"Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders" - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda
JAKARTA, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is proposing a meeting among ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Bejing next week to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, ANTARA news agency quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda as saying.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been wanting the holding of a meeting among ASEAN heads of government to discuss the global financial crisis.
With the occurrence of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, his wish to have such a meeting has even become stronger," Wirayuda said at the presidential office here Thursday.
He said approaches for the staging of an ASEAN leaders meeting in Beijing were being made to Thailand and Cambodia as well as other ASEAN member countries.
Wednesday's exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces had ended on a positve note as Cambodia had not responded emotionally to the incident although two of its soliders had died in the incident. However, it was feared the dispute could still lead to an open conflict, Wirayuda said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders.
"Cambodia had ordered its military commander to talk to the Thai military commander although it had suffered two casualties," said Wirajuda.
However, Wirajuda added, if the problem was not handled carefully the armed clash could lead to a wider conflict that would damage ASEAN's image.
"Therefore, we are considering what ASEAN can do about the case," he added.
"There is an urgency to talk about the dispute. The sooner, the better," said Wirajuda.
At a recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, ASEAN had urged the two countries in dispute to solve their problem through bilateral talks.
"If the bilateral talks fail to yield a solution, it was proposed to form a ministerial-level ASEAN Contact to mediate the dispute," he said.
Thailand is expected to host the 14th ASEAN Summit on December 15, 2008.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been wanting the holding of a meeting among ASEAN heads of government to discuss the global financial crisis.
With the occurrence of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, his wish to have such a meeting has even become stronger," Wirayuda said at the presidential office here Thursday.
He said approaches for the staging of an ASEAN leaders meeting in Beijing were being made to Thailand and Cambodia as well as other ASEAN member countries.
Wednesday's exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces had ended on a positve note as Cambodia had not responded emotionally to the incident although two of its soliders had died in the incident. However, it was feared the dispute could still lead to an open conflict, Wirayuda said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders.
"Cambodia had ordered its military commander to talk to the Thai military commander although it had suffered two casualties," said Wirajuda.
However, Wirajuda added, if the problem was not handled carefully the armed clash could lead to a wider conflict that would damage ASEAN's image.
"Therefore, we are considering what ASEAN can do about the case," he added.
"There is an urgency to talk about the dispute. The sooner, the better," said Wirajuda.
At a recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, ASEAN had urged the two countries in dispute to solve their problem through bilateral talks.
"If the bilateral talks fail to yield a solution, it was proposed to form a ministerial-level ASEAN Contact to mediate the dispute," he said.
Thailand is expected to host the 14th ASEAN Summit on December 15, 2008.
4 comments:
We shouldn't be blaming the low ranking soldiers for clashing. It's not easy to be patience, especially for soldiers when they are so close together. I would shoot the bastard also if I have weapon in my hands and the others provoke.
Great ideas 10:47 AM.
Both sides have to stay away from each other. They (thai) have to go back to their land.
But I think, Thai has always tried to take adventage over Khmer.
Khmer should teach them another lesson.
k. serey
Another lesson means another Khmer soldiers get killed. However, may the gods of Preah Vihear Temple help our brave commanders and soldiers from death if there is another firefight. Let the thai ladyboys get shot to the head to death on khmer territory.
I have kept my eyes on both local and international news about the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. However, it seems to me that many international news have presented the clear picture of the event.
Some international medias are quite biased to Thailand. They presented mostly on the Thai sides and covered the facts about the death of Thai solders in order to save the face of this aggressive nation. In fact there were 15 Thai solders killed and many others injured in the exchange fire. However, this news have been hidden by the Thai government as well as the media in Thailand.
Cambodian media should extend its own capacity in broadcasting news worldwide so that the world will know more about Cambodia and then they have a better judgment on the event.
Long Live Cambodia!
Chandra
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