SBY calls for peaceful settlement of Cambodia-Thailand row

The Jakarta Post   |  Tue, 10/14/2008 9:45 PM  |  Headlines

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand to refrain from using force to resolve the border dispute between the two nations.

Antara news agency reported that Yudhoyono held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the latest situation after reports came in that both countries had deployed more troops to the border in an escalation of tension by both sides.

"I talked with Hun Sen... and I hope both countries can restrain themselves and opt for the spirit of peaceful settlement as enshrined in ASEAN," said Yudhoyono at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta, upon returning from a trip to East Java.

Cambodia and Thailand are both laying claim to 4.6 square kilometers of scrubland near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which the International Court of Justice awarded to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.

The row flared up in July after protesters trying to overthrow the Thai government attacked Bangkok's support for Cambodia's bid to list the Hindu ruins as a World Heritage site.

Yudhoyono said Hun Sen had expressed his willingness to settle the dispute amicably through bilateral talks with Thailand.

Yudhoyono said he also held a similar phone conversation with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Cambodia and Thailand will hold discussions on Oct. 21 to iron out the problem, Yudhoyono said.

"I will keep following up on the issue, considering that Indonesia is an ASEAN founding member."

Also on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda spoke with ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, who expressed concern over the escalation of tensions between the two neighbors.

Surin, a former Thai foreign minister, said he expected to see Indonesia play a more active role in preventing military conflicts in the region, and push for bilateral talks to settle disputes.

Somchai postponed his visit to Jakarta, scheduled for Oct. 22, after the escalation of the conflict, and assigned his foreign minister to make the courtesy call.
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Ketti (not verified) — Wed, 10/15/2008 - 9:52am

That's what good neighboring countries are for! Indonesia may be as the only facilitator The main key is the goodwill of both two countries. As long as Cambodia and or Thailand could sit together in the negotiation, we neighboring countries in ASEAN still have opportunity to help the two countries solving their conflict.

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