Cambodia to ask Thailand to sign ceasefire agreement
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Cambodia will ask Thailand to sign a permanent ceasefire under the witness of ASEAN foreign ministers or ASEAN chair on Feb. 22 in the ASEAN foreign ministers ' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said during a rare press conference on Thursday at the Government House.
"It will be better if ASEAN chair can sign in the permanent ceasefire," said Hun Sen.
Meanwhile, the premier put forward four points concerning the permanent ceasefire: firstly, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to stop fighting for good and permanently. No more weapon clashes forever;
Secondly, no mobile of armed forces for this time and both sides maintain the same places of armed forces to wait for the resolution on measuring and demarcating the border;
Thirdly, Cambodia and Thailand encourage the two countries' army commanders to open talks to improve good cooperation in order to make the situation returning to before July 15, 2008;
And fourth, to ensure the effectiveness of ceasefire, Cambodia will ask ASEAN countries to control of ceasefire.
"I believe Thailand will not agree at this point, but if Thailand does not agree the fourth point, Cambodia will agree to receive forces from ASEAN countries to station in Cambodian territory to observe and ensure the ceasefire," Hun Sen added.
Hun Sen said that he has already sent the four-point of the draft permanent ceasefire to Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit through Thai Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankiri, who is now in Cambodia for the opening of Thai trade expo.
He stressed that the multi-lateral talks would be used only in the border dispute with Thailand. All the meetings, even the JBC (Cambodian-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary ) meeting, must have the participation of the ASEAN chair or representative, Thailand should not be afraid of the third party.
"While other forums, besides border dispute and Preah Vihear temple, will be done bilaterally, such as trades, tourism, culture...," Hun Sen said
"I appeal that we don't push the situation into the confrontation on all sectors," he said. "We should contain the dispute, not let it spread further."
However, on the issue of Preah Vihear temple, Hun Sen said that "we cannot walk back on this issue, it's the heritage left by our ancestors--I just maintain and protect it for our next generation. We don't want any land from the other."
Cambodia will welcome all types of observers from ASEAN, he said. "Observers can be civilians, military or police, they can be in group of ASEAN or each country can send their observers to the disputed areas."
Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
The conflict is due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, which also result in a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7, unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border had claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians on both sides and also caused ten of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas fleeing for safe shelters.
The United Nations Security Council on Monday urged Cambodia and Thailand to display maximum restraint and to establish a permanent ceasefire. It also expressed support for the active efforts of ASEAN in the matter and encouraged the parties to continue to cooperate with the organization.
