President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the 18th ASEAN summit in Jakarta on Saturday calling on member states to speed up integration, avoid confl ict and address food and energy threats, but cracks appeared after the Thai and Cambodian leaders traded barbs.

Yudhoyono said ASEAN should boost cooperation aimed at securing food supply as commodity prices were expected to continue to increase. “We must quickly establish an ASEAN integrated food security framework,” he said. The President added that ASEAN should start developing alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectric and geothermal power in the face of decreasing fossil fuel reserves. Without singling out the Cambodian- Thai border dispute, the President said member states should be able to avoid confl ict. “ASEAN was formed based on a strong desire to establish peace, build consensus and promote stability through regional cooperation and integration,” he said. “If confl ict occurs, ASEAN must be capable of facilitating a forum for diplomacy and open dialogue with the intent of achieving a common peace.

” However, in the plenary session after the opening remarks, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva were quick to lash out over a border dispute that has intensifi ed since February.

Hun Sen said Thailand’s demand that Cambodia withdraw its troops from the Preah Vihear Temple area was “irrational and unacceptable”.

“[It is] Thailand that must withdraw its troops from the vicinity,” he said. “Thailand, as a big country, continues to have ambitions of prolonging armed confl ict to violate weaker neighboring ASEAN members.

” Hun Sen also warned ASEAN to quickly settle the border dispute as it could hamper the region’s vision of establishing an ASEAN community by 2015.

“ASEAN must consider this dispute the most important issue for the life of the community. ASEAN must establish mediation for effective settlement of the dispute.

” He criticized Thailand for not signing the terms of reference on the proposed deployment of an Indonesian observer team to monitor a cease-fi re in the disputed area, and for insisting on unreasonable and unacceptable conditions.

Abhisit was quick to responded to Hun Sen’s statements, saying “Thailand has no intention whatsoever of engaging in confl ict”. “I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand’s intentions,” he said.

Abhisit said Thailand also had no intentions of engaging in confl ict with other neighbors and countries in the region. “The [border] problem emerged when Cambodia violated a 2000 memorandum of understanding by sending troops and people into the area,” he said.

 Abhisit said Thailand contributed to Cambodia’s nation-building process to achieve reconciliation as Cambodia’s prosperity was linked with Thailand’s prosperity.

 Abhisit then apologized to ASEAN leaders for escalating the issue at the plenary session. “This matter can be resolved bilaterally,” he said.
 
 Earlier, however, Indonesian State Secretary Sudi Silalahi confi rmed that Yudhoyono would host a meeting between Hun Sen and Abhisit to ease tensions.

 Despite the incident, the fi rst day of the summit saw the leaders issue joint statements on the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, fi ght against human traffi cking and the establishment of an ASEAN Community. On the second day, leaders are likely to discuss topics such as the possible inclusion of Timor Leste into the grouping and Myanmar’s ambitions of chairing the grouping in the future.

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