Published: 23/02/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
JAKARTA : Asean foreign ministers have made headway towards easing the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, leading to sighs of relief all round.
The most significant development yesterday was Thailand and Cambodia's agreement to invite Indonesia to deploy observers on both sides of the disputed border area.
No mention was made of a ceasefire. In fact, the word did not appear once in the Asean chairman's statement issued at the end of the meeting that finished 90 minutes early.When asked whether what was agreed yesterday was in response to the call by the United Nations Security Council for a permanent ceasefire, Asean chair and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said: "It is what it is. A ceasefire is a ceasefire, as long as things are quiet."
Diplomatic sources said it was agreed as early as Saturday that a ceasefire would not be mentioned at the meeting.
And the only reference to the situation on the ground was that Asean supported Cambodia and Thailand's commitment to avoid further armed clashes, as reflected in the initial high-level talks between military representatives from the two countries, most recently on Saturday.
But the ministers welcomed the invitation of Thailand and Cambodia for observers from Indonesia, the Asean chair, to the respective sides of the affected areas of the border to observe the commitment of both sides to avoid further hostilities.
The observers' mandate is to assist and support the parties in respecting their commitment to avoid further fighting, by observing and reporting accurately and impartially complaints of violations and submitting findings to each party through Indonesia.
Mr Marty, who has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the two countries, said the role of the observers had yet to be worked out but he would have a report sent to the foreign ministers of both Thailand and Cambodia in the next few hours.
"Indonesia is ready to assign and deploy observers, the sooner the better. Over the next couple of hours I will send letters to spell out the modalities, their role and duties. This is not a peace-keeping or peace enforcement team," he said.
Indonesian observers are not there to take responsibility to ensure there is a cessation of hostilities, he said, adding that the observers, both military and civilian, would be unarmed.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said both countries would wait for the details but it was expected that 15 observers would be sent to each side. He said Indonesia would study the experience of when Thai and Filipino troops were sent to help in Aceh and East Timor.
Cambodian Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said the observer teams could use both helicopters and trucks and move around in and out of the disputed area.
"The Asean chair said he will try his best to dispatch them soon and so far, 25 observers have been recruited," Hor Namhong said.
A senior Asean official said the meeting ended 90 minutes early because much of the work and discussion had been done beforehand.
The official quoted Mr Marty as saying at the meeting that both Thailand and Cambodia had national interests to safeguard. But they also have strong interests in the region to nurture.
"This meeting is unique and historic because it shows that an Asean member country or countries can rely on other family members for help in times of trouble," the senior Asean official said.
Mr Marty recalled the difference in atmosphere from the first time he spoke to Thailand and Cambodia about the bilateral dispute. Initially it was a process of absorbing their concerns but throughout there were peaceful intentions on both sides. There were no bad intentions. It was a challenge of communication.
"We [Asean] can deliver when there is a problem among us if we have the commitment and hard work. There is still hard work ahead of us."
Mr Marty said the outcome of the ministers' meeting would be shared with the UNSC and its support sought. By: bangkokpost
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