JAKARTA (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from Southeast Asia's regional grouping met in Indonesia on Tuesday to try to settle a bloody border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia that has raised doubts about the group's aim for economic integration.
The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) prides itself on non-interference in members' internal affairs and has long been considered a talking-shop unable to sanction members while trying to resolve disputes by consensus.
"I'd like to make it absolutely clear that for fellow ASEAN member states, the option of conflict, the option of use of force is not meant to be on the table," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said ahead of the meeting.
Fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodian forces early this month on a disputed stretch of border at the 900-year old Preah Vihear temple.
At least three Thais and eight Cambodians were killed and dozens of people wounded in the February 4-7 exchanges. Sporadic clashes have broken out since then.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia 49 years ago but both countries lay claim to a 4.6 sq km patch of land near it.
They have been locked in a standoff since July 2008, when Preah Vihear was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, which Thailand opposed on grounds that the land around the temple had never been demarcated.
Last week, the United Nations Security Council called for an end to the standoff but both sides maintain a heavy military presence on the border and tension is high.
The crisis is an important test for ASEAN, which is aiming to build an EU-style community by 2015 but is riven by a host of territorial and other disputes.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodia initially asked the U.N. Security Council to deploy peacekeepers at the border and it has also asked for ASEAN observers. Thailand has called for a bilateral solution but welcomes ASEAN's "support.
Thailand's foreign minister signalled that it would agree to invite representatives of ASEAN chairman Indonesia as an observer, according to the Nation newspaper on Monday.
Natalegawa warned against undue optimism over the outcome of the talks.
"Don't expect that it will all be resolved in one event, because the journey is still long," he told reporters, "I'd like to hope that at the end of today we're further down the road in terms of diplomacy."
The Preah Vihear temple, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on a wedge of land on an escarpment, that forms a natural border overlooking northern Cambodia.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded the temple to Cambodia, which uses a century-old French map as the basis for its territorial claims, but the ruling failed to determine ownership of the scrub next to it.
(Reporting by Olivia Rondonuwu; Editing by Robert Birsel)
5 comments:
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapoor with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Dear All KI-Media readers
I have simple question, do you think that PM Hun Xen and PM Abhisit Vejjajiva are stealthy talking to each other (intelligence)? I think they both are best friends; they got benefit from each other. Look, what happened in Thai-Muslim's boundary right now? Thai PM killed some of the Muslim there, but in order to move the attention of Thai people from this murder, Thai PM’s trying to play with Khmer territory.
The same as Khmer PM, he afraid that Khmer people will wake up and knock him down just like Egypt, Tunia and the others countries in Middle East-revolution. That why he moved all the Khmer people attention to the border conflict.
Khmer oery, it time for us to knock the dictatorial regime down by using our democratic voices. I am sure US is going to help us to claim the victory of real freedom for Khmer and to destroy the injustice, dictatorial regime Khmer spirit land.
Attention: When ever Khmer gets Freedom and when Viet pro is not holding Cambodia anymore, the new Cambodia leader will get Kos Trol and others territories back from Vietnam and Thai (No more border dispute).
Please don’t just say, you really need to implement, and you will see the result from Khmer democratic voice of fighting for FREEDOM.
From KHMER FROM NOWHERE
I don't think the US is going to help us any more.Pls. look back at Lon Nol regime.Presently American no money no honey to give to Mr.Soun Serey Ratha Repulican...?
Right now US will not touch Khmer, because China and Viet are behind Khmer, but when the groups of protester stand up to fight for they freedom to knock khmer PM down, US gonna help you, guys for freedom.
Do Khmer and Thai want to solve this conflict ?
Why Thai said,NO THIRD PARTY?
When the wind of change comes to Cambodia,the time will tell the truth.Who will become Khmer true color leader? The Khmer people are the ones who pick,not a dictator or monarchy.
The dictator will be dead!
The monarchy will be dead!
No one depend on Thai and Yuon
being king or prime minister.
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