JAKARTA, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Monday urged Thailand and Cambodia to return to the negotiating table following fires exchange that claimed casualties, China's Xinhua news agency quoted secretary-general of Asean Surin Pitsuwan as saying in a press statement here.
Surin said that the deteriorating situation along the Thai-Cambodian border is undermining confidence in Asean and affecting economic recovery, tourism and investment prospect in the region.
"I am deeply concerned about the serious situation on the border between Thailand and Cambodia. This violent conflict must be brought under control and the two parties must return to the negotiating table soonest," said Surin.
The violent conflict started with a gun fire and artillery duels on Friday, Feb 4 near the long disputed site of an ancient Hindu Temple, Preah Vihear.
While the International Court of Justice decided in favour of Cambodia in 1962, the areas adjacent to the Temple remain under dispute.
"I have been in touch with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, H.E. Hor Namhong, and the Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Kasit Piramya, and I have appealed for calm, maximum restraint on both sides, and expressed my fervent desire to see both sides in a positive exchange as soon as possible," said Surin.
He also called both to allow Asean to help them bring some form of a temporary truce and cool down the emotions and temper so that a higher interest of both peoples and that of Asean can be protected and enhanced.
"The situation has escalated into open conflict. And that will definitely affect our economic development, confidence in our region, tourism and prospect for foreign investment, which have just been picking up in light of the world economic recovery," he said.
4 comments:
"Elections are due to be held in Thailand this year at a time when bitter political divisions are far from healed, and some analysts say the border crisis could be an effort by hawkish generals and nationalist allies to topple the government or even create a pretext to stage another coup and cancel the polls."
Extract from Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/us-thailand-cambodia-idUSTRE7151K320110207?pageNumber=1
ASEAN just woke up, the two member of ASEAN fighting each almost four day ASEAN did nothing, this is useless organisation.
Negotiation with Thailand is useless. They have never honor to their words/treaties.
They are unfaithful people for us to trust.
We better ask for 3rd party to intervene.
Asean should know that the negociation has started many time but Thai still move their force in to Khmer souveregneity (Agreement in 1904-1907 and International court in 1962).
Thai respects the world agreement as the manure.
Asean and UN should force Thai to respect the International agreement and International court better than negociation.
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