Making war or peace the Asean way

Analysis

Monday, August 13th
By: Amando Doronila
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The abrupt recall last month of Cambodian Ambassador Hos Sereythonh from Manila a year short of his three-year posting left shock waves in the capitals of 10 Southeast Asian nations and sparked speculation on whether the Philippines and tiny Cambodia had plunged into a serious diplomatic crisis, something like being on the brink of war.

Under diplomatic practice, envoys are relieved after an outrageous breach of protocol of civilized states, requiring urgent steps to avert armed conflict.

That was not the case when Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario made a surprise announcement to the press last week that the Cambodian foreign ministry had sent him a letter announcing that Sereythonh had been recalled and would not be able to complete his term that was supposed to end on July 27, 2013. The letter did not give any explanation for the relief.

Last month, Del Rosario summoned Sereythonh to explain comments to a Manila newspaper blaming the Philippines and Vietnam for trying to “sabotage and hijack” the 45th Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ministerial conference, hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

The ambassador, who accused the Philippine and Vietnam of engaging in “dirty tricks,” did not show up, claiming illness.

ASEAN receives credentials from Cambodia's Permanent Representative

JAKARTA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan received the credentials from Cambodia's Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Kan Pharidh, on Thursday.

"Ambassador Kan's many years of experience in ASEAN affairs will, no doubt, contribute positively to the Committee of Permanent Representatives, now being formed. I look forward to working with him on building our ASEAN Community," a press release issued by the ASEAN Secretariat quoted Surin as saying.

Ambassador Kan is concurrently Cambodia's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia.

So far, ASEAN has received credentials from the Permanent Representatives of four ASEAN member countries. They are Singapore, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.