ABC Radio Australia
The UN Security Council has called for a permanent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, after deadly border clashes last week.
It follows Cambodia's allegations that Thailand used cluster bombs during the conflict over a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
The Security Council's call for a ceasefire comes after a closed door session with the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.
The clashes have left at least eight people dead and forced thousands to flee both sides of the border.
Thailand has denied using cluster munitions and says it welcomes the chance to explain the situation to the international community.
Reporter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Cheang Sokha, reporter, Phnom Penh Post; Phay Siphan, Cambodian government spokesman; Panitan Wattanayagorn, Thai government spokesman
COCHRANE: There have been sporadic clashes near Preah Vihear temple since mid-2008 when the listing of the ruins as a World Heritage Site dredged up the decades old dispute over ownership of scrubland surrounding the ruins. But the conflict that began on February 4 was sustained and far heavier than previous incidents.
(sound of shooting)
COCHRANE: Heavy artillery was employed and both sides accuse the other of using cluster munitions, which are often called 'bombies' by locals. Phnom Penh Post reporter, Cheang Sokha, was at Preah Vihear during the fighting and was shown around by Cambodian soldiers.
SOKHA: They pointed out to me the place where the bombie had landed and the military police said to me, don't go close to there and don't touch, it will explode anytime if someone touch them or something. I didn't know what was there but they said bombie, and I looked and it was plain to me that this kind of bombie, if you touch them or play with them, they will explode, it's a very dangerous one.
COCHRANE: Cheang Sokha says he saw unexploded cluster bombs just 50 meters from the 900 year old temple. Cluster munitions are banned in many countries because they often fail to explode on impact and so remain a deadly threat to civilians long after soldiers leave. But just who fired them during the recent fighting is disputed.
Cambodian government spokesman, Phay Siphan, blames Thailand and says the United Nations has been on location collecting evidence.
PHAY: The UN representative in Cambodia went to the site and took all pictures of that one.
COCHRANE: But Thai government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, denies cluster munitions were used.
PANITAN: Thai military also indicated very clearly that they have not used any other weapons as suggested by Cambodia, particularly cluster bombs.
COCHRANE: As well as the cluster bomb accusations, Cambodia went to the Security Council with a proposal to send UN peacekeeping troops to the disputed border area. Cambodia has previously dismissed the UN's perspective on human rights in the country, threatening to expel top level officials, but when it comes to the border dispute, government spokesman, Phay Siphan, says UN 'observers' would be helpful.
PHAY: UN force as an observer, we expect them to built trust between two nations as the Cambodia and Thai people mature [and there is a] permanent ceasefire down there.
COCHRANE: Panitan Wattanayagorn says UN intervention on the ground is not necessary, saying Thailand wants to handle the matter within regional forums such as ASEAN and using the existing Joint Border Commission.
PANITAN: We also, of course, would like to encourage Cambodia to return to the negotiating table.
COCHRANE: The Thai government spokesman says a meeting of the Joint Border Commission was scheduled for later this month, but he's not sure if that will still take place.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian government has confirmed reports that Prime Minister Hun Sen's oldest son, Hun Manet, is a key part of the Cambodian military leadership on Preah Vihear.
Phay Siphan says the prime minister's son is the second in command of the operation.
PHAY: His job to command that. His job to protect that area.
COCHRANE: The 33 year old Hun Manet is a graduate of the US military academy West Point and was made a two star Cambodian general in January - a move widely seen as part of a grooming process that could eventually see him take over power from his father.
2 comments:
According to the UN, Cambodia and Thailand have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions which prohibits the use of cluster bombs.
Thailand and Cambodia are not among the 43 countries that have ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has taken effect since August 1, 2010, and bans the stockpiling, use and transfers of existing cluster bombs and provides for the clearing up of unexploded munitions.
So,Thai and khmer can be used anything to win the war.
Ces engins sont très dangereux pour la population civile . Ils vont trainer sur le sol , dans la forêt , dans les champs , dans les rizières , après les combats .
Les enfants innocents vont ramasser pour jouer et seront tués ou handicapés ...
Les partis belligérants doivent renoncer à ces armes que ce soit khmers ou thais .
On doit signer une pétition au Sociétés de fabrication ou aux pays qui vendent ces produits à participer au nettoyage , à payer des entreprises de destructions de ces saletés .
Post a Comment