Border Mediation Hits a Roadblock

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, center, with his counterparts Tea Banh of Cambodia, left and Prawit Wongsuwan of Thailand after a fruitless meeting to settle the territorial dispute between the two Southeast Asian peninsular nations. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

May 19, 2011
Ismira Lutfia
Jakarta Globe

As Cambodia and Thailand remain intractable in their positions on a protracted border dispute, Indonesia’s proposal to send unarmed observers to both sides of the area grows dimmer.

Bilateral talks between Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh were held ahead of the annual Asean Defense Ministers Meeting on Thursday in Jakarta.

Their meeting ended with no resolution.

After the meeting, Tea Banh reaffirmed that Cambodia would not bow to Thailand’s demand to withdraw its troops from the border area.

“This is to be clear: that Cambodia cannot withdraw our troops from our own territory. Cambodia never invaded any other country,” Tea Banh said after the meeting with Prawit.

Thailand had earlier said that it would move to put into practice the so-called “package solution” initiated by Indonesia.

Under the terms of the solution, Thailand would allow Indonesian observers only if Cambodia withdrew its troops from the disputed area around Preah Vihear temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

Fighting along the contested border area has raged since last month. Clashes around the Preah Vihear temple have prompted displacement of thousands on both sides and resulted in at least 20 deaths.

The plan to involve Indonesia as a mediator in the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia was agreed to at an informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers in February.

The ministers also have agreed to the assignment of Indonesian observer teams to both sides of the border area to ensure that a cease fire there is respected.

Despite the apparent deadlock, Indonesia remains upbeat, with Air Marshal Eris Herryanto, the secretary general of the Ministry of Defense, saying on Wednesday that Cambodia and Thailand have conveyed that “the two sides have opened the door for Indonesia’s role.”

Eris said that although both countries had voiced support for Indonesia playing a mediating role in the conflict, neither had specifically what that role would be.

“They did not mention Indonesian observer teams but they have given some signals [of agreeing to Indonesia’s role]. The specific role will be discussed in another meeting,” Eris said.

He denied that Indonesia was failing in mediating the dispute, saying that what was achieved at the meeting counted as progress.

“The leading body in this issue is the [Indonesian] Foreign Ministry, and we will report this progress to them,” he said. He added that the foreign ministries of the three countries would be responsible for a resolution.