May 12, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Thailand not breaching TOR, but stands by its stance, says Kasit
The withdrawal of Cambodian troops from Preah Vihear Temple and its vicinity - a condition that Thailand has set before it accepts Indonesia's team of observers to be stationed in the disputed area - was not mentioned in the Jakarta-brokered peace package, a diplomatic source said.
The three-step package agreed upon by the Cambodian, Indonesian and Thai foreign ministers on Monday only set a timeline for the deployment of the team of observers and the meetings of Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC), the minutes of the meeting showed.
In a Twitter message yesterday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya explained that the basic principle of the deal was still that Cambodian troops need to be withdrawn from Preah Vihear, Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara and adjoining areas before Indonesian observers will be allowed in the area.
"Thailand has never breached the terms of reference for the team of observers are we are being accused of," he said.
The new peace package, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation, comprises three steps for the deployment of Indonesian observers to areas near Preah Vihear where military clashes broke out in February. They are:
Step 1
- Exchanging formal letters on the terms of reference for the observers;
- Announcing the GBC/JBC meeting.
Step 2 (five days after Step 1 is implemented)
- Dispatching an initial survey team;
- Holding a meeting of the GBC/JBC.
Step 3 (ten days after Step 1)
- Fully assigning the team of observers;
- Following up on the results of the GBC/JBC meeting.
Kasit said he would submit the peace package to the Cabinet next week, and it might want to adjust some details.
Though Thailand and Cambodia have already agreed upon the text of the terms of reference, Thailand will only send its formal acceptance to Jakarta if Cambodia agrees to withdraw its troops from Preah Vihear and its vicinity. Phnom Penh has rejected the condition and things are at a deadlock.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa called a tripartite meeting with Kasit and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Jakarta on Monday. The meeting came up with a package that stops both sides from setting conditions before any steps can be taken.
A Thai official anticipates that the condition of Cambodia's troop withdrawal, even though it is not mentioned in the package, would be discussed during the GBC meeting, which is co-chaired by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, or by the JBC, which takes care of boundary demarcation.
Indeed, the withdrawal or repositioning of troops in the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple is one of the major topics to be discussed by the JBC in relation to the boundary demarcation.
The last JBC meeting was held in Bogor, Indonesia, in the first week of April but no significant progress was made. Clashes broke out later in April near Ta Mouan Thom and Ta Kwai temple in Surin about 150km west of Preah Vihear.
4 comments:
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 every day.
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?
Koh Tral was a Cambodian island, and technically and legally, remained a Cambodian island until today.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
it was suprising that THAILAND sending the Troop first so the first move is THAILAND NOT CAMBODIA.They start the trouble they are the once that need to fix this mass of problem.Fucking thai.
How many more monk and nun that you gonna send to preah vihear for the excuse. you basted.
That is just plain stupid. Why would Cambodia withdraw its soldiers from Preah Vihear? Preah Vihear is on Cambodian soil and there is simply no argument against that. If Cambodia decides to withdraw its troops from the temple, it just goes to show that Thailand can get away with intimidation and being a bully. This will make Cambodia to appear very weak. Vietnam has already fucked Cambodia, we don't need Thailand to do the same.
Every body in the world,including Thai citizen who live along the border, knew the problem started when Thai Army send troop to the border.
Cambodian Army have been station their for years and there was no problem.
I still don't understand how Thai parliment work. If they want to claim all Cambodia belong to them, then what will happend ???? Can they do that ????? Do they care about International Laws at all ??
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