On 28 April 2011 at 18.00 hours, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya who was in Jakarta, Indonesia, as Head of the Thai delegation to the 5th Meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council, gave a phone-in interview regarding the results of his meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Minister on the Thai-Cambodia border situation. Gist as follows:
1. The Thai Foreign Minister said that during his two-hour meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in the latter’s capacity as ASEAN Chair, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in the afternoon of 28 April, the two ministers discussed the details of the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) on the Indonesian Observer Team to the Thai-Cambodian border area. They agreed on most issues with the exception of some wordings which require further discussion. The Indonesian side should be able to send the final draft TOR to the Thai side for its consideration by 29 April 2011 so that the draft could be submitted to the Thai Cabinet for its consideration on 3 May 2011 in accordance with Thailand’s internal procedures. After that, there would be an exchange of notes for the TOR between Thailand and Indonesia, and Indonesia would also proceed similarly with Cambodia.
2. The Foreign Minister also took the opportunity to update the Indonesian Foreign Minister on the latest developments regarding the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border. He also reaffirmed that Thailand had all along been committed to peace and cooperation, that Thailand would like to resolve outstanding issues with Cambodian through peaceful negotiation, using existing bilateral mechanisms, that Thailand welcomes the facilitating role of AESAN and Indonesia as ASEAN Chair, and that Thailand would like to see an end to armed clashes at the earliest. The Thai Foreign Minister had also reiterated that Thailand has no reason whatsoever to start the conflict, as the country was a major investor in and provided assistance to Cambodia all along. There are also Thai people living along the border who would be in danger if armed clashes occur along the border. With all these considerations, there is no reason for Thailand to start the conflict.
3. The Foreign Minister also had a telephone conversation with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General, whom he would meet on 29 April 2011 to inform him of Thailand’s position on the issue. The Minister also met with Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and diplomatic officials from 23 countries, updating them about the current situation, the bilateral negotiation process between Thailand and Cambodia under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of 2000, the progress made in the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), and Thailand’s readiness to move forward within the framework of the General Border Committee (GBC) as well as the Regional Border Committee (RBC). He also explained to the diplomats the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, which Thailand has respected, and shared Thailand’s assessment on Cambodia’s intention to internationalize the issue. The Foreign Minister reiterated Thailand’s good intentions towards Cambodian people, as well as the country’s assistance to Cambodian people living along the border especially in terms of health.
4. In response to questions from the media regarding the so-called “disputed area” of 4.6 square kilometres in the draft TOR, Foreign Minister Kasit said that Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia had all been informed about the locations where the Indonesian observers would be stationed on each side of the border — 15 observers on each side — to the north and south of the Phra Viharn Temple. The Thai side has been informed of the agreement between Indonesia and Cambodia that Indonesian observers would be assigned to three locations on the Cambodia side. Likewise, the Cambodian side has been informed of the agreement between Indonesia and Thailand that Indonesian observers would be assigned to four locations in Thailand. There would be no observers in the 4.6 square kilometres “disputed area”.
The Foreign Minister also informed his Indonesian counterpart that before the observers would be dispatched to the affected areas, there must be no Cambodian soldiers in the Temple as this would constitute a violation of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Properties in the Event of Armed Conflict as well as the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Furthermore, there must be no Cambodian soldiers in Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda, as this would constitute a violation of the 2000 MOU between Thailand and Cambodia. The Indonesian side would have to discuss these conditions with Cambodia and inform Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of the outcome of the discussions with Thailand.
Regarding the duration of the Indonesian observers, Foreign Minister Kasit said that the timeframe discussed is approximately six months or less if the situation improves and Cambodian makes a commitment not to attack Thailand again.
5. Foreign Minister Kasit said that he had been informed of the meeting between the Thai 2nd Army Regional Commander and the Cambodian 4th Military Regional Commander to discuss cessation of hostilities and also the telephone communication between the Defence Ministers of both sides. He noted that Cambodia had to cease hostilities as this would not lead to any solution, and that Cambodia should come back to the negotiating table, as this is the wish of the international community and the United Nation Security Council (UNSC). He reiterated that Thailand does not wish to fight with Cambodia as this would lead to hardship for people living along the border.
6. The Foreign Minister also elaborated on the pending wording in the draft TOR as being about privileges and immunities to be accorded to the Indonesian observers which should be in line with both Thai and Indonesian domestic laws and processes as both are democratic countries and have to follow their respective constitutional procedures. In this regard, it has been agreed in principle that the Indonesian observers would be part of the Indonesian embassy in Bangkok.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th