Indonesia’s help needed to make troops budge
23/07/2011
Bangkok Post & Agencies
Bilateral talks with Thailand over withdrawing troops from the newly defined demilitarised zone are impossible, says Cambodia premier Hun Sen.
He agreed troops should be withdrawn simultaneously, but said talks with Indonesia as a third party would be needed first.
Hun Sen said Cambodia wanted to respond quickly to Monday’s verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, which ordered troops from Thailand and Cambodia to pull out of the area around Preah Vihear temple to prevent further clashes.
“We must withdraw troops simultaneously. The ruling requires both sides to withdraw troops, not just Cambodia,” Hun Sen said.
Cambodia was ready to hold tripartite talks with Thailand and Indonesia, the current Asean chair, he added, as Bangkok appeared reluctant to act first to comply with the ICJ ruling.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he would set up a committee for negotiating with Cambodia following the ICJ ruling.
However, Hun Sen said bilateral talks were “impossible” under the outgoing government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
“Tripartite negotiations between Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia can be held anytime, anywhere, and at any levels,” he said.
Hun Sen added he is looking forward to working with the new government which is expected to led by Pheu Thai’s Yingluck Shinawatra.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday said Asean would be the best forum for Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their differences.
Both sides should refrain “from taking steps that would escalate into violence”, she said during an Asean summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. In other news, the 2nd Army yesterday allowed residents and tourists to enter the disputed area around Preah Vihear, including the Pha Mor I Dang cliff, during weekends and public holidays, said Khao Phra Viharn national park chief Theerayut Wongpaisoet. The cliff is a major military base. The 2nd Army also allowed traders from Phum Srol village in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district to re-open outlets to sell souvenirs and other goods.
No comments:
Post a Comment