ASEAN will not intervene in resolving Thai-Cambodian military standoff: Thai Deputy PM

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)