A Change of Guard

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Sunday 31 July 2011

Asean must rise up to the occasion

Op-Ed by Warrior Blood
31st July, 2011

Re: Cambodia reportedly pulls out troops from disputed area

Cambodia has shown clear leadership role in resolving the Cambodian-Thai border dispute. ASEAN should be proud of Cambodia for taking such bold action against further violence and potentially loss of lives of Cambodian and Thai civilians. I am very proud to have the blood line of Cambodian descendants.

The ICJ decision for both countries to withdraw troops from the disputed, and now has become demilitarised, zone is the correct choice and Cambodia is taking the leadership be the bigger person in a peaceful and forward thinking decision. Cambodia have shown times and times again of its leadership in this issue and wanted a peaceful and stable relationship with Thailand.

Cambodia has never looked at Thailand as the permanent enemy. ASEAN is so lucky to have Cambodia's leadership to save its face in the world community. When the last fighting erupted in April 2011, the ASEAN chair, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, canceled his trip due to intensive situation without further following up to stop the fighting.

In July 2011, the ICJ decision punted the issue back to ASEAN to enforce the ruling, yet ASEAN has no plan in place on how to implement the ruling and Cambodia has asked for Asean's observers to step in, but there was no concrete response and Thailand continues to drag its feet with due to the irresponsible action of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Cambodia has again taken the first step to end the dispute by unilaterally withdrawing troops to pave the way for ASEAN to do its work more easily. How much more flexible do you want Cambodia to be? Perhaps Cambodia could resolve this issue with the new Thai government alone if there is trust, however it still requires the ASEAN as a witness to the negotiation. If ASEAN can rise up to the occasion and play the witness role, the conflict could be resolved amicably.

Realistically, ASEAN can take the credit for Cambodia's hard work in this conflict. The recent ceasefire agreement was the work of both Thailand and Cambodia who decided to stop shooting. Military leaders from both sides decided not to killing each other to allow the ICJ to make its ruling.

I can almost feel victory for both Thailand and Cambodia with the open-minded government from both sides that wanted peace for their people. Despite the dispute, both countries share similar culture, tradition, language, literature, religion etc. Both countries worship the temple of Preah Vihear. Although the temple belongs to Cambodia, Thailand can still play a role in helping Cambodia protecting the heritage-listed temple that the Thai people also worshipped like the Cambodians.

ASEAN should continue its leadership role because Cambodia had made so much headway for ASEAN to step to resolve the conflict. Thailand also has the duties to help resolve the dispute by withdrawing its troop as ordered by the ICJ. Cambodia has never had any bad intention or to trick Thailand as you can witness Cambodia is withdrawing its troop whether Thailand does it or not. We obey the court's order and we live by the rule of law.

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