Thai politics may derail RI leadership [on border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand]

Friday, March 25, 2011
Abdul Khalik and Adianto P. Simamora
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While Cambodian and Thai ministers have agreed on Indonesia’s involvement in their border dispute, the Thai military opposes Indonesia’s role, insisting that the dispute be resolved bilaterally without the involvement of any third party.

The rejection of the Thai military to a role being played by Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair, threatens to derail efforts of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa while delegitimating Indonesia’s leadership and scaling back ASEAN’s role in settling disputes of members, observers here warned.

“Indonesia has to persuade all parties involved, including the military, that through negotiation they can solve the dispute,” Adinda Tenriangke Muchtar, the program director of the Indonesian Institute, said.

She said that both countries had tried to solve the dispute bilaterally a number of times and had failed every time.

“So, it’s highly appropriate that ASEAN and Indonesia lend a hand to help,” Adinda said.

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