Thursday, May 05, 2011

Border disputes, Myanmar may eclipse ASEAN’s progress

Thu, 05/05/2011
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The lack of consensus in handling inter-regional issues such as border disputes, Myanmar’s government and competing claims in the South China Sea are clouding ASEAN’s efforts to become a full-fl edged community by 2015, according to experts.

ASEAN’s dreams of becoming a security community will remain unrealized unless the association backs away from its pledge not to use force to solve problems, according to Rizal Sukma, executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“The Thai-Cambodia border dispute shows that members of ASEAN can’t refrain from using force with each other. How can you say we are a community if we attack each other?” he said.

Despite the active involvement of Indonesia and ASEAN in brokering talks between Thailand and Cambodia, the two nations continue to exchange fire along their border. The latest flare-up is a fight over a stretch of border close to Tan Moan and Tan Krabey, two 12th century Hindu temples that both sides claim.


So far, 18 people on both sides have been killed in 12 days of gunfi ghts, grenade attacks and artillery bombardments that have displaced 65,000 people. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa previously said that the border dispute was not a good criteria for judging ASEAN’s success.

“The criteria should be ASEAN’s response, [which was] to choose to immediately facilitate and engage. [It was] unprecedented, as it has never happened before. But it is a huge scar that requires the engagement and good will by the two sides.”

“We have a choice of denial and to sweep things under the carpet. But we chose instead to directly engage. Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN, immediately got in touch with the two parties concerned — not to mediate between them, but to facilitate a solution.” ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said that the border dispute was an “embarrassment” for the association, which was initially forged to prevent open war in the region.

A strong political commitment was needed from the governments of Thailand and Cambodia to solve the issue “quickly and effectively”, regardless of domestic political concerns, he said.

On Myanmar, Rizal said that ASEAN should mobilize civil society groups, the media and the private sector to help empower the people of Myanmar. “There should a clear ASEAN road map on what to do to help Myanmar’s people, including the establishment of ASEAN aid, which is collected from member countries. This fund can be used to help those members that need assistance.”

Marty agreed saying that problems in Myanmar persisted despite the recent elections that installed a new government. “It is simply a work in progress. None of us can deny the fact that there’s been important developments in Myanmar over the past few months.

Of course, the election was not without problems and challenges. However a new government has been set up, and this offers protection for part of the democratization effort in Myanmar,” he said. Marty said he hoped that the release of Ang San Suu Kyi the refl ected readiness of Myanmar to be more inclusive and reconciliatory.

On territorial disputes between China and four ASEAN members, Rizal said Indonesia, as ASEAN’s chair, must develop a consensus on the desired outcome for the association to achieve a tangible results during negotiations. “The current negotiations must be pushed to the level of senior offi cials, who can fi nish negotiations.”

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The latest flare-up is a fight over a stretch of border close to Tan Moan and Tan Krabey, two 12th century Hindu temples that both sides claim."

=Duh! Cambodia never claim anything! Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Khmer Hindu temples are in Cambodian territory! And it is the Siem thugs and thieves leader of Thailand who want to claim the Khmer Hindu temple for Thailand to help boost their tourism destination!

Good luck for trying to talk to the Siem thieves and thugs of Thailand and they won't listen to anybody including the ASEAN! Cambodian leaders had been talking to these Siem thieves and thugs since June 2008 and it is still going nowhere!

How would you like to talk or negotiate with a thief who is trying to get into your house or the thief is already inside your house? I say no to the fucken thieves and shoot the mother fucker first then talk later!

It is so ridiculous when the ASEAN want Cambodian leaders to talk to the Siem thieves and thugs! Is this how the ASEAN want to set a good example for the world to see?

ASEAN is a bullshit organization!

Anonymous said...

Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten

By Ms. Rattana Keo

Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and 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 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 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?

Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The 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 protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?

The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.

Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?

Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?

Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,