Delaying observer mission could mean more conflict, Indonesia warns

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation, Jakarta

Indonesia, as the Asean chair, urged conflicting neighbours Thailand and Cambodia to speed up the dispatch of Indonesian observers to the border area adjacent to the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa met with his counterparts Hor Namhong from Cambodia and Thailand's Kasit Piromya separately in Jakarta on the sidelines of the current Asean summit to discuss the terms of reference (TOR) for Indonesian observation.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed upon the TOR but observers cannot move in yet as both sides have demanded prior withdrawal of the other side's troops.

"The risk of delay is very real, as we have seen over past weeks what has been happening in the border areas of the two countries," Marty said. "The delay is not neutral, the delay is not without impact, delays mean additional intentional or unintentional conflict."

The TOR mandated 30 observers on both sides at three spots on the Cambodian side and four spots on the Thai side in the area outside the 4.6squarekilometre disputed area.

In a meeting with Marty, Kasit told the Asean chair that Thailand had fully agreed with the TOR but would not receive the observers before the withdrawal of Cambodian troops from the disputed area surrounding Preah Vihear.

Three points of concern are at Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara, at a market and at a community in the area, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said after a meeting with Marty that his country had agreed upon the TOR and formally submitted the reply to Indonesia but would not comply with Thailand's conditions.

"We can never withdraw our troops from our own territory," Hor Namhong told reporters. "It should be very clear, the willingness of Thailand to accept the foreign observers or not. That's the real problem."

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over Preah Vihear for a long time. Serious military clashes erupted in February and the skirmishes extended to other areas near Ta Muan Thom and Ta Kwai temples in Surin province in late April. The clashes killed tens of soldiers and civilians on both sides as well as displaced thousands of people along the border.

Marty said he would continue his efforts to create what he called "conditions conducive" to the deployment of the observer team to the ThaiCambodian border. The question of troop withdrawal could be discussed bilaterally at the ThailandCambodian General Border Commission (GBC).

"We must not try to solve everything in one go. We can proceed one step at a time as long as we have the necessary political will. If we want perfection in one go, we may not go anywhere."

Thani said that it was Indonesia's duty to convince Cambodia to create good conditions for the observation and that Thailand was ready to discuss the matter in the GBC meeting if Phnom Penh convened the body.

-- The Nation 2011-05-07

Delaying observer mission could mean more conflict, Indonesia warns

No shit Sherlock!

ASEAN Summit kicks off in Indonesia at 9am; Indonesian FM Marty Natalegawa say Thailand and Cambodia agree to foreign observers /TAN_Network

ASEAN Summit kicks off in Indonesia at 9am; Indonesian FM Marty Natalegawa say Thailand and Cambodia agree to foreign observers /TAN_Network

It does not cost anything to tell that.

I was trying to find something to say about this, but decided that anything I might say might sound like Thai bashing. So.. mum..