Purnomo Prepares Thailand-Cambodia Observer Team

Thursday, 24 February, 2011
MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI
TempoInteractive.com

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Defense Ministry has prepared an observer team that will monitor the armistice between Thailand-Cambodia at the border of the two countries.

“We will announce it when it is confirmed,” said Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro at his office in Jakarta yesterday. However, he would not specify the composition of the team or when it would be established.

Purnomo was responding to Thailand and Cambodia’s request for Indonesia to arbitrate their conflict. Both countries have agreed to a cease fire after they were involved in a border conflict two weeks ago. The request was welcomed by the Indonesian government, which has responded by planning the observer team.

“The government will first send an advanced team to gather initial information,” said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa following the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the Foreign Department’s office in Jakarta on Tuesday. Marty confirmed that the observer team consisted of civilian and military elements, namely staff from the Foreign Department, Defense Ministry and Indonesian Armed Forces.

Marty did not confirm the number of people in the team, but estimated there would be no more than 20 people in each. There will be two teams assigned at the Thai and Cambodian borders. “We haven’t decided the leaders yet. Normally they would be military officers. I think there will be more military members,” he said.

Regarding the suggestion to form the observer team, Marty said he had spoken to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, and Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Admiral TNI Agus Suhartono. “It won’t be in weeks, it will be formed within several days,” he said.

According to Marty, if one of the countries violates the armistice at the border, the observer team will note it in the report. Later, the report will be submitted to the Indonesian government as the ASEAN 2011 leader. “We then will convey to both parties who has violated and why,” he said.