President (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) not to attend ASEAN summit in Cambodia

Jakarta, March 31 (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will not attend the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia and has assigned Vice President Boediono to represent him at the meeting, Julian Aldrin Pasha, said.

"Right. The President has delegated the vice president to represent him at the meeting," he said here on Friday night.

Julian said President Yudhoyono has decided not to attend the summit so that he could personally monitored conditions in the country especially with regard to the government`s plan to raise the price of subsidized oil fuels.

"This way he could give directives personally," he said.

SBY urged to appoint special envoy for border dispute

Wed, 05/11/2011
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the current chairman of ASEAN, has been urged to appoint a special envoy for the Cambodian-Thai border dispute to back the official and formal measures already encouraged by Indonesia.

Gadjah Mada University Institute of International Studies (IIS) researcher Riza Noer Arfani said that proposed measures, such as sending Indonesian observers to the disputed border and to assist the general border committee, were official and formal in nature.

“The negotiations are very formal. The measures are clear and so are the formats,” he said.

He added that what was needed is thorough observation and study regarding the roots of the conflict, the underlying interests it and what is needed to put an end to the strife.

“This is what the special envoy is tasked with to uncover,” he said, adding that the special envoy mechanism had often been used, including by the UN, the EU and countries, such as the United States, to deal with acute conflicts.

Xen met Shit [or was it Sit?] as deadlock still remains

Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attend a trilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. (Photo by: Reuters)

Hun Sen meets Abhisit

Monday, 09 May 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen met yesterday with Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva for the first time since deadly fighting broke out on the Thai-Cambodian border last month, though the two countries appear no closer to resolving their long-standing boundary dispute.

The leaders, meeting at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta, were joined by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who attempted to mediate. Indonesia currently holds the chair of ASEAN and has held talks with officials from both countries over the past few months in an attempt to resolve the conflict.

At a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in February, following clashes between Thailand and Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple, Indonesia proposed sending teams of unarmed military observers to the border area to ensure that a ceasefire would hold.

ASEAN chair Yudhoyono highlights issues addressed at 18th summit

May 09, 2011
Xinhua

The chair of the ASEAN, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono highlighted ten issues addressed at the 18th ASEAN Summit conclude on Sunday.

Speaking at final press conference to the conclusion of the 18th ASEAN Summit, President Yudhoyono said that the main issue discussed during the summit was the efforts to establish Single Connectivity vision targets on 2015.

"Efforts to materialize this vision must be conducted swiftly by each country in the region as well as cooperation between countries in the region to do so,"the president told the press conference.

The following essential issues discussed during the summit were food and energy security, conflict management in the region, regional architecture, efforts to create ASEAN as a people- centered organization.

Thailand-Cambodia conflict unresolved by ASEAN meeting

Monday, May 9, 2011
By Olivia Rondonuwu, Reuters

JAKARTA -- Southeast Asian leaders failed to achieve any breakthrough on Sunday to end deadly border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia that overshadowed a regional summit in Jakarta supposed to showcase progress towards economic integration.

The clashes around crumbling Hindu temples in disputed areas have starkly illustrated the tensions between countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that could derail plans to create a single economic community by 2015, and the apparent inability of the bloc to deal with disagreements.

Indonesia, host of the 18th ASEAN summit, has been pressing for a deal that would prevent the meeting being marred by the border dispute. But in the end all that was achieved was a face-saving announcement that the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers would stay an extra day in Jakarta for more talks.

"I'm coming here not to create a war of words," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told a news conference in which he announced the extra round of talks. The two sides have spoken plenty of times in recent weeks, but without finding a resolution to clashes that have killed 18 people since April.

Indonesia to broker border talks

PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO WILL MEET ABHISIT, HUN SEN AT ASEAN SUMMIT

8/05/2011
Achara Ashayagachat & Agencies
Bangkok Post

JAKARTA : Indonesia's president will talk to the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand today in a bid to find a solution to their border dispute.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has offered to meet Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asean summit.

He will meet them separately, as the two are not yet willing to meet face to face to discuss the dispute.

However, officials hope Mr Yudhoyono can broker a solution or perhaps bring them together for a meeting before the summit ends later today.

Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the meetings will take place an hour before the Asean summit session begins at 9am.

Thai, Cambodian PMs to meet on border clashes

Indonesian military personnel man the entrance to the venue of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. Photo: Irwin Fedriansyah / AP

Saturday, May 7, 2011
NINIEK KARMINI, Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia agreed to meet with Indonesia's president at a summit of Southeast Asian leaders to try to find a way to end repeated deadly clashes along their disputed border, officials said.

The border issue dominated the mood at the annual meeting that also had Myanmar's bid to become chair of the regional grouping high on the agenda.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which is supposed to focus on steps needed to create an integrated regional economic zone by 2015.

But little can be accomplished, he said, without peace and stability between the 10 member countries.

Petition to French and Indonesian Presidents regarding the application of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements

[KI-Media note: The same petition in French was also sent to French President Nicolas Sarkozy]

PETITION

To Mr. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA,

CO-PRESIDENT OF THE 1991 PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE ON CAMBODIA,

c/o The Republic of Indonesia Embassy

47-49, rue Cortambert, 75116 Paris, France

---------

We, the Representatives of the Cambodian Civil Society in France, who have gathered at the Trocadéro Human Rights Plaza in Paris on October 24th, 2010, to commemorate the October 23rd, 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia,

Considering that the Government of Cambodia led by Mr. Hun Sen and his CPP party:

1. Unscrupulously violates fundamental human rights, the Kingdom's Constitution and democratic principles;
2. Fails to provide justice to hundreds of assassination cases of political opponents, trade unionists, journalists and independent lawyers since 1991;
3. Conducts violent evictions of villagers from their homes and lands throughout the country, and dumping them in isolated and unhealthy locations;
4. Systematically abuses its power to stifle all legitimate criticisms and protests raised by the citizens and the opposition through the use of repressive government police and armed forces and its court system;
5. Acts as an accomplice to Vietnam in the latter’s pursuit of colonization of Cambodia, in spite of the fact that Vietnam is itself a signatory to the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. The number of Vietnamese "immigrants" has now reached more than five million, i.e., more than 35% of the entire fourteen million population of Cambodia, thereby dangerously threatening the identity and the national unity of the Cambodian people;
6. Endangers Cambodia’s independence and neutrality, and the Cambodian people's right to self-determination by accepting growing interferences from the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Cambodia disguised as bilateral ‘cooperation’ in the fields of politics, judicial system, administrative system, economic system, as well as security and national defense;
7. Proceeds with Vietnam to the border demarcation between the two countries on the basis of the illegal 1985 treaty.

• Similarly, Thailand, also a signatory of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, had decided to militarily occupy several locations along Cambodia’s western and northern provinces, including the area of Preah Vihear temple, by publicly rejecting the border delineation established through the 1904-1907 Franco-Siamese treaties and later recognized by The Hague International Court of Justice in its 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear temple case.

Along with the undersigned, we are denouncing:

• The measures and actions taken by the governments of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, as they are deemed as a factor that will dash the hope of the Cambodian people to find their freedom and democracy, the independence and territorial integrity of their country, as stipulated in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements whose aim was to end the indescribable suffering through many years of war, massacre and occupation by Vietnam;
• In fact, up to now, Cambodia still has not yet found peace and security stipulated in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, and the Cambodian people still continue to live in misery under the terror imposed by those who are power currently, as well as by foreign domination;

Therefore, we urge you, Mr. President, in your distinguished role as Co-Chairman of the Paris Peace Conference on Cambodia, to kindly consider establishing an International Control Commission for the Application of these agreements, a Commission with the mission of engaging the governments of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to scrupulously observe the provisions of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia in order to help our Country get out of a dangerous destruction path and also to restore peace, stability and security for the sake of Cambodia’s development.

Done in Paris, October 24, 2010

Representatives of the Demonstrators

SEAN Pengsè,

6 Allée des Frênes,

77420 CHAMPS-SUR-MARNE, France

- Le Comité des Frontières du Cambodge en France et dans le Monde - CFC,

Représentant : (M.) SEAN Pengsè,

6 Allée des Frênes, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France

- La Fédération des Khmers du Kampuchea-krom – FKKK France-Europe,

Représentant : (M.) THACH Vien,

46 r Voie des Prés, 93420 Villepinte, France

- L’Association groupant le Parti Sam-Rainsy en France,

Représentant : (M.) (M.) PENG Muny Sara

15 boulevard du Champ-du-Moulin

77700 Serris, France

- L’Association groupant le Parti des Droit de l’Homme en France,

Représentant : (M.) LIM BUN Sidareth,

5 Allée Ravel,

92320 Châtillon, France

- La Ligue Cambodgienne des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen – LCDHC,

Représentante : (Mme) DY HAY Phanny,

56 rue Pouchet,

75017 Paris, France

- L’Association Culturelle Cambodgienne – ACC,

Représentante : (Mme) LONG Kunny,

Boîte 87, Maison des Sociétés,

69500 Bron, France

- Relations avec les Manifestants,

Représentant : (M) LIM Kim-Ya,

26 rue Labbé, 94600 Choisy-le-roi, France

What happens to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could happen to Hun Xen next

Mr Yudhoyono was reportedly onboard his plane at Jakarta's airport when he decided to cancel

Indonesia cancels Netherlands visit over arrest threat

5 October 2010
BBC News

“In recent days, a group has filed a request to the court to make an issue out of human rights in Indonesia” Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia

Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has called off a state visit to the Netherlands because of a threat that he could be arrested.

A separatist group, the Republic of South Moluccas (RMS), has asked a court to order his detention in connection with alleged human rights violations.

Mr Yudhoyono said that if he had gone ahead with the three-day visit, it might have led to a "misunderstanding".

Indonesian authorities crushed the RMS after it declared independence in 1950.

It was revived following the fall of President Suharto in 1998, and is currently based in the Netherlands, Indonesia's former colonial power.

From 1999 until 2002, ethnic violence in the Moluccas islands left an estimated 5,000 people dead and displaced 500,000 others.

A spokeswoman for a court in The Hague confirmed that the RMS had asked for an injunction to have Mr Yudhoyono arrested on arrival.

The group wanted him to face prosecution for the alleged human rights violations and the physical abuse of political prisoners, she added.

Mr Yudhoyono was reportedly already onboard his plane at Jakarta's airport on Tuesday when he decided to cancel the state visit.

"In recent days, a group has filed a request to the court to make an issue out of human rights in Indonesia and request the court to arrest me during the state visit to the Netherlands," he told reporters afterwards.

"What I cannot accept is if the president of Indonesia makes a visit to the Netherlands, after an invitation from the Netherlands, the court decides to arrest the president of Indonesia."

The BBC contacted the Dutch embassy in Jakarta about the president's plans but they had no comment.

Indonesia Ready to Help Calm Thai-Cambodian Row

The Thai government was infuriated when Thaksin Shinawatra, left, played a round of golf with Hen Sun. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith).

November 23, 2009
Ismira Lutfia
Jakarta Globe

The government would agree to mediate in the escalating row between Thailand and Cambodia if the two neighboring countries asked it to, Foreign A f fairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Thursday.

“We would be willing to do that if we are considered to be able to assist them,” he said.

Marty added that the conflict was contrary to the spirit of regional amity that Asean member countries were trying to develop.

The relationship between Cambodia and Thailand has turned nasty recently, with both countries recalling their ambassadors earlier this month shortly after Phnom Penh’s announcement that it was naming ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra an economic adviser. Thaksin, a fugitive from the Thai justice system, responded by playing a round of golf in Cambodia with Hun Sen, enraging the Thai government.

On the sidelines of the recent APEC summit in Singapore, Marty said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had met with Thai Prime Minister Abhist Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to listen to their views on the issue.

“We will see if there are any common views between the two sides,” Marty said, adding that it was essential for both countries to maintain communication.

“We want to be part of that communication to ensure the situation does not worsen,” Marty added.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said over the weekend that Marty was scheduled to visit several Asean countries this week to formally introduce himself as the new foreign affairs minister.

The regional tour was a tradition among newly installed Asean ministers, Faizasyah said.

“We have received confirmation from the Philippines and Thailand,” he noted, adding that Marty was confirmed to meet with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He said the ministry was still awaiting confirmation from Brunei, Vietnam, and Cambodia

The latest developments in bilateral and regional issues would be on the agenda, the spokesman said, including the ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. “We may have to listen to the concerns of each party in this matter,” Faizasyah said, adding that there was a need to get first-hand information from both countries.

Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan has called on both countries to exercise restraint and on all Asean member states to refer to the Asean charter and the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to help resolve the dispute.

Yudhoyono: Thailand, Cambodia can still solve border conflict bilaterally [-Bilateral solution to nowhere?]

Monday, November 16, 2009

Singapore (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed the view that Thailand and Cambodia should solve their border conflict bilaterally without referring it to an ASEAN forum.

In statements at the Marina Mandarin Hotel here on Monday morning before returning to Jakarta after attending a series of APEC meetings here, Yudhoyono said, "In my opinion, there are still opportunities for Thailand and Cambodia to solve their border issue bilaterally, and our foreign affairs minister will maintain communication with their Thai and Cambodian counterparts about the matter," the president said.

Therefore, he said, Indonesia would wait and see how things between Thailand and Cambodia developed while hoping they could eventually find the best possible way out of their dispute.

"Then, whenever in their discussions they agree there is something positive other ASEAN countries can contribute, we will certainly be ready to do so," Yudhoyono said.

He said said he had met and talked with both Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen separately on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore.

"I don`t want to take any further steps because I met with the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers in a friendly atmosphere," Yudhoyono said, adding that at the meetings, he had suggested the two ASEAN member countries solve their border problem bilaterally.

"On the occasion I said it`s better for the two leaders to overcome the problem bilaterally without bringing it to an ASEAN forum or to make it an international issue because it would not be good for ASEAN as a whole," Yudhoyono said.

Tensions on the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia have existed for some years but they increased since July last year, after Unesco granted world heritage status to the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

The dispute led to violence last April when soldiers of the two countries clashed twice near the ancient temple where two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers died in the fighting while nine Thai soldiers were wounded.

Yudhoyono meets Abisit, Hun Sen to help reduce tension

Sun, 11/15/2009
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Sunday morning and will later in the day meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to help tensions between the two countries that share land borders.

No official statement was given about the bilateral meeting between Yudhoyono and Abhisit, but presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said earlier that Indonesia wanted to ease tensions at the border.

Dino said that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had communicated with his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya to discuss about the border tension.

"We hope this tension can be resolved peacefully," Dino was quoted by Antara as saying.

Conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand have originated border from disputes around the famous old temple, Preah Vihear.

The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

Tensions flared in July when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.

Both sides have stepped up deployment of soldiers at the border since then, and deadly border classes have occasionally flared up.

Thai PM, Indonesian president discuss bilateral relations, Cambodia

SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (TNA) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early Sunday conferred on bilateral relations as well as on the ongoing diplomatic standoff between Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia, according to Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya.

The discussion was held on the sidelines of the three-day 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings which are scheduled to end later Sunday in Singapore.

Mr Kasit said Mr Yudhoyono expressed concern over the Thai-Cambodian dispute and offered to mediate the crisis. The Thai premier reportedly told the Indonesian leader that his government will remain patient so that the problem would not affect the peoples of the two countries.

Mr Yudhoyono is scheduled to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday afternoon regarding the diplomatic row between the two countries and, according to Mr Kasit, results or progress from the meeting will be conveyed to him by his Indonesian counterpart.

Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia along with Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, are ASEAN members.

Diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Thailand worsened after they recalled their ambassadors, expelled the first secretaries of each embassy, and the Cambodian government arrested a Thai man which it accused of spying on fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand has said emphatically that the accusation against the Thai national is groundless.

The Thai government has said the problem began with Mr Hun Sen’s appointment of Mr Thaksin as economic adviser to his government earlier this month.

Mr Abhisit, currently chairman of ASEAN, and the ASEAN leaders are to hold a summit with US President Barack Obama on relations between the regional bloc and the US which also include economic and security cooperation.

Mr Abhisit is scheduled to return to Bangkok Sunday evening.

Susilo, Lee Hsien Loong Do Not Discuss Cambodia-Thailand Conflict

SINGAPORE, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did not discuss the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in their bilateral meeting in Singapore Thursday night, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.

This was disclosed by Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal to the press at Marina Mandarin Hotel here after accompanying the President in his meeting with Lee Hsien Loong.

"Nothing on the matter had been discussed, but the Indonesian government was very concerned about what had happened, the tension between Cambodia and Thailand," he said.

He also disclosed that Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had contacted his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya. "We hope the tension can be resolved satisfactorily," he said.

The Singapore government last week had expressed concern about the deteriorating diplomatic conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and said "it was not good" for Asean.

The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand centered on the 4.6 square meters of bushes near a 900 years old anciant temple Preah Vihear in a steep slope forest separating the two countries.

The two countries had actually been engaged in the conflict for the past centuries when the Thai Kingdom and the Khmer were at war for land and power.

In 1962, an international court decided that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but the land surrounding it was still being fought by both sides.

A UN decison which included Preah Vihear as a UNESCO world heritage had triggered a resumption of the conflict on the matter.

The conflict increased early in July 2008 when Cambodian forces held three Thai demonstrators for entering the archeological site illegally, which was followed by the assignment of military forces of the two countries near the temple.

While the two parties had conducted serious negotiations on the matter, still no agreement had been reached.

In 2003, the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh was burnt by rioters because of their increased anger triggered by a comment allegedly made by a Thai artist that the temple complex had to be returned to Thailand.

Last week the tension between the two countries escalated in which each country recalled their ambassadors, because of a decision of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to appoint former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic advisor.

Cambodia refused a Thai request to extradite Thaksin, which further worsened the conflict.

Thaksin and Hun Sen had been close fiends for several years, and they even played golf together. On the sidelines of the APEC summit November 14-15, 2009, Asean will hold the first summit with the United States, but Hun Sen had long before stated his refusal to discuss Thaksin's role in the summit.

About time ASEAN moves its heavy butt to look into Thai-Cambodia border dispute

Indonesia Proposes Asean Leaders' Meeting On Thai-Cambodia Border Dispute

"Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders" - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda

JAKARTA, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is proposing a meeting among ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Bejing next week to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, ANTARA news agency quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda as saying.

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been wanting the holding of a meeting among ASEAN heads of government to discuss the global financial crisis.

With the occurrence of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, his wish to have such a meeting has even become stronger," Wirayuda said at the presidential office here Thursday.

He said approaches for the staging of an ASEAN leaders meeting in Beijing were being made to Thailand and Cambodia as well as other ASEAN member countries.

Wednesday's exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces had ended on a positve note as Cambodia had not responded emotionally to the incident although two of its soliders had died in the incident. However, it was feared the dispute could still lead to an open conflict, Wirayuda said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to Wirajuda, had said the armed clash had been provoked by low-ranking Thai soldiers without official orders.

"Cambodia had ordered its military commander to talk to the Thai military commander although it had suffered two casualties," said Wirajuda.

However, Wirajuda added, if the problem was not handled carefully the armed clash could lead to a wider conflict that would damage ASEAN's image.

"Therefore, we are considering what ASEAN can do about the case," he added.

"There is an urgency to talk about the dispute. The sooner, the better," said Wirajuda.

At a recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, ASEAN had urged the two countries in dispute to solve their problem through bilateral talks.

"If the bilateral talks fail to yield a solution, it was proposed to form a ministerial-level ASEAN Contact to mediate the dispute," he said.

Thailand is expected to host the 14th ASEAN Summit on December 15, 2008.

Indonesia hopes Cambodia, Thailand to exercise restraint

10/15/08

"Hun Sen had assured [Indonesian President Yudhoyono] he would prevent the situation from escalating and settle it peacefully with Thailand"

Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed the hope here on Tuesday that Cambodia and Thailand would exercise restraint and be able prevent an open conflict on the border in the spirit of Asean solidarity.

He made the statement upon arrival at the Halim Perdanakusumah from visiting East Java after receiving a report from foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda that the situation on the border between Cambodia and Thailand was tense again and open to the possibility of a military conflict.

"Soon after arriving here I immediately talked with Prime Minister Hun Sen on the latest situation on the border. I hoped no armed conflict would take place and dialogue could be continued in line with the peaceful spirit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)," he said.

According to him Prime Minister Hun Sen said a worse situation could be prevented because Cambodia also wanted to settle the problem peacefully through bilateral negotiations with Thailand.

"It was also mentioned that tomorrow (15/10) there will be a working group meeting to discuss the conflict," he said.

President Yudhoyono said Hun Sen had assured him he would prevent the situation from escalating and settle it peacefully with Thailand.

"I have also called Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to convey my worries because if the conflict continues it will become worse. Moreover, now when we are still concerned with overcoming the financial crisis," he said.

He said the Thai prime minister also said that he had a strong will to settle the conflict peacefully.

On October 21, he said, the two countries would also hold a more substantive formal meeting to seek a peaceful solution of the problem.

"I will continue monitoring their good will, moreover Indonesia as one of the Asean founding fathers is expected to be able to help solve the conflict," he said.

Minister Hassan Wirajuda had earlier talked with Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan who had also been concerned over the development on the border of the two Asean common member countries.

Pitsuwan who was formerly Thai foreign minister hoped Indonesia could play a more role in preventing possible armed conflicts and would push the two countries to continue their bilateral talks.

Due to the latest development Thai prime minister Sochai Wongsawat had cancelled his plan to visit Indonesia on October 22 and had assigned his foreign minister to come to Indonesia.

On the cancellation President Yudhoyono said he could understand it and hoped the situation would be better.

In the past few months Thailand and Cambodia had disputed an area around an old Khmer temple of Preah Vihear located on the border between the two countries.

The tension escalated in July after the temple was declared a world heritage belonging to Cambodia by the UNESCO, angering Thai nationalists who still consider it their country`s.

The situation led to a military tension with around 1,000 Cambodian and Thailand soldiers facing each other for six weeks before the two sides later in August promised to withdraw.

Talks to discuss the withdrawal of the remaining soldiers from around Preah Vihear Temple scheduled last month were cancelled following a political upheaval in Thailand.