PM reaffirms Indonesian observers cannot be stationed at Thai-Cambodian disputed area

10 Apr, 2011
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK, April 10 -- Reiterating that the disputed 4.6 square-kilometre near the ancient Preah Vihear temple belongs to Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that Indonesian observers cannot be stationed there.

His stance was made after Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong expressed disappointment in Jakarta on Saturday over the Bangkok government’s objection allowing Indonesian observers to be sent to the disputed area, saying that Thailand should respect Indonesia’s role in the negotiations as Jakarta had received the UN Security Council’s support.

Thailand and Cambodia still do not share a similar view on allowing Indonesian observers to be posted at the disputed zone as the latter wants Indonesia as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to act as mediator in the dispute while Thailand is prepared to offer “facilities so that negotiations could continue,” Mr Abhisit said.

He said “unarmed Indonesian observers could be dispatched” but more talks are needed on where they would be stationed.

"Both countries earlier agreed that 15 Indonesian observers will be manned in Thailand and another 15 on the Cambodian side, but new talks should be held if Cambodia wants the observers stationed in the 4.6 sq km disputed area which belongs to Thailand and Indonesia has to also reconsider the issue,” asserted the Thai premier.

Expressing his optimism that the dispute could be settled by the two neighbouring countries, Mr Abhisit said the Thai government is also “sincere” in solving the long-standing problem.

The two-day talks, which were held in Bogor, Indonesia, ended last Friday and made clear that both Thailand and Cambodia wanted aerial photos to be taken at the disputed border to solve the dispute, Mr Abhisit said.

The Thai foreign affairs ministry has said that both sides agreed at the Bogor meeting that a third party company would be hired to take the aerial photos.

Initially, a Japanese, Australian or Danish firm would be selected to do the job while both Thailand and Cambodia would make a decision which firm has the most appropriate technology, the ministry said.

Clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers occur around Preah Vihear temple and its surrounding areas sporadically.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belonged to Phnom Penh. In 2008, UNESCO named it a World Heritage site after Cambodia applied for the status. The country submitted a management plan for the temple last year to UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission, which has deferred a decision until their meeting in Bahrain this coming June.