By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The NationSingapore
Published on July 21, 2008
P Penh raises ante with appeal to UN, Asean
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over Preah Vihear temple - not Burma or the region's food and energy crisis - was the hot topic at the Asean ministerial meeting here.
Thailand, which is due to take over Asean's rotating chair after Singapore, placed much effort in bringing the border stand-off to a bilateral discussion level.
"We would inform Asean that the two countries have bilateral mechanisms under the General Border Committee, which will discuss the issue intensively in Thailand on Monday," said Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bunditkul who led the local delegation to the meeting.
"Asean should not jeopardise a meeting in Sa Kaew to tackle the problem directly," he told reporters.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niempradit will attend the meeting in Sa Kaew today, to resolve the tense border dispute that has seen hundreds of troops face off around the ancient temple.
Preah Vihear has been a centre of conflict since Cambodia moved to list it as a World Heritage Site amid complaints from Thailand.
Under a ruling by the International Court of Justice in 1962, the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia.
But many Thais reject the court's ruling and some wanted the country to join Cambodia in applying for the temple to be listed as a heritage site.
At the United Nations, Cambodia's permanent mission has submitted a letter to the chairman of the Security Council and the chairman of the General Assembly to "draw their attention to the current situation on the Cambodian-Thai border", Cambodian Infor-mation Minister Khieu Kanharith said.
The move also called for attention from Singapore, an official said.
Some observers suggested the Asean chair could issue a statement voicing concern and calling both sides to reconcile, he said.
Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul urged Phnom Penh not to push the issue too far on the international stage.
"Of course, Cambodia has the right to raise the issue at Asean and the UN, but if we can talk, why should we not resolve the problem step by step using the bilateral mechanism first?" he told reporters.
"As the next Asean chairman, we do not want to see disputes between [two] members and neighbours discussed among the group," he said.
Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of Asean and a former Thai foreign minister, urged ministers from the two countries to talk.
"The ministers may wish to address the issue ... trying to encourage early resolution and maximum restraint, in order to avoid any repercussion on the image of the organisation," Surin was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
The NationSingapore
Published on July 21, 2008
P Penh raises ante with appeal to UN, Asean
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over Preah Vihear temple - not Burma or the region's food and energy crisis - was the hot topic at the Asean ministerial meeting here.
Thailand, which is due to take over Asean's rotating chair after Singapore, placed much effort in bringing the border stand-off to a bilateral discussion level.
"We would inform Asean that the two countries have bilateral mechanisms under the General Border Committee, which will discuss the issue intensively in Thailand on Monday," said Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bunditkul who led the local delegation to the meeting.
"Asean should not jeopardise a meeting in Sa Kaew to tackle the problem directly," he told reporters.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niempradit will attend the meeting in Sa Kaew today, to resolve the tense border dispute that has seen hundreds of troops face off around the ancient temple.
Preah Vihear has been a centre of conflict since Cambodia moved to list it as a World Heritage Site amid complaints from Thailand.
Under a ruling by the International Court of Justice in 1962, the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia.
But many Thais reject the court's ruling and some wanted the country to join Cambodia in applying for the temple to be listed as a heritage site.
At the United Nations, Cambodia's permanent mission has submitted a letter to the chairman of the Security Council and the chairman of the General Assembly to "draw their attention to the current situation on the Cambodian-Thai border", Cambodian Infor-mation Minister Khieu Kanharith said.
The move also called for attention from Singapore, an official said.
Some observers suggested the Asean chair could issue a statement voicing concern and calling both sides to reconcile, he said.
Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul urged Phnom Penh not to push the issue too far on the international stage.
"Of course, Cambodia has the right to raise the issue at Asean and the UN, but if we can talk, why should we not resolve the problem step by step using the bilateral mechanism first?" he told reporters.
"As the next Asean chairman, we do not want to see disputes between [two] members and neighbours discussed among the group," he said.
Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of Asean and a former Thai foreign minister, urged ministers from the two countries to talk.
"The ministers may wish to address the issue ... trying to encourage early resolution and maximum restraint, in order to avoid any repercussion on the image of the organisation," Surin was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
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