he signed with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Thai support for the temple being a World Heritage site should have been approved by parliament.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which has rejected a call from Cambodia for the 10-member grouping to help resolve the row with Thailand, did not want to see the issue go to the UN Security Council.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said that it was ''premature'' to take the Thai-Cambodian border dispute to the UN Security Council and urged more bilateral effort between the rivals.
''It should not have to go to the UN Security Council,'' said Mr Yeo, the outgoing Asean chairman. ''We should not let a small issue - that was a non-issue in the past - become a big issue.''
The Cambodian decision to withdraw the case from the Security Council came after diplomatic momentum appeared to swing in favour of Thailand's desire to use bilateral talks to end the feud.
Until yesterday, France was the only permanent member of the council which showed no enthusiasm for resolving the row through bilateral talks.
The other permanent members, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, favoured the Thai position, according to Thai ambassador to the UN, Don Pramudwinai.
''There is only one country opposing Thailand,'' Mr Don said yesterday without naming the country.
But talks yesterday in Singapore between Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul and French Deputy Foreign Minister Rama Yade indicated he was referring to France.
After the meeting, Mr Sahas said France believed the situation was tense, and the military stand-off worried Europeans because of their interest in the ancient Hindu temple.
Historical ties between France and its former colony, Cambodia, played a part in the French decision to back Cambodia, he said. France changed its mind after Thailand explained its stance.
Ms Yade is in Singapore for sideline meetings with Asean ministers.
Yesterday the Foreign Ministry quoted Mr Samak and army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda as saying there was no military build-up on the border, despite what Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith had told the media.
Phnom Penh's decision was announced after talks between Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen yesterday.
The leaders agreed their foreign ministers should meet on Monday in Siem Reap in a new attempt to defuse the antagonism on the border between Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket and the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said.
The countries failed to reach any settlement at a top-level General Border Committee meeting in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district last Monday.
Both countries insisted on sovereignty over the 4.6-square-kilometre area of the overlapping zone.
Mr Hun Sen said his Foreign Ministry had advised the UN Security Council to ''temporarily postpone [consideration of the request] while awaiting results of the negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand''.
The Security Council confirmed that it had cancelled a meeting on the dispute over the Thai-Cambodian border at the request of Phnom Penh.
''We have cancelled the meeting pending the bilateral talks,'' Vietnam's ambassador Le Luong Minh told reporters in New York. Vietnam is holding the rotating council presidency for July.
Mr Samak promised that Thailand will have a new foreign minister in time to lead the negotiators to Siem Reap.
''It is my duty to settle this issue,'' the prime minister said.
The foreign affairs portfolio has been vacant since Noppadon Pattama resigned this month after the charter court ruled the joint communique he signed with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Thai support for the temple being a World Heritage site should have been approved by parliament.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which has rejected a call from Cambodia for the 10-member grouping to help resolve the row with Thailand, did not want to see the issue go to the UN Security Council.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said that it was ''premature'' to take the Thai-Cambodian border dispute to the UN Security Council and urged more bilateral effort between the rivals.
''It should not have to go to the UN Security Council,'' said Mr Yeo, the outgoing Asean chairman. ''We should not let a small issue - that was a non-issue in the past - become a big issue.''
The Cambodian decision to withdraw the case from the Security Council came after diplomatic momentum appeared to swing in favour of Thailand's desire to use bilateral talks to end the feud.
Until yesterday, France was the only permanent member of the council which showed no enthusiasm for resolving the row through bilateral talks.
The other permanent members, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, favoured the Thai position, according to Thai ambassador to the UN, Don Pramudwinai.
''There is only one country opposing Thailand,'' Mr Don said yesterday without naming the country.
But talks yesterday in Singapore between Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul and French Deputy Foreign Minister Rama Yade indicated he was referring to France.
After the meeting, Mr Sahas said France believed the situation was tense, and the military stand-off worried Europeans because of their interest in the ancient Hindu temple.
Historical ties between France and its former colony, Cambodia, played a part in the French decision to back Cambodia, he said. France changed its mind after Thailand explained its stance.
Ms Yade is in Singapore for sideline meetings with Asean ministers.
Yesterday the Foreign Ministry quoted Mr Samak and army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda as saying there was no military build-up on the border, despite what Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith had told the media.
9 comments:
Hun Sen wants to show the world that he and his party does not politicize the Preah Vihear Temple issue. SO he decide to make a meeting on 28 July.
Do not worry Samak, Cambodia still complain to UNSC if talk on Monday next week still can not find any solution to withdraw Siam army from Cambodia territory
Cambodia must not do any concession with the Siam, they are invading our territory and they must pull their troops without any condition.
About the new Siam map their can bring it along if they want, when we meet the UN the second time.
Don't forget they took 20Km of land in Pailin and this we must take it back also.
Not too bad for Thai, country created base on stolen property. Here at this 21th century, Thai still at it. Free land, sent a few people (I do not believe they were monk and nun, more like a soldier who saved his head with a couple of PDA member), and sure enough those few retained by Khmer as they thought would happen, sent their ready troop to Khmer land, and demand for negotiation. On the negotiation table, they laid down their own drawing map, this is a laughtable issue, but Cambodia could not laught because Thai troop are on Khmer soil, and they demand us to accept their self drawing map. Crime business is good just ask Thai. Even ASEAN, and UN can not do, or they do not even care. To these organization is "the hell with Khmer, they suffer so much let the Thai give them some more bitter suffering...Thank for nothig ASEAN...
IN EUROPE I STUDIED THEORY OF EUROPEAN INTEGARATION. I NOTED EUROPEAN SUCCESSUL RECONSILIATION BETWEEN FORMER ENEMIES VERY FAST BECAUSE THEY RESPECT THE LAW. AND I CAN TELL US ASEAN IS JUST BULLSHIT
PERHAPS 10000000 MORE TO WAIT FOR EU-STYLE ASEAN
HA AHA
BULLSHIT ASEAN
Wondering how many talks should be held until the UN will take us seriously? Until all the mosquitoes kill the Thai troops.
I agree with the 10:50 a.m. comment.
See I told you, ASEAN or the UN, no one gives a f..k about Cambodia. If we don't build up and strengthen our army for this kind of confrontation we might as well give the damn whole Cambodia to the Thais and Viet. Hun Sen and Hor Nam Hong screwed up this issue for their own political purpose for this month election. Get tough with the thieves Thais. If it means war to bring attention to the world community then let it be. No blood no urgency. This is the view by ASEAN and the UN Security Council.
Break off all diplomatic ties and all links with the Thais, send more troops there, you cannot trust them. Hun Sen and Hor Nam Hong are so thick faces and so stupid that they don't realise that the Thais look down on Khmer at all. Just look at the negotiation last Monday at Aranyaprathet the Thais brought the map drawn by them to the meeting and want Khmer to accept it. What kind of an arse is this? The Khmer delegates should have prepared a map that is drawn by Khmer with the border at Bangkok and give it to them in return. Shit man I'm so mad at ah Hun Sen and Hor Nam Hong more than with the f..ken Thais.
Howdy, my fellow Cambodians and abroad...
I have been following up on the border disputes between Cambodian-Thai for some times. It appears to me that the ASEAN body have been tested with its ability, intelligence, courage, judgment and capability to find a resolution to the crisis.
The ASEAN body is a JOKE! Cambodia have been treated unfairly and serves an injustice to her people. We, Cambodians and Cambodians abroad MUST unify our people to defend ourselves against ALL invaders...you know who you are...no names mentioned here.
NOW, I have second on the ASEAN body and especially, when the Thai is now presumed the role as Chair...I even more worries of their ethical conduct, fairness, justice, and ability to strengthen the ASEAN members.
I think ASEAN body is a place for those ministers to meet to have lunch,lunch,lunch...no real result on any issue that arises. Cambodian-Thai border dispute is a testament to it.
In addition, I feel sorry for Thailand and her people. Not all Thais are ignorant but only a few that have been brainwashed by their government's propaganda for so long and led them to believe some of the territories belongs to Thailand. But,if you do a thorough research and history of the disputed area, you will understand that the 4.6KM is belongs to the GREAT EMPIRE the Kingdom of CAMBODIA ( reference to the ICJ of 1962' ruling - Annex1 Map French-Siamese Treaty of 1904/1907. The facts can never be twisted or distorted by the few so-call educated Thai or politician or maybe the king.
If Thailand is persistence with this false propaganda then only time will tells. Cambodia should have no problem taking the issue to the International Court of Justice once again and Thai will be a sore looser in the history of the 21st century. A lesson will echoes to thousand of years to comes for her people.
It is my hope that this crisis will ends peacefully.
Peacefully,
what's a wast of time!
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