Abdul Khalik and Sita Winiawati Dewi
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following the tension between Thailand and Cambodia over the border dispute that became even more public during the ASEAN Summit plenary session on Saturday, the prime ministers of both countries talked to the press separately on Sunday.
The following are excerpts of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s statement to the press.
Everyone knows that the problems on the Cambodian-Thai border have been on the ASEAN radar screen and have created a challenge for ASEAN, which is now working toward building an integrated community by the year of 2015.
Within the ASEAN spirit, the chair of ASEAN has been trying to work this issue out since February until now. In Feb. 22 the foreign ministers made a decision to send Indonesian observers to Cambodia and Thailand in the disputed area.
Cambodia accepts its responsibility and therefore immediately responds to the Terms of Reference (TOR) drafted by Indonesia as the chair of ASEAN. Cambodia signed the TOR letter of acceptance related to the role of observers and the responsibility of both countries.
Thailand did not sign, but proposed a condition that Cambodia withdraw its troops and its people from their own territory.
The Foreign Minister of Cambodia rejects the condition because the withdrawal of Cambodian troops and people from our own territory is not acceptable. So, yesterday there was tension at the plenary meeting.
Cambodia raised this issue, not to create a problem, but to solve the problem. The issue had been raised and the chair of ASEAN has undertaken the highest consideration this morning. We could have a bilateral meeting, in which on one side there would be Cambodia, Thailand on the other side, and in the middle the President of Indonesia as the acting ASEAN chair.
The discussion is not just between the Cambodian and Thailand prime ministers, but there is also the participation of the President of Indonesia by providing recommendations and suggestions.
At the end (of the discussion) the President of Indonesia provided a recommendation, and this recommendation has been accepted by the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand.
So, the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand will stay another day to work with the foreign minister of Indonesia. This is the role of the chair of ASEAN, which provided recommendations to finding solutions.
The Cambodian position is that Indonesian observers should be sent to Cambodia and Thailand. After that, we can immediately have the meeting of the general border committee. Once Thailand signs, we can start the meeting immediately, one day after that or one hour after that.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva talked to The Jakarta Post’s Abdul Khalik and Sita Winiawati Dewi after the closing of the summit on Sunday afternoon. Below are excerpts from the interview:
In his opening remarks, President SBY mentioned that we have to solve our problems internally first before we can play a larger role. How do you see this present Thai–Cambodian situation being resolved?
The issue is complex. It is not new, and unfortunately is not helped by Cambodian intentions to internationalize or escalate the issue. Thailand wants to see ASEAN family members solve problems among themselves. Ultimately, that is also a problem that is best solved by the parties who are direct to the dispute.
Our friends, because we are part of the family, and the family can help, can facilitate, but the decision rests really with the two parties.
In the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, ultimately the two parties have to work it out among themselves. ASEAN would be there to help, to make sure there is a peaceful environment and that there are factors that are conducive for the two sides to talk and seek resolution.
Does that include Indonesian observers coming to the border?
Yes, that’s part of the measures that Indonesia has offered and, in principal, that has been accepted by both sides. But the finalization and the implementation of that would have to take into account other factors as well, such as the need for a clear military presence at the temple, and so on.
How was your meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen and President SBY this morning?
The atmosphere was better than yesterday, when he suddenly launched into a long speech during the plenary session. But you know, differences remain. That has to be recognized, and the complexity remains, but at least we are talking, which is important. There were good exchanges through the media and we’ll see how the foreign ministers who have been tasked with the follow-up do.
Many said that this border dispute was also influenced by domestic politics, especially in Thailand. What is your response to this?
Well, I can’t speak for Cambodia, but you know in all countries, Thailand included, there is always an element or group of nationalists that can have a very strong nationalistic feelings.
They’re part of society. But my government has clearly demonstrated that we listen to them, and we would do what is best and what is necessary in the interests of the country and we protect our sovereignty and we protect our territory. But we want to do so in a manner that would not affect the livelihood of our people and the Cambodian people who live along the border.
Because they are direct stakeholders, we should be accountable to them, as much as to any interest group or any organization that might want to see other means of solving problems. So we listen to them. We don’t always agree with them. We don’t always respond to them because we are accountable to all the people in Thailand. Some of the things might make it more difficult, politically, but the government is always determined to do what is right.
4 comments:
Thai today politic is almost the same USA politic in Vietnam from 19 60 t0 1975.
During this time, Thai helped the US to bomb Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, because the US Army only have the virus of communist in their mind. They feel, they was able to eliminate the communist in Vietnam by doing the big wars. But Vietnam won the war with the help of Cambodia and Laos. The US lost the war and leave the innocent people alone.
Now, the Thai government is going into the same situation of attacking Cambodia. Because Thai has the Khmer virus in their body and mind. They have the feeling, must eliminate the Khmer included Khmer Surin plus other Khmer descents in Thailand from this planet. Afterward they can inform the world, that Thai is the descent people of the former Khmer King Jayavarman.
But please, remembered at the end we real Khmer will win this fight without Vietnam again the Thai aggressors, because we have the Khmer blood and know, what we are fighting for.
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,
Khmer men today are shit and chicken can't even stand for their Nation and Country.
Thai is an asian trator of the southeast asia since world war i and world war 2. Thai allowed the white to use their country to attack all asian nations including but limited to, USSR, Viet, Khemer, Chinese, Japany, Burma, Loas, Indonesia and more. In other words they helped the white to attack their neighbouring countries instead of loving your neighbours like you loved yourself. Therefore, now is the time to reflect back about what went wrong in southeast asia. The end has to come and it has to be done on earth and as it is in heaven. Asian nations have to make Thai nation pay for what they have done for over centuries.
I warned Thai to stay away from Khmer but they insisted to continue to do more harm, so from here there will be no more mercy on for you since you have done so much damaged to us. It is called "karma' and now is the time for all asian nations to come together targeting the Thai trator.
Wisdom
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