Washington, DC Friday, 18 February 2011
“I see Asean not as a facilitator, but only as an organizer for us to meet.”
With the UN Security Council this week urging Asean mediation in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, political observers are skeptical the regional body will be able to help.
Cambodia addressed the Security Council on Monday along with Thailand, and the international body urged a ceasefire and a multi-party solution.
That could be difficult, analysts say, especially because Thailand has maintained it wants two-way talks.
Asean foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Jakarta on Tuesday, and that could provide a useful venue, even if Asean cannot resolve the dispute, said Kem Sokha, head of the minority opposition Human Rights Party.
“I see Asean not as a facilitator, but only as an organizer for us to meet,” Kem Sokha said.
However, he said that without a third-party mediator, the status quo will likely remain.
Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in a longstanding border standoff that erupted in deadly clashes earlier this month. Each side has blamed to other for provoking the fighting, and Cambodia claims Preah Vihear temple was damaged by Thai artillery fire.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday he wants a ceasefire to be signed at the Asean meeting Tuesday, with Asean foreign ministers as witnesses. Meanwhile, both sides reported isolated incidents of small arms fire along the border this week.
Cambodia would like to see Asean monitors along the border, even if it means hosting them unilaterally, Hun Sen said.
Asean’s ability to resolve the dispute remains in question, said Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
“There are different political tendencies, different interests,” among the members, he said. “So in our view it’s difficult to depend on Asean to negotiate this issue.”
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the ongoing dispute is a regional issue warranting Asean attention.
1 comment:
Thai also use anti tanks missile guide make from US to wipe out Hun Sen regime Tanks. Hun Sen's tanks cab be see from the satilite very clear because they are made from metal. Anti-tank missile can delivery very accuraccy to destry all Hun Sen tanks by using live GPS guide from satilide.
All cambodian army don't stay in the tanks if you want to survive OK!
Hun Sen can't update military weapons due to Hun Sen's regime so much currupted. They use the whole nation money for their pockets only that is why they are billionairs, millionairs but 90% cambodians are poor.
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