INDONESIAN OBSERVERS TO BE ASSIGNED TO CAMBODIA-THAILAND BORDER

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Indonesian observers will be assigned to the
Cambodia-Thailand border to observe the ceasefire between the two countries,
pending bilateral negotiations to resolve the conflict over the border issue.

"It is quite a unique arrangement in the sense that Indonesian observers
will be on both the Thai and Cambodian sides of the boundary.

"I shall over the next couple of days be working together with my two
counterparts to work out the modalities for such observer presence at the
affected border area between the two sides," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty
Natalegawa said at a press conference at the end of the Informal Meeting of
Asean Foreign Ministers here Tuesday.

Indonesia is the current Chair of Asean.

Natalegawa said the observer team would consist of civilian and military
components and they would not be armed.

"We will be working with the authorities in Thailand and Cambodia in
assigning our observers, to be able to see and write reports if there
are violations on the ground.

"On the technicalities, I need to sit down and think about this and
write to the two ministers, my understanding of how the observer team could take
shape and form," he said.

Natalegawa said the meeting also called on Cambodia and Thailand to resume
bilateral negotiations, including through the existing mechanism, at the
earliest possible opportunity, with appropriate engagement of Indonesia, to
support their efforts in resolving the issue amicably.

"Although it is not illustrated or indicated in the chairman's statement, it
is to my understanding, based on the conversation I had with the two foreign
ministers, that the next meeting of the two sides will be convened in
Indonesia."

The minister said the shape and form of the enggagement would be spelt out
when the time comes, but he had made it as his personal commitment to be
available if needed by the two sides to facilitate any difficulty they might
encounter.

Tuesday's meeting which was a follow-up to the meeting at the United Nations
Security Council last week, also saw Cambodia and Thailand's commitment to
adhere to the Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and Asean Charter, including
the settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means.

The Security Council has urged the two parties to establish a permanent
ceasefire and resolve the situation peacefully and through dialogue. It also
acknowledged Asean's role in supporting and facilitating the efforts.

The border dispute involves both nations claiming an area of 4.6 sq
km surrounding the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu Temple as the area has yet
to be demarcated, including the access route to the temple.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple was
located in Cambodia, and it was listed as a world heritage site by Unesco in
2008.

There were several clashes reported between Thai and Cambodian troops
at the disputed border area between Feb 4 and 16 with the use of heavy
weapons including bombs, rockets and machine-guns by both sides, resulting in
the loss of 10 lives from both sides.