Thailand Opposes Cambodia's Call To Include Indonesia in Talks on Troop Withdrawal

26 July 2011 -- The Nations
Report by Nuntida Puangthong

The caretaker government disagrees with Cambodia's precondition of including Indonesia in a meeting with Thailand to discuss withdrawing troops from the Preah Vihear Temple area, as ordered by the International Court of Justice.

 "My government disagrees with the idea but it's up to the new government to make the decision," Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after a meeting with agencies yesterday on following up on the ICJ ruling.

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to hold a meeting on complying with the ICJ's order but Bangkok rejected the condition set by Phnom Penh to let Indonesia, as the Asean chair, also sit in the meeting, Kasit said.

"The government has a clear position that the boundary issue and military redeployment are the concerns of only two parties," he said.

"It's improper to have Indonesian representatives in the meeting and I think Indonesia does not want to do that," he said.

The ICJ on July 18 declared a demilitarised zone at Preah Vihear and prohibited Thailand from obstructing Cambodia's free access to the temple.

Cambodia has agreed to conform fully to the order but only after Indonesia dispatches observers to the zone, while Thailand wants talks with Cambodia first.

Kasit said Thailand would write a letter of reply to Cambodia's proposal and consult with Indonesia over the adjustment of the role of the observer team.

"We're considering using the military-run General Border Committee (GBC)," he said.

"If there's anything outside the GBC framework, the new government needs to consider it."

Many details needed to be worked out and both countries had to set a timetable for troop pullbacks, he said. A suggestion has also been made to replace the military personnel in the area with police, which would need the consent of both countries, he said.

Phnom Penh hopes the ICJ's order can be fulfilled as soon as possible but Kasit said he had informed Cambodia that the new Thai government might be able to take charge by the second week of next month.