Leaders back Asean chair in resolving Thai-Cambodia border dispute

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JAKARTA: Asean leaders who ended their 18th summit here have given strong support to Indonesia as the current Asean chair to continue mediating in the bloody border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

The leaders, concerned over the clashes which overshadowed the weekend summit, reiterated their stand during a retreat yesterday that they wanted the dispute to be resolved amicably.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chaired a trilateral meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders before the retreat.

“At the retreat, all Asean leaders expressed their views that this matter should be resolved in the Asean neighbourly spirit.

“The leaders are confident that the role of Indonesia as Asean chair and mediator to the conflict, will ensure that negotiation will be the best solution accepted by Asean,” he told the Malaysian media here.

Cambodian leader Hun Sen took aim at his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva in a closed-door session on Saturday.

Hun Sen admitted after yesterday's meeting that the row was “spoiling” the South-East Asian summit, which was supposed to focus on efforts to create a harmonised regional economic community by 2015.

“Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for Asean,” he told a press conference after the meeting.

Hun Sen had earlier accused accused Thailand of invading Cambodia and seeking to prolong the conflict “in order to violate weaker neighbouring Asean members”.

“The invasion of the Thai troops into Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from Feb 4 to Feb 7,” he told the other Asean leaders.

Around 18 people have been killed and 85,000 have been temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

Abhisit in his defence said Thailand had no intention to have conflicts and expressed disappointment over Hun Sen's remarks.

“I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of Asean. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region,” he said.

“Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between Asean member states can undermine Asean's community-building efforts.

Najib also touched on Myanmar being given the Asean chair in 2014, saying Susilo would visit Myanmar and Asean would wait for his assessment report.

Commenting on reports that Asean was criticised for the move, the Prime Minister said Myanmar had implemented changes and had undergone changes.

“We will always encourage Myanmar to continue with its reconciliation process and hope the situation there will improve,” he added.

In Thai-Cambodia Border Row, No Common Ground

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Ismira Lutfia
May 09, 2011

In this photo released by the Presidential Secretariat, from left, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, center, during a trilateral meeting mediated by the Indonesian president in Jakarta on Sunday. (Antara Photo)

Though the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute ended up hijacking the 18th Asean Summit over the weekend in Jakarta, little progress was made in resolving it.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono mediated talks on Sunday morning between Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, because, as he said in his opening statement, little can be accomplished without peace between member countries.

But the talks concluded with no resolution.

In separate press conferences held later, both leaders again engaged in a war of words.

The Cambodian prime minister, who held his press conference first, said the prolonged dispute between the two neighbors had “spoiled Asean’s atmosphere.”

As a result, “the situation was tense in our plenary meeting,” Hun Sen said.

During Saturday’s plenary meeting, Abhisit said the Thai cabinet had approved the terms of reference for the deployment of Indonesian observer teams, which have already been revised seven time. However, he reiterated that the Thai government required Cambodian troops to first be withdrawn from the disputed area.

But Hun Sen did not budge: “The withdrawal of our people from our land is not acceptable.”

The first border clashes erupted in February over overlapping claims to the small area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple, which belongs to Cambodia. The second round of clashes, which erupted in April, took place in Phanom Dong Rak district in Thailand’s Surin province, more than 100 kilometers away.

Hun Sen said Cambodia wanted to settle the Preah Vihear dispute under the auspices of Asean and Indonesia — the current chair of the regional bloc — but he proposed the clashes in Surin be resolved bilaterally.

Abhisit said in his press briefing later on Sunday that he found the idea of addressing two similar issues with different approaches “hard to understand.”

“There’s a certain amount of inconsistency,” he said. “It should be discussed in one package.”

Putting a brave face on the episode, Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said, “The fact that they are meeting is a good sign.”

But other Asean leaders were not so sanguine. Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late on Saturday, said Asean unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

“How can we have one Asean, one family, if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?” he said. “If we are disunited they can easily push us around … so it is in the interest of Asean that Thailand and Cambodia should resolve the issue.”

There is a sliver of hope, though. Hun Sen said the foreign ministers of both countries would extend their stay in Jakarta by a day in yet another bid to find common ground.

Abhisit said he hoped the observer teams could be on the ground quickly to prevent further clashes. “We want to be good neighbors,” he said.

Additional reporting from AFP

PMs' face-to-face meet fails to resolve conflict

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By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Jakarta
Published on May 9, 2011

PM Abhisit proposed discussing the troop withdrawal in a military-run General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, but Cambodia's Hun Sen disagreed, saying the GBC meet would not be convened before a Thai letter accepting the Indonesian observers' terms of reference had been submitted.

A tripartite meeting called by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to setฌtle the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia yesterday made no progress as the conflicting countries remained extremely indifฌferent.

Indonesia's plan to dispatch its observers to the borderdisputed area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple has not materialised as Thailand insists it would not sign a letter of acceptance to the Indonesian observers' term of reference (TOR) unless Cambodia withdrew its troops from the Hindu temple and its vicinฌity.

Cambodia rejected the condition- saying it would not withdraw troops from its own territory.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed to discuss the troop withฌdrawal in a militaryrun General Border Committee (GBC) meeting - but his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen disagreed, saying the GBC meetฌing would not be convened before the Thai letter of acceptance to the TOR was formally submitted to Indonesia.

"Once Thailand has signed the TOR, the meeting of the GBC could start immediately," Hun Sen told a press conference on the sideline of the Asean summit.

Seeking a solution

As the issue came into deadlock, Indonesian President Yudhoyono, who is facilitating the peace process, recommended foreign ministers of the two nations stay one more day in Jakarta to work with Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa and seek a solution. The ministers are in Indonesia for an Asean summit meeting which ended yesterday.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia came to the attention of Asean following a major clash in February at the Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as requested by Phnom Penh, entrusted Asean to implement a permanent ceasefire.

The armed conflict extended to other areas near Ta Mouan Thom and Ta Kwai temple in Surin in late April. The latest clash which caused more casualties prompted Cambodia's move to have the International Court of Justice (ICJ) interpret the scope and meaning of the 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear case.

Prime Minister Abhisit charged Cambodia with igniting the military conflict to internationalise the issue, although the two countries already had many bilateral mechanisms, including the GBC, to settle the conflict.

Abhisit rejected Cambodian preฌmier Hun Sen's accusation of being an obstacle to a peaceful solution, saying it was the government in Phnom Penh that had made the issue more complicated, calling for differฌent solutions to the problem.

Cambodia called for a third party from international organisations to intervene in the Preah Vihear case but was willing to settle the conflict in areas of Ta Mouan bilaterally.

'Two areas, two approaches'

"Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterฌated two areas needing different approaches which I find hard to understand as people along the borฌder areas need equal attention and long lasting solutions," Abhisit said in another press conference.

Thailand's position was consisฌtent in having a longlasting soluฌtion and prevent further conflict, he said.

Hun Sen defended his idea that a third party was needed for the Preah Vihear, as the issue had already been submitted to the UN and the Asean had a UN mandate to participate.

"We necessarily have to respect the role of Asean, we cannot talk together secretly or quietly, he said.

"The acceptance of Indonesian observers had been agreed in the meeting of Asean foreign ministers in February and the TOR has been modified seven times already - and there were no demands for troop withdrawal and no demands for a GBC meeting before the signing of the letter of acceptance," he said.

Abhisit argued that the message of troop withdrawal had been conฌveyed to Indonesia at the beginning, not a new condition, since the presฌence of troops at the temple and in its vicinity is against the spirit of the Hague convention and world herฌitage guidelines.

"Cambodia cannot deny this conฌdition as its request to ICJ also wantฌed to have the withdrawal of Thai troops from the temple. So I find it hard to understand why Cambodia cannot accept there is a need for disฌcussion for both sides to talk about troop withdrawal from sensitive areas," Abhisit said.

PMs refuse to give ground

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Asean hopes for border resolution lie in tatters

Published: 9/05/2011

Newspaper section: News

JAKARTA : The Thai and Cambodian leaders emerged from their meeting at the Asean summit yesterday pointing the blame at each other for the border dispute and dashing hopes by host Indonesia for an early solution.

The leaders stood firm in their positions during the one-hour meeting, which observers acknowledged was a failure.

Although both sides have agreed to allow their foreign ministers to discuss the issue further today, observers were sceptical they would make any headway.

Kasit Piromya and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong are expected to meet at 3.30pm.

Almost immediately after the leaders' meeting mediated by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the 18th Asean summit, the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers called press conferences to point the blame at each other.

It was the first time Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had met since the border clashes resumed last month, killing 18 people.

Mr Abhisit announced before his departure from Bangkok for the summit that he would not meet Hun Sen unless Cambodia withdrew its troops and residents from the area around Preah Vihear temple. Hun Sen said that Cambodia regarded Preah Vihear temple and its surrounds as Cambodian territory.

"We will not withdraw our troops from our own territory," he said.

Cambodia, he added, had agreed with Indonesia's offer to send observers to the disputed border area.

Thailand, by contrast, had created additional conditions by demanding Cambodia withdraw troops and that the General Border Committee discuss the matter.

Hun Sen said Cambodia would follow UN Security Council guidelines in seeking Asean assistance to settle the dispute.

The widening clashes at Ta Muen and Ta Kwai temples near Surin would be settled through bilateral mechanisms, he said.

Mr Abhisit said Cambodia's approach was inconsistent.

The countries had reached a Memorandum of Understanding in 2000 as a blueprint for solving their differences over their border.

But instead of trying to solve the problem bilaterally, Cambodia had tried to internationalise the Preah Vihear dispute by taking a case to the Security Council and the International Court of Justice.

"Why do they need a different approach? The problem arises due to the movements of troops along the border. The talks on the border conflict and other details on the location of the observers should be handled as one package," Mr Abhisit said.

The Thai conditions were not new. Indonesia had been informed about them four or five times previously.

Mr Abhisit denied trying to score points against Cambodia.

"The aim must be to achieve lasting peace, so we can live side by side along the border," he said.

Both leaders admitted yesterday the conflict could affect Asean's goal to become a single community in 2015 but blamed each other for endangering the prospect.

"I accept that the issue could affect Asean's credibility. We must make sure that any problem can be solved locally, bilaterally, and if needed, with help from the region," Mr Abhisit said.

"Thailand recognises that any conflict between Asean member states can undermine Asean's efforts."

Hun Sen admitted that the border row was spoiling the summit.

"Everyone knows that the problem at the border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for Asean," he said.

"I'm not sure whether we can go forward or not, but at least the atmosphere of the meeting was good."

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa expressed relief that both countries were willing to have their foreign ministers meet again to discuss the matter.

Other Asean leaders were less than hopeful. Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking late on Saturday, said Asean unity was at stake and he was concerned the conflict could worsen.

Thai, Cambodia Leaders Disagree on Border Claims

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May 08, 2011

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Photo: AP

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, shakes hands with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva before their trilateral meeting with Cambodia in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 8, 2011

A meeting Sunday in Indonesia between the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on the sidelines of a southeast Asia regional summit has not produced an agreement to end the two countries' ongoing border dispute.

The talk was mediated by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the final day of a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Repeated outbreaks of fighting along the Cambodia and Thailand border have claimed more than 20 lives this year. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes on both sides of the border.

The dispute centers around control of ancient temples claimed by both nations.

On Friday, Indonesia's foreign minister, Marty Natalegwa, announced Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to accept Indonesian monitors on the border to help prevent further military clashes. However, Cambodia harshly criticized a request by Thailand to first remove troops from Cambodia's side of the border.

Cambodia police 'beat striking garment workers'

Around 100 police moved in to disperse the mainly female crowd of demonstrators (AFP, Tang Chhin Sothy)

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PHNOM PENH — Rights groups in Cambodia accused police of using disproportionate violence on Sunday, alleging they beat protesters at a rally by 2,000 garment workers in the capital.

Around 100 officers, armed with anti-riot shields, electric batons and guns, moved in to disperse the mainly female crowd that had formed a roadblock near Phnom Penh's airport, according to a joint statement by three rights groups.

It said the police fired warning shots into the air, deliberately drove motorbikes into the crowd, arrested two female workers and left another eight women in need of hospital treatment for their injuries.

But Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said just one person was arrested, who is still in custody, and that he had seen just "one or two" of the crowd wounded, while nine of the security force were injured.

"The use of violence by police was totally disproportional to the workers? actions," said Am Sam Ath, monitoring supervisor at the LICADHO, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights.

"The government should be supporting unions on the issue of expressive rights, rather than systemically cracking down on every form of rights activism," he said.

The statement was also issued by ADHOC, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, and CLEC, the Community Legal Education Center.

The workers? dispute stems from the loss of jobs following a fire at a factory on March 30. The owner offered severance pay of $20 per year worked, which workers felt was insufficient, the statement said.

Sunday's action was intended to temporarily block the road to draw the attention of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who was scheduled to return from abroad via the airport, to the workers' situation.

"Ordinary Cambodians have no leverage, no voice and no legal recourse in situations like this. They are simply brushed aside," said Moeun Tola, Head of CLEC's labour programme.

"People are increasingly resorting to acts of desperation. Police violence is not the way to resolve the problem."

Naruth insisted police were "trying to help" the people, but said the crowd did not understand and started to throw rocks. "They cannot block the street on which all VIP people are travelling," he said.

Cambodia has come under fire from activists and observers in recent months for stifling free speech and cracking down on opponents after it introduced laws that increase the risk of arrest for voicing dissent.

In a crackdown last month on a Phnom Penh rally against mass evictions, 11 protesters were detained and others were beaten by baton-wielding police, according to rights groups.

At Asean, no solution

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Published: 8/05/2011 at 03:31 PM

Online news:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Sunday failed to resolve a bitter border row between Thailand and Cambodia which hijacked the agenda of an annual summit in Indonesia.

Workers move the flags of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta. Southeast Asian leaders met Sunday for the final day of an annual summit that has been hijacked by a bitter feud between Thailand and Cambodia over a tiny patch of disputed borderland.

Asean leaders said the dispute was threatening regional unity and overshadowing the 10-nation group's strategic message of economic integration, but were unable to wring any compromises from the feuding neighbours.

The bloc's weakness in conflict resolution was thrown into stark relief when the leaders' final statement merely said the dispute "should be amicably resolved in the spirit of Asean solidarity".

It also welcomed an in-principle agreement to allow Indonesian military observers on the disputed border and called on Jakarta, the current chair of Asean, to continue its mediation efforts.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an unscheduled meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders on Sunday morning but failed to achieve a breakthrough in negotiations.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen admitted after the meeting that the row was "spoiling" the summit, which was supposed to focus on long-term plans to create a harmonised economic community by 2015.

"Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for Asean," he told reporters.

Eighteen people have been killed and 85,000 temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at Asean meetings, Hun Sen on Saturday accused Thailand of invading Cambodia and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring Asean members".

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dismissed the accusation and warned that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the summit, threatened to undermine Asean's broad strategic vision.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of Asean. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," he said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between Asean member states can undermine Asean?s community-building efforts."

Other issues on the table at the summit included food and energy security, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the scourge of human trafficking and East Timor's membership bid.

Burma stole the headlines on Friday when Asean officials announced that the military-led country -- which is under Western sanctions for serial human rights abuses -- had asked to chair the group in 2014.

US-based Human Rights Watch said Asean would become the "laughing stock of intergovernmental forums" if it granted the request.

The Asean chairman's statement at the end of the meeting said only that the request had been "considered", meaning the leaders deferred a decision to a later date.

Yudhoyono said Burma, which held elections last year that were derided as as a farce by critics, would have to "continue the process of democratisation" so that its leadership of Asean would not be "viewed negatively".

The Asean leaders also emphasised the "need for a breakthrough" in talks with Beijing about a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a strategic maritime route where China and several Asean states have rival territorial claims.

Indonesia has been trying to find a solution to the Thai-Cambodia conflict on behalf of Asean, but so far it has achieved little except the in-principle agreement to accept a small team of military observers on the border.

Officials said Hun Sen and Abhisit agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again in Jakarta on Monday to discuss the conflict further.

Putting a brave face on the episode, Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign."

But other Asean leaders were not so sanguine.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late Saturday, said that Asean unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

"How can we have one Asean, one family if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?" he said.

Cambodian police, factory workers clash, 15 injured

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PHNOM PENH | Sun May 8, 2011

PHNOM PENH May 8 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were injured when armed police broke up a protest in Cambodia on Sunday by at least 2,000 mostly female garment workers demanding unpaid bonuses after their plant was closed by a fire, police and witnesses said.

Police armed with guns, shields and electric stun batons were deployed to clear demonstrators blocking the main road to Phnom Penh's international airport. Eight female protesters and seven police were injured.

The clashes were the latest setback for Cambodia's garment manufacturing industry, which employs 300,000 and is a major source of revenue for Cambodia's fledgling $10 billion economy.

Protests and strikes over factory closures and pay disputes have become increasingly common since the global economic crisis slowed demand for garments in Europe and the United States, Cambodia's biggest markets for textiles.

Protesters told Reuters that riot police fired shots into the air to disperse workers demanding unpaid bonuses of $100 from a local firm, June Textiles, since its factory was destroyed in a recent fire. The firm had offered $20.

"This is an injustice. Some workers were hit in the head and some had broken arms. They have worked so hard for the factory," said Ros Ratha, 32.

Lay Narang, also 32, said she saw a policeman holding a pistol to a garment worker's forehead.

"Police had rifles and the workers only had water bottles," she said, adding that several of her colleagues were arrested.

Phnom Penh's police chief Touch Naruth said his officers had no choice but to disperse the protest. He blamed the injuries on a hostile crowd hurling stones, beer bottles and chairs.

"They blocked the whole road. We begged them not to block the road to the airport," Touch Naruth said. "We pushed them a little and they turned violent on us."

Garment manufacturing is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner after agriculture and tourism.

About 30,000 jobs were lost in 2009 at the height of the global economic crisis. Average monthly wages in the industry stand at about $60.

The downturn led to a strike by more than 210,000 garment factory workers last year and more mass strikes have been threatened over moves by the government to regulate trade unions.[ID:nSGE72E03M]

Cambodia exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion in 2009, down from $2.9 billion in 2008. According to the World Bank, the sector is in recovery and exports grew 24 percent in 2010 after a 20 percent contraction.

Cambodian factories produce clothes for many Western brands, including Gap Inc , Nike Inc , Marks and Spencer Group PLC , Tesco PLC , H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMb.ST), Puma , Next Plc and Inditex , the world's biggest clothing retailer and owner of Zara. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Martin Petty and Ron Popeski)

Aquino plays go-between for Thai-Cambodian border tiff

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By Norman Bordadora

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 15:05:00 05/08/2011

 

JAKARTA, Indonesia—President Aquino offered the country's top tourist destinations as a venue for talks between quarreling Thailand and Cambodia in a bid to resolve the border dispute between the two other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In jest, Mr. Aquino said he even offered to make coffee for the talks just so there'd be calm between the two sides. He cited the importance for the Asean as a bloc in the global community for Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their conflict.

In an informal banter on Saturday night with reporters covering his working visit here, Mr. Aquino indicated that he somehow played go-between for the two leaders, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“I was able to talk with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and he said, 'Perhaps, you can talk to Prime Minister Hun Sen',” President Aquino said of his exchange with the Thai leader on the sidelines of the 18th Asean Summit in this city.

Mr. Aquino said that he approached Hun Sen of the Philippines' willingness to help resolve the issues between the two sides.

“I told him, 'Mr. Prime Minister, we're really interested in solving this problem. And all you have to do is tell us how we can help. If by not meddling, we're helping then we will do so. But if you want us to provide a venue, we'll give you the best resort there is in the Philippines,” President Aquino said.

“I'll go to the extent of making you coffee so we can be calm,” he added.

With the attainment of an Asean Community by 2015 as one of the agenda during the summit, President Aquino said a Thailand-Cambodia border resolution has become important for the group.

He indicated that it would be best for the 10 Asean countries to engage the global community as one bloc rather than deal with nations outside the region individually.

President Aquino indicated that it would be difficult for the Asean members to move to the world stage as one if two of its major players were at odds with each other over a territorial issue.

“We can be a mediator. We can be an observer. Just tell us how we can be of assistance to bring your confidence levels up so that you can talk,” President Aquino recalled telling Hun Sen.

And what did Hun Sen say?

“That's the painful part. He didn't say anything. He just smiled as if to say, 'Thank you. We'll think about it,” President Aquino said.

Christophe Peschoux, head of the UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia, works from his office in Phnom Penh.(AFP PHOTO/TANG CHHIN SOTHY)

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Posted: 08 May 2011

PHNOM PENH: Sad and relieved. That is how the director of the United Nations human rights office in Cambodia said he felt about leaving the country after effectively being forced out of his post by the government.

Christophe Peschoux, who headed the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for four years, left Phnom Penh on Saturday after admitting it had become "impossible" to work in the country following numerous run-ins with the leadership.

The 52-year-old Frenchman angered officials by speaking out on controversial issues, prompting Prime Minister Hun Sen to demand the UN remove him and the foreign ministry to issue a letter ordering officials to freeze him out.

"Human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite," Peschoux said.

"That's where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts," he told AFP days before heading to Geneva to take on a senior UN role.

Rights groups say his departure comes as the ruling Cambodian People's Party is curbing freedoms and silencing critics in a bid to consolidate power ahead of local elections in 2012 and a 2013 general election.

"What is so worrisome about Christophe's departure is that he was one of the few UN agency heads who publicly stepped up to oppose (Prime Minister) Hun Sen's intensifying campaign to muzzle critical voices," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Peschoux incurred the wrath of officials after speaking out on a range of issues last year, including land-grabbing by the rich and powerful and crackdowns on government critics.

His remarks prompted the government to call for his removal and accuse him of "unacceptable interference" and "acting as a spokesman for the opposition" -- charges Peschoux vehemently denied.

"I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible but sometimes you have to speak out," he said.

Tensions reached boiling point in October when strongman Hun Sen -- who has vowed to rule until he is 90 -- used a high-profile visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to demand the removal of Peschoux.

The UN hierarchy reiterated its support for Peschoux, but in November the Cambodian foreign ministry sent out a confidential letter, seen by AFP, urging government officials "to cease working relations" with him.

The move had "a very negative impact", Peschoux said.

While he stressed that his recall to Switzerland coincides with family obligations in Europe and the end of a standard four-year term, he admitted that his presence was "an obstacle to the re-establishment of a normal working relationship" with the government.

"Of course I'm leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment," he said, adding that he felt "sad and relieved" about moving on.

Peschoux, who investigated human rights abuses in Cambodia for the UN in the 1990s and is an expert on the Khmer Rouge, remains well-respected among the diplomatic community in Phnom Penh.

"There is no doubt that the issues that he has raised have created animosity towards him personally within the government," said Tom Barthel Hansen, the head of the Danish representation in the Cambodian capital.

"What we should remember is that Mr Peschoux has only raised issues that most development partners are in total agreement with."

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith refused to comment on Peschoux's departure and its implications for the UN office when contacted by AFP, saying only that he wished him well.

Deputy representative James Heenan will take over the role on an interim basis.

Peschoux's exit comes as the very existence of the UN's human rights office in Cambodia is up for debate.

The government is set to discuss an extension of a memorandum of understanding with the UN at the end of this year on whether the office will be allowed to stay open.

"It's the crux of the conflict with the government because (it) would like this office to be a pure technical, cooperation office providing support to the government and not speaking out. But it's a part of our mandate that we cannot compromise," Peschoux said.

Robertson urged Cambodia's donors and the international community to defend the office.

"There are regretfully few other checks against Hun Sen's increasing domination and authoritarianism, which has been expanding like a dark cloud over Cambodia's politics and society," he said.

As Peschoux prepared to quit Cambodia, he said the "total control" by the ruling party was one of the country's main challenges.

"When there is no more limit to executive power... it becomes arbitrary and abusive. This is what is happening today. How far it will go remains to be seen. But I think this is a serious concern."

ASEAN integration message lost on Thai-Cambodia border

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08 May 2011

JAKARTA: Southeast Asian leaders met Sunday for the final day of an annual summit that has been hijacked by a bitter feud between Thailand and Cambodia over a tiny patch of disputed borderland.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed frustration that the dispute had not been resolved and the 10-nation group's strategic message of regional economic integration was being lost.

In an effort to bring the warring neighbours together, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an unscheduled meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders on Sunday morning.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sat down with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a day after the former had set the tone of the summit by launching a surprise verbal attack on Abhisit during the opening session.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at ASEAN meetings, the Cambodian leader accused Thailand of invading its neighbour and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring ASEAN members".

"The invasion of the Thai troops of Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from the 4th to the 7th of February, 2011," Hun Sen said.

Eighteen people have been killed and 85,000 temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th century Khmer temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

Indonesia has been trying to mediate a solution to the conflict on behalf of ASEAN but so far it has achieved little except an in-principle agreement from both sides to accept a small team of military observers to the border.

Abhisit responded to Hun Sen's criticism by saying he was ready for dialogue and insisting the matter be resolved bilaterally, instead of under UN auspices as Cambodia wants.

"Thailand has no intention whatsoever to have conflicts. I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand's intentions," he told the leaders.

He agreed that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the ASEAN summit, threatened to undermine the block's fragile credibility as it pursues ambitions to create an integrated economic zone by 2015.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of ASEAN. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," Abhisit said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts."

Officials said the two leaders agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again later Sunday to discuss the conflict further.

Putting a brave face on the episode, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign".

But other ASEAN leaders were not so sanguine.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late Saturday, said ASEAN unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

"How can we have one ASEAN, one family if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?" he asked.

"It is important that ASEAN is united so that when we talk with other groups we tell them you talk to us as one whole unit.

"If we are disunited they can easily push us around... so it is in the interest of ASEAN that Thailand and Cambodia should resolve the issue."

Aquino said he had asked Hun Sen whether there was anything the Philippines could do to help, but the Cambodian leader "just smiled" in response.

In addition to strategic integration, other issues at the summit include food and energy security, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the scourge of human trafficking and East Timor's membership bid.

Myanmar stole the headlines on Friday when ASEAN officials announced that the military-led country -- which is under Western sanctions for serial human rights abuses -- had asked to chair the group in 2014.

US-based Human Rights Watch said ASEAN, already struggling for credibility, would become the "laughing stock of intergovernmental forums" if it granted the request.

- AFP/cc

Thai, Cambodian PMs confer on border conflict

http://www.mcot.net/

via CAAI

JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 8 -- Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen discussed the border conflict between their countries Sunday in the Indonesian capital with the former insisting that Phnom Penh troops must first be withdrawn from the disputed border area before negotiations could commence.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the two-day 18th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which opened yesterday. It was also attended by Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers Kasit Piromya and Hor Namhong respectively, as well as Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his capacity as chairman of ASEAN.

The meeting, which lasted about one hour, ended with little progress, as Mr Hun Sen demanded the Thai government leader follow an earlier agreement that Indonesian observers be dispatched to the disputed border area and insisting that Cambodian troops would not withdraw from that area.

As no sign of concrete conclusion, especially on the dispatch Indonesian observers in to the disputed border, was reached, it was agreed that Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers would meet on Monday in Jakarta to discuss the issue again.

Despite no progress in Sunday’s meeting, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying “the fact that they are meeting is a good sign.”

Renewed fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out on April 22 in the Thai border province of Surin, forcing tens of thousands of Thai villagers to flee deeper into the Thai territory.

Mr Abhisit is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indonesian and Laos leaders separately this afternoon.

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (MCOT online news)

Thai, Cambodian PMs fail to end border dispute

http://www.ajc.com/

via CAAI

By NINIEK KARMINI

The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Southeast Asian leaders made little headway Sunday in helping Thailand and Cambodia end a deadly border dispute that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

Armed police officers gear up prior to deployment to secure the venue of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)

Indonesian military personnel man the entrance to the venue of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)

The prime ministers of the two feuding nations held talks Sunday — mediated by Indonesia's president — as part of efforts to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.

But neither seemed in any mood to back down.

"There's no conclusion," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after the trilateral meeting, providing few details. "We'll need further talks after this."

Other topics discussed during the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit included Myanmar's successful bid to take over the rotating chair of the regional grouping in 2014 and concerns about spiraling food and energy prices and maritime security.

The 10 heads of state were especially nervous about the potentially oil-rich Spratly islands, claimed in whole or in part by China and four ASEAN members — Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam.

The smaller nations, together with the U.S., worry that China may use its military might to seize the area outright or assume de facto control with naval patrols.

That could threaten one of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes.

"We deemed the South China Sea issue, in all its various dimensions, as having the potential to undermine the stability of our region," according to the final communique released after the meeting.

Member countries agreed to work toward ending a nine-year disagreement with China that has blocked completion of guidelines for an accord aimed at preventing armed conflicts over the disputed islands.

As part of that deal, the claimant nations could pursue joint development projects to ease tensions in the South China Sea region.

The annual summit was supposed to focus on developing an integrated regional economic zone by 2015.

But Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the host, said in his opening statement that little can be accomplished without peace and stability among member countries.

To that end, he agreed to mediate the talks Sunday between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers about repeated outbreaks of fighting that have killed nearly 20 people in the last two weeks. Another 100,000 fled their homes at the peak of the clashes.

The deadly spat — allegedly over control of ancient temples claimed by the two nations — has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides.

But analysts say domestic politics is fanning the fire, especially in Thailand, where the military that staged a coup in 2006 could be posturing ahead of elections expected as early as next month.

Neither side appeared ready to budge, however.

During the plenary session on Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called a demand by Thailand to withdraw troops from the area before it allows for the deployment of outside military observers both "irrational and unacceptable."

"It's Thailand that has to withdraw its troops from the vicinity," he said, reiterating his position to reporters following Sunday's three-way talks.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that while "differences remain," the two sides agreed, at least, that future talks about the disputed border should include the major sticking point about where troops from each country should be deployed.

"The ultimate objective must be to achieve lasting peace" not to score "political points," he said, agreeing with Hun Sen to allow their foreign ministers to continue the dialogue on Monday.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, who heads the military-backed party that overwhelmingly won general elections late last year, won approval for his request to chair ASEAN in 2014 despite concerns about his country's human rights record.

The regional grouping chairmanship is supposed to rotate annually among its 10 member countries.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn in 2005, however, after heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on human rights and other issues.

The final communique said Southeast Asian leaders "consented" to Thein Sein's proposal.

ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

___

Associated Press writers Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

___

May 08, 2011

PM Abhisit meets Hun Sen

http://www.bangkokpost.com/

via CAAI

Published: 8/05/2011 at 09:57 AM

Online news: Local News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday morning met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen in Jakarta for sideline bilateral talks on the border dispute, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said.

The sideline border talk was mediated by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mr Panitan said.

He said the unofficial discussion was aimed at peacefully ending the border conflict, encouraging Cambodia to return for talks and refraining from using force in settling the border dispute.

Mr Panitan said Mr Abhisit told Hun Sen that Thailand prefers bilateral talks on the border dispute and does not want the case to be brought to the international community.

Thai, Cambodian leaders meet to discuss border row

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/

via CAAI

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia met in Indonesia on Sunday to discuss their bitter border dispute, which has overshadowed an annual summit of regional leaders, officials said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sat down with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose country currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The unscheduled meeting took place a day after Hun Sen took aim at his Thai counterpart in the closed-door opening session of the two-day summit in Jakarta, according to a transcript of his comments released to reporters.

Hun Sen admitted after Sunday's meeting that the row was "spoiling" the Southeast Asian summit, which was supposed to focus on efforts to create a harmonised regional economic community by 2015.

"Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for ASEAN," he told a press conference after the meeting.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at ASEAN meetings, the Cambodian leader on Saturday accused Thailand of invading its neighbour and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring ASEAN members".

"The invasion of the Thai troops of Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from the 4th to the 7th of February, 2011," he told the assembled leaders.

Around 18 people have been killed and 85,000 have been temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

Indonesia has been trying to mediate a solution to the conflict on behalf of ASEAN, but so far it has achieved little except an in-principle agreement from both sides to accept a small team of military observers on the border.

Abhisit responded to Hun Sen's criticism by saying he was ready for dialogue and insisting that the matter be resolved bilaterally.

"Thailand has no intention whatsoever to have conflicts. I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand's intentions," he told the leaders Saturday, according to a copy of his remarks released to the media.

He also agreed that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the ASEAN summit, threatened to undermine the credibility of the 10-nation group's plans to create an integrated economic zone by 2015.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of ASEAN. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," he said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts."

Officials said the two leaders agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again to discuss the conflict further.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign".