Thailand, Cambodia Agree To Accept Observers: ASEAN

[webfact]

Thailand, Cambodia agree to accept observers: ASEAN

by Arlina Arshad

JAKARTA, February 22, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand and Cambodia agreed Tuesday to accept Indonesian observers and avoid further clashes over a border dispute that has claimed at least 10 lives and displaced thousands, officials said.

The agreement came during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia, which holds the current chair of the 10-member block.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, speaking on behalf of ASEAN, said it was a "unique arrangement" for a grouping that devotes most of its time to trade and avoids conflict resolution.

"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," he told reporters after the talks.

He said Cambodia and Thailand had also requested Indonesia's "engagement" in subsequent bilateral negotiations, the first of which would be convened in Indonesia at a date to be specified.

"With hard work we can make things happen," the minister added, referring to weeks of behind-the-scenes activity by his office and the Jakarta-based ASEAN secretariat, headed by former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan.

Thailand and Cambodia have each accused the other of starting the clashes, which erupted around the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear earlier this month.

The temple belongs to Cambodia but the surrounding area is claimed by both sides.

Despite a UN appeal for restraint, there has been a series of skirmishes reported by both sides since a February 5 ceasefire agreement.

Thailand has resisted Cambodian calls for third-party mediation but now appears ready to allow Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN, to play a formal role as observer of the ceasefire and future bilateral talks.

Speaking earlier in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said a third party was essential as Thailand "signs documents with hands, but cancels them by feet".

"Cambodia welcomes the Thai side's willingness to request Indonesia to send its observers to embed with their troops," he said.

"It is true that the final decision must be made between Cambodia and Thailand, but we need a third party to know."

In comments posted on Twitter, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin called the agreement a "historic day" and said both sides had pledged to "avoid further armed clashes".

ASEAN has a strict policy of non-interference in member states' internal affairs and has been criticised for doing too little to resolve conflicts and buttress regional security.

Natalegawa said the decision to send observers to a conflict zone was an important step for the grouping.

"This outcome is very important, not just on conflict resolution between Thailand and Cambodia but in capacity building by ASEAN," he said.

"This is the first time ASEAN has directly involved itself in the conflicts of member countries and come up with a solution."

No time frame has been set for the arrival of the observers, who will include soldiers and civilians, he said.

They would embed with both armies on either side of the disputed border and report to the respective governments in Bangkok and Phnom Penh on any violations of the terms of the ceasefire.

Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have been strained since Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) surrounding area.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-02-22

[webfact]

ASEAN Resolves to Send Rep to Thailand-Cambodian Border

A meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, has resolved to send a representative to the Thai-Cambodian border to inspect the area.

The representative will visit both the Thai and Cambodian sides.

The meeting also encouraged the two countries to resolve the border issue bilaterally.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-22

[SantiSuk]

So its bi-lateral with Indonesian involvement. Err ... I make that trilateral, which is what the Thai Government said it did not want. Oh well at least common sense is possibly prevailing in the end.

[webfact]

Indonesia to send observers

By Nuthatai Chotechuang

The Nation

Jakarta

Compromise at Asean suits Thailand, Abhisit says, as both sides soften their previous positions; Next bilateral boundary talks will be in Jakarta but date is yet to be set: Kasit

Indonesia, as the current chair of Asean, proposed a compromise solution yesterday to try to solve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, saying it would send a team of Indonesian observers to the border near Preah Vihear Temple.

"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace-enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters after the talks.

Natalegawa chaired an informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Jakarta yesterday to find a way to prevent a further flare-up of the armed conflict that erupted from February 4-7 and killed at least 10 people, including three civilians on both sides.

The observers would not be placed in the disputed 4.6 square kilometre area adjacent to the temple but would be on both sides of the affected areas on the border, to observe the commitment by both sides to avoid further armed clashes, the Asean chairman said in a statement. The mandate of the Indonesian observers was "to assist and support the parties in respecting their commitment to avoid further armed clashes between them, by observing and reporting accurately, as well as impartially, on complaints of violations and submitting its findings to each party through Indonesia, current chair of Asean", it said.

Indonesia would send details about the observers to the conflicting parties soon, Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said. Model structures had existed since East Timor, Aceh and fighting in the south of the Philippines, he said, explaining that the role of observers would not go far beyond operations in these three places.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Indonesia would send 15 observers to each side of the border and both countries wanted to see the teams soon.

The solution is a compromise. Phnom Penh said last week it would ask for Asean observers to monitor and ensure 'permanent cease-fire' in the disputed area while Bangkok proposed over the weekend that it would ask the Asean chair Indonesia to send observers to 'embed' with Thai soldiers in the border area.

Both countries have softened their positions. Cambodia initially asked the United Nations to dispatch peacekeeping forces to ensure a permanent cease-fire, while Thailand rejected the involvement of any third party and said it preferred just bilateral talks as a way out.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in Bangkok the Asean solution would support the Thai position to use bilateral talks to end the conflict. Indonesian observers would ensure no more clashes in border areas.

Asean ministers called on the two sides to resume bilateral negotiations, including through existing mechanisms, at the earliest opportunity, with appropriate engagement of Indonesia, to support the two countries' efforts to resolve the situation amicably.

Kasit said the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), a bilateral mechanism on land boundary survey and demarcation, would hold its meeting in Jakarta but the date had not been fixed.

The JBC held its previous meeting in Phnom Penh in April 2009. It could not have any further meetings until the Thai Parliament approved the minutes of its previous meetings. Thailand recently proposed to have the next meeting on February 27 but Kasit said yesterday the JBC meeting was now up to Indonesia. "Now the forum is in Jakarta, it depends on the readiness of the Indonesian foreign ministry," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

[whybother]

So its bi-lateral with Indonesian involvement. Err ... I make that trilateral, which is what the Thai Government said it did not want. Oh well at least common sense is possibly prevailing in the end.

No, not exactly. There are third party observers at the border, but Thailand wants talks to be bilateral.

[Robby nz]

Thailand is quite correct that any decision on border demarcation must be reached by bilateral talks between the two countries.

Can you see either side accepting a third party decision that did not go their way?

Hun Sen would never accept the disputed area being given to Thailand and the Thai Govt would never accept it being given to Cambodia.

Can you immagine the screams of protest from the yellows, no doubt backed by the reds and anyone else who could see political capital, if the Thai Govt conceded the land to Cambodia.

The only solution is that proposed by the Thai Deputy PM and some posters on this board of a joint management area for the good of both countries.

With a bit of luck that will come to pass but I suspect it will only happen if Thailand picks up the bill.

[norwayeagle]

Unarmed Observer team Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says '

I don't believe in that !