SINGAPORE, July 22 (TNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has acceded to Thailand's request that Thailand and Cambodia be allowed to solve their border dispute on a bilateral basis, without ASEAN assistance at this point, according to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul.

Cambodia on Monday petitioned the regional organisation for its help.

Accepting the Thai request, ASEAN will allow Thailand and Cambodia to talk with each other to resolve the dispute over Preah Vihear temple to the utmost of their ability before seeking outsiders to have a role to intervene in the territorial conflict between both countries, according to the Thai deputy prime minister who heads the Thai delegation attending the ASEAN ministerial meeting.

The Thai side's stance was made after Phnom Penh had sought regional intervention in its territorial dispute after talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh failed to end a military standoff around the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong asked Singapore, the chair of ASEAN, to form a regional "inter-ministerial group" comprising foreign ministers of Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to help find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and avoid a military standoff by the two ASEAN members.

"Thai troops with artillery and tanks are building up along the border, constituting a very serious threat not only to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia, but also to peace and stability in the region,'' he said in the letter to Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo late Monday.

Members of the ASEAN delegation were briefed by their Thai and Cambodian counterparts at a working lunch on Tuesday about the situation.

"As ASEAN still insisted on the statement that the chairman put out on Sunday evening, that (we) expect the two sides were going to find amicable solutions to the issues between them and that ASEAN still stands ready to extend any support if the two sides would like ASEAN to play a role. But we did not go any further than that," said ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan

"I think the atmosphere was just to exchange information and to exchange views on matters of ASEAN, of
ASEAN's role in various issues in the region and the issue of Cambodia and Thailand came up as one issue, nothing formal, nothing official," he said.

The Thai delegation head said earlier he welcomed ASEAN's readiness to play an active role in helping solve the territorial dispute.

However, he insisted both countries should be given more time to address the conflict in a friendly and cooperative manner first.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen Suchit Sitthiprapa, 2nd Army Area Commander, said Thailand might distance troops from
Cambodian soldiers to lessen possible clash, but units will remain near Preah Vihear temple compound until
a solution is found. (TNA)

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - In response to Cambodia's diplomatic offensive concerning the current border spat, Thailand handed a letter to the 15-member United Nations Security Council reaffirming Thailand's intention to solve the dispute through bilateral talks, according to the Thai ambassador to the UN.

Don Pramudwinai told Thai News Agency's morning news TV programme on Wednesday that Thailand had made the move following Cambodia's seeking UN intervention in its dispute with Thailand over ownership of the land adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple.

The land in dispute is a 4.6-square-kilometre parcel overlapping area claimed both by Kanthalarak district in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.

"In the face of this imminent state of war, this very serious threat to our independence and territorial integrity, we have an obligation to resort to the UN Security Council,'' Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said.

The Thai ambassador to the UN said Cambodia wanted the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting over the issue on Monday (July 28) despite Thailand's objection.

He said, however, that Thailand will ponder further moves pending the council's response over the issue.

"The council will call a meeting tomorrow and we will see to it whether or not the council will hold an emergency session upon Cambodia's request," Mr. Don said.

"How the council members will react and any implications that would affect Thailand remains to be seen," the Thai ambassador to the UN said, adding that Bangkok had disagreed with Phnom Penh's move from the start for fear that it might undermine the solidarity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier expressed concern on Monday over the escalating tension, calling on Thailand and Cambodia to peacefully resolve the conflict after talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh failed to end a military standoff around the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Both Thailand and Cambodia are members of ASEAN which is currently holding its annual foreign ministers meeting in Singapore.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat suggested that the two countries should avoid using multilateral platform.

Asked what the ministry would do if the Cambodian government urges the International Court of Justice to intervene and make a ruling on the disputed area surrounding the ancient temple, he said Thailand has the right to decide whether it should go before the Court with Cambodia.

The UN Security Council cannot force Thailand, he said.

The 11th century temple site was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, Mr. Tharit said, but the ruling did not concern the disputed area. He said further that Ministry of Foreign Affairs legal team is studying the power of the Court. (TNA)

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