Thailand Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, left, is welcomed by his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, during a meeting of foreign ministers from Asean countries on Tuesday in Jakarta. (EPA Photo/Bagus Indahono)23 Feb, 2011
Source: The Jakarta Goble
Indonesia will send observers to both sides of the disputed Thai-Cambodian border to ensure that a cease-fire agreed by the two countries is respected, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday.
Marty said that the decision was made during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat in Jakarta.
Foreign ministers from Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Laos attended the meeting, while the other four member states — Burma, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam — were represented by senior officials.
“It is significant that for the first time both countries have agreed to invite a third party as observers,” Marty said after the meeting.
As observers, he added, Indonesian representatives would not be stationed in the buffer zone of the disputed area, rather they would be placed on both sides of the border.
“This decision reflects Asean’s and both countries’ confidence in Indonesia,” Marty said. “It is a mandate that we have to carry out responsibly.”
He added that as an observer, however, Indonesia would have no enforcement capacity to ensure that the cease-fire was not breached.
“We have our mandate as an observer but it is not our responsibility to ensure that the cease-fire is upheld, that is Thailand and Cambodia’s job,” he said.
Although the exact mechanism of the observers’ operations in the region has yet to be specified, Indonesia will soon deploy an advance team to determine what preparations are needed on site.
The team will comprise military officers and representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Marty said.
The observers will report any violations of the peace to Asean, which would then question both countries’ commitment to a peaceful resolution.
Both Cambodia and Thailand are set to agree on Asean chair Indonesia’s engagement in their next bilateral talks, which are expected to be held in Indonesia.
“This is a unique arrangement that we have to be content with,” Marty said, adding that Asean had a role in creating an environment “conducive for negotiations.”
Marty said that the conclusion of the meeting showed that despite existing cynicism, Indonesia could play a role in mediating conflict between Asean member states.
Reading out a joint statement issued by the meeting, Marty said the regional group “welcomes and supports Cambodia and Thailand’s reiteration of their strong commitment to the principles contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Asean Charter.”
Fighting on both sides of the border near the disputed 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple erupted on Feb. 4. Clashes have killed 11 people and wounded dozens more.
Each side has accused the other of firing first, prompting calls for a third-party observer.
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