Cambodia, Thailand discuss pullout conditions

2011-07-23
AP-Xinhua

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodia's prime minister on Friday called on Thailand to comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and withdraw from disputed border territory at the same time as Cambodian troops.

Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters that the mutual withdrawal will stop flare-ups of fighting in the area and benefit both countries.

The comments at the news conference were his first since the court decision, which came in response to an appeal from Phnom Penh asking for clarification of the 1962 court decision that awarded it the temple.

The Netherlands-based court on Monday created a small demilitarized zone along the border around the Preah Vihear temple and ordered the armed forces of both countries to withdraw. Neither Cambodia nor Thailand has set a date for doing so.

The court went beyond Cambodia's request for an immediate and complete withdrawal of Thai troops from the area, saying that both countries should allow observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into the area to observe a cease-fire.

Indonesia, as the rotating host of ASEAN, offered to deploy a team of observers along the Thai-Cambodian border following their first clash in February.

Thai officials say they want to meet with their Cambodian counterparts to discuss the withdrawals and insist that observers not be allowed into the area until Cambodian troops have withdrawn.

Thailand's caretaker Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday that Bangkok and Phnom Penh must hold a discussion before military withdrawal begins.

In response to the ICJ's decision that both countries should allow observers from ASEAN into the area, the minister said an Indonesian observation team should be allowed in only after an agreement on troop withdrawal between the neighbors is reached.

The outgoing Thai foreign minister added that on Monday, the ministry will hold a meeting with the country's Ministry of Defense to lay the framework for the matter.

Further details on the subject, however, will be the responsibility of the new government, which is expected to take office in August.

Cambodia has said it wants the observers in place before withdrawing its troops. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also said he welcomed observers, who could stay wherever they liked.

The two countries agreed in May to admit observers from Indonesia.

Hun Sen said on Friday that he is ready to hold a meeting with Thailand and a third party to discuss the withdrawal.

Thailand has long insisted on bilateral talks while Cambodia has been seeking the involvement of a third party.

The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu temple was located in an area under Cambodian sovereignty. However, both sides have laid claim to some 4.6 square kilometers of land surrounding the temple