Observers ok, but no troop pull-out

By The Nation

Asean mission welcome to monitor Thai-Cambodian border, Kasit says

Thailand is ready to receive observers from Indonesia to monitor the situation at the border near Preah Vihear Temple - but will not withdraw troops from the disputed area before Cambodia does so.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday on his return from Indonesia's Asean talks on the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict that he would consult with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to prepare for the observers.

"I will talk with Minister Prawit on how to welcome them…but it should be not difficult since we have experience in sending the same [kind of mission] to keep peace in Indonesia's Aceh, East Timor and Southern Philippines years ago," he said.

The Asean chair would send its plans to Thailand and Cambodia to map out details of the observer mission, he said.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the border area near Preah Vihear Temple for a long time. The current tension occurred after a border skirmish on February 4-7 claimed at least 10 lives, including those of three civilians on both sides.

Cambodia brought the issue before the United Nations Security Council on February 14 and before Asean on Tuesday to get help in establishing a permanent ceasefire. Asean agreed to despatch a team of unarmed observers to the border of the two countries and urged them to resume the meeting of a bilateral mechanism to settle the boundary dispute.

Both sides maintain a large number of troops in the area. Thai army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thailand would never withdraw its troops to ensure peace before Cambodia made an equivalent gesture.

There was no agreement on troop withdrawal, he said. "We would follow Cambodia. If they were there, we would not withdraw. If they don't stop firing, we won't stop, either," he said.

"But we are gentlemen, we would not start the firing. We respect international practice," Prayut told reporters.

Meanwhile the situation along the border seemed to have returned to normal. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's wife Bun Rany reportedly has told Cambodian people who fled their homes during the clash to return.

"She has advised those evacuees to return home as the tension has eased," Nhim Vanda, the first vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, told Xinhua by telephone.

"She also informed those evacuees about the Asean's support to send Indonesian observers to the border area to ensure a permanent ceasefire," he added.

Nhim Vanda said: "Evacuees are still afraid to return home, but I believe that they will begin to go back after Bun Rany's remarks."

-- The Nation 2011-02-24

"Thailand is ready to receive observers from Indonesia to monitor the situation at the border near Preah Vihear Temple - but will not withdraw troops from the disputed area before Cambodia does so."

Good on all fronts re: this statement.

Yey Government.

Thank you army ! :jap: