Thai-Cambodian Border May Be Quiet, But Asean Must Mediate

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BURNING ISSUE

Border may be quiet, but Asean must mediate

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

To achieve peace and security in the region, Asean needs more robust diplomacy to resolve once and for all the border conflict between arch-rivals Thailand and Cambodia.

According to a report from the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), "Waging Peace: Asean and the Thai-Cambodian Border Conflict", Asean must do more to ensure the situation between the neighbouring countries does not flare up again.

The report is still timely, as the media spotlight on the border conflict only faded because of the flooding in both countries; the dispute is far from over.

"Asean aimed to stop hostilities and restart negotiations when it engaged in the Preah Vihear dispute. While fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border has ceased since May, the ceasefire in place remains fragile," said Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, ICG Southeast Asia analyst. "Until troops are withdrawn, independent observers deployed and border negotiations resumed, the risk of new fighting remains."

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the area near the ancient Hindu temple in Cambodia for a long time, and a fierce battle erupted after Phnom Penh managed to list the temple as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

Cambodia's attempt to inscribe the Preah Vihear temple came against the backdrop of turmoil in Thai politics sparked by the 2006 coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the ICG report noted. The yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) used the issue to whip up nationalist sentiment against the Thaksin-backed government and Cambodia in 2008, halting border demarcation and setting off the deadly bilateral confrontation.

Asean's engagement in the issue under Indonesia's chairmanship, after fighting last February that produced scores of casualties and displaced tens of thousands of civilians, broke new ground for the regional grouping with the agreement to dispatch observers to monitor a conflict between member states. But despite an order from the International Court of Justice in July, deployment has yet to take place.

Although the ICJ awarded the 11th-century temple to Cambodia in 1962, Thailand still claims the area in its immediate vicinity, as the border has not been demarcated. The almost dormant dispute came back to life after the PAD accused the Thaksin-allied government of treason for supporting Cambodia's bid to list the ancient Hindu temple ruins as a World Heritage Site. After the listing was approved in 2008, border clashes began and tensions were fuelled by the domestic political conflicts in Bangkok.

After deadly clashes early this year, Cambodia brought the conflict before the United Nations Security Council, which asked Asean to take the lead in resolving it. The regional body, with Thai and Cambodian consent, agreed to deploy Indonesian observers, but the initiative has been blocked by the parochial Thai military, which views it as a violation of Thai sovereignty.

With a history of broken ceasefires - which were piecemeal and mostly verbal - peace will not be truly secured until there is a comprehensive written ceasefire. As the General Border Committee, the defence minister-led bilateral forum, is scheduled to meet soon after some delays, both countries should expedite negotiations and start dispatching observers and withdrawing troops as ordered by the ICJ as soon as possible.

Moreover, this border dispute underscores the need for Asean to take more proactive and urgent action to prevent open hostilities between member states.

"In trying to resolve the Thai-Cambodian clash, Asean, under Indonesia's leadership, has laid out a methodology for dealing with future problems," said Jim Della-Giacoma, ICG Southeast Asia project director. "But this conflict remains a live challenge. Asean must achieve a certifiable peace on the disputed border, if it wishes to keep its own region secure in the future."

At its summit in Bali last month, the Asean chair statement mentioned the Thai-Cambodian conflict in only one paragraph, and contained no clear plan on what to do next.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

[RedNIvar]

With the democrats, the chant was "We do not need outside help, let us solve our issues". This was when Thailand had a Warmongering PM and had clashes breaking out every now and again.

Now, with PTP the chant goes "ASEAN must help mediate". This when the border area is quiet with no clashes and with the current government preferring peaceful diplomacy to blood lust.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

[Buchholz]

said Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, ICG Southeast Asia analyst. "Until troops are withdrawn, independent observers deployed and border negotiations resumed, the risk of new fighting remains."

Yingluck announced a couple of weeks ago that Thai troops would not be withdrawn from the temple area.

.

Edited December 7, 2011 by Buchholz

[jayboy]

With the democrats, the chant was "We do not need outside help, let us solve our issues". This was when Thailand had a Warmongering PM and had clashes breaking out every now and again.

Now, with PTP the chant goes "ASEAN must help mediate". This when the border area is quiet with no clashes and with the current government preferring peaceful diplomacy to blood lust.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

There's little doubt now over a wide range of foreign policy issues, this government is doing rather well notwithstanding a rather lacklustre foreign minister.

Of course it probably looks better simply in contrast to the deplorable record of the last government with the wretched and incompetent Kasit in charge, in hock to a military and right wing extremist agenda.

[whybother]

With the democrats, the chant was "We do not need outside help, let us solve our issues". This was when Thailand had a Warmongering PM and had clashes breaking out every now and again.

Now, with PTP the chant goes "ASEAN must help mediate". This when the border area is quiet with no clashes and with the current government preferring peaceful diplomacy to blood lust.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

There's little doubt now over a wide range of foreign policy issues, this government is doing rather well notwithstanding a rather lacklustre foreign minister.

Of course it probably looks better simply in contrast to the deplorable record of the last government with the wretched and incompetent Kasit in charge, in hock to a military and right wing extremist agenda.

Besides Cambodia, what other foreign policy issues did the previous government have?

Edited December 7, 2011 by whybother

[Buchholz]

said Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, ICG Southeast Asia analyst. "Until troops are withdrawn, independent observers deployed and border negotiations resumed, the risk of new fighting remains."

Yingluck announced a couple of weeks ago that Thai troops would not be withdrawn from the temple area.

Months later, no change

Thai and Cambodian troops remain on the disputed border

BANGKOK, 5 April 2012 (NNT)-Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat said after attending an 8-hour long meeting of the Thai-Cambodian joint working Group (JWG) that both countries will not withdraw their troops from the disputed border until further notice.

-- NNT 2012-04-05