Thailand says Cambodia bypassing ASEAN in temple dispute

May 5, 2011
ABC Radio Australia

Thailand says Cambodia should withdraw soldiers from Preah Vihear temple on their shared border and wants Indonesian observers to take up position there.

The comments come from Thailand's Foreign Ministry spokesman after Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice to review a 1962 ruling that granted sovereignty of the temple to Cambodia. On Monday, the International Court confirmed the application for a review and said Cambodia has requested Thai soldiers leave the area. Almost 50 years ago the ICJ decided the temple belonged to Cambodia... but 4.6 square kilometres of land surrounding the temple was never properly demarcated... both sides claim it's theirs and that's what most of the fighting has been about.

Last month, fighting began further west at two other border temples also on disputed land... and there was another death on Tuesday... bringing the toll of the most recent clashes to 18. The flare up comes as Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is expected to announce national elections either tomorrow or possible early next week.

Presenter: Ron Corben

Speaker: Thani Thongphakdi, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman

Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)

COCHRANE: Meanwhile... despite the sporadic violence that continues on the border civilians on both sides are returning home and evacuation centres set up to shelter them are closing. The fighting caused as many as 85-thousand people to flee... with a Thai civilian killed and some homes damaged on both sides. The Phnom Penh Post is reporting that last night marked the first without violence since the recent clashes began on the 22nd of April... with regional commanders meeting and pledging another ceasefire on Wednesday.

Part of their six-point agreement included the reopening of two border checkpoints near the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples in Cambodia's Oddar Meancheay province.

CORBEN: Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia are at new lows in the conflict over management and development of the 11 th century Preah Vihear Hindu temple along the countries' common border. In February this year Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen sought to have the issue taken up by the United Nations after cross border clashes. Instead the U.N. called on Indonesia, chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations -ASEAN - to 'facilitate talks between the two counties. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi;

THANI: As you well know we had invited Indonesia as the ASEAN chair to send observers to the affected areas along the border. Yesterday - last night - Cabinet had approved in principle the terms of reference for accepting the deployment of these observers. So we hope that once Cambodia agrees and withdraws their forces from the temple as well as the community market and the nearby wat that this would pave the way for the Indonesians to send observers as soon as possible.

CORBEN: And the current situation on the border what is the situation?

THANI: I think from the reports that we have received is that there continues to be some use of light weapons, light arms along the border. But looking at this positively and constructively we believe it may be due to command and control issues on the Cambodian side, because the negotiations the talks were done rather between the local commanders. On the Thai side the Thai person who entered into the dialogue was actually the commanding general on the ground whereas on the Cambodian side it was not.

CORBEN: Last week we've had this application by Cambodia to the International Court of Justice. What are the steps now, what can we expect from that?

THANI: The Cambodians had submitted their application for an interpretation of a judgement that was made on the temple back in 1962. We stand ready to go to make our case before the court. But we feel that this endeavour by Cambodia bypasses ASEAN who has already been playing a supportive and facilitating role, dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia. At the same time we still feel that this issue has to be addressed between the two countries concerned as are border issues between countries around the world.

CORBEN: Is this likely to play a particular role in ASEAN meeting coming up in Jakarta?

THANI: The Cambodian Thai issue is not an agenda item at the ASEAN summit. But of course it is the prerogative of the ASEAN leaders whatever issue they deem appropriate. If this issue is raised then Thailand stands ready to inform the meeting of the Thai policy and the facts that have transpired.

CORBEN: UNESCO has planned to rule on a management plan for the Preah Vihear Temple at its next meeting this year. Thailand successfully had the decision postponed last year and is looking for further delays until the border issue is finally settled.

THANI: The World Heritage Committee still has to consider the management plan for the site itself and because that this would infringe upon Thai territory we feel that consideration of the management plan should wait until the border issues between both countries are resolved.

CORBEN: Do you see the way ahead as a potential settlement on this issue or is it likely to remain somewhat thorny between Thailand and Cambodia.

THANI: As the Cambodians have sought an interpretation of the rulings. I think this issue will probably be deliberated upon by the international court of justice which may take between a year and two years. I think in terms of the our relationship with Cambodia I think we'll have to take it one day at a time and see how the issue plays out.