“Hun Sen is using the ASEAN principle of non-interference for his own benefit, and this is not the first time he has done it”: Yasmin Sungkar

(Photo: RICKY YUDHISTIRA, Jakarta Post)

ASEAN Surin responds to ‘unwarranted’ criticism

Thursday, March 11, 2010
Lilian Budianto
The Jakarta Post

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has denounced as totally out of context media reports quoting him on a military exercise in Cambodia last week.

Surin was responding to a radio address in which Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen lambasted Surin for interfering in the country’s domestic affairs after Cambodian troops fired some 200 rockets last Thursday at an airfield 180 kilometers from the Thai border.

In a press release made available Tuesday, Surin said he had no intention nor was he referring to any particular military exercise in Cambodia, of which he had no knowledge at that point in time.

“The question directed at me was of a general nature, and my responses were with specific reference to the prevailing situation along the Cambodian—Thai border which I have expressed on many occasions before to all ASEAN foreign ministers and to ASEAN leaders,” he said.

Thailand and Cambodia, both members of ASEAN, have been involved in a spat over land adjacent to the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple that belongs to Cambodia.

The dispute led to several skirmishes, but other ASEAN members have pledged not to interfere unless invited to help resolve the issue.

In his radio address, Hun Sen accused Surin of “crazy work” in interfering in Cambodian affairs.
“I think his excellency Surin Pitsuwan is not suitable as ASEAN secretary-general,” Hun Sen said as quoted by Malaysian news agency Bernama.

“If you are stupid, don’t do it,” he added. “If he doesn’t make a correction I will attack this secretary-general during the ASEAN meeting.”

In his statement, Surin expressed deep regret that the issue had caused “much misunderstanding and discomfort” and had led to “a very unfortunate and unwarranted effect”.

Although reiterated commitment for ASEAN Community by 2015, the 10 ASEAN member states have been at odds over several bilateral issues, some of which have been taken to international forums for arbitration.

Indonesia and Malaysia, for instance, are still hashing out the ownership of the Ambalat maritime block off eastern Borneo.

The situation has not devolved into armed skirmishes, although naval tensions escalated last year.

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Yasmin Sungkar said it was improper for a serving prime minister to speak so harshly in public, as it would weaken the organization’s credibility.

“Hun Sen is using the ASEAN principle of non-interference for his own benefit, and this is not the first time he has done it,” she said.