Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa confirmed the good news after holding separate meetings with Cambodia`s Foreign Affairs Minister Hior Namhong and his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center.
"I am pleased to inform you that both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to the Terms of Reference (TOR) proposed by Indonesia including the possibility of sending an independent observers team to the disputed area. Cambodia has sent a diplomatic note to us confirming their agreement to the TOR while Thailand through its foreign minister had also confirmed the same agreement," said the minister.
However, Marty noted that the main focus now was to create a conducive situation in the border area. He emphasized the need to soon realize the deployment of Indonesian observers in the border on the consideration that it will symbolically induce a sense of trust between Cambodia and Thailand while also preventing more conflict between the two parties.
As to Cambodia`s refusal to withdraw its military troops as what Thailand had asked before agreeing the TOR, Marty said the issue could be discussed later in the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) forum which he hoped will be realized soon.
"What matters now is for Thailand and Cambodia to create a conducive situation in their border area," he said.
Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict just a week after Cambodia`s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
The conflict erupted after Thailand laid claim to 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of shrubs next to the temple. The exchange of artillery fire that ensued killed and wounded many soldiers and civilians on both sides, and caused tens of thousands of the two countries` villagers nearby the disputed area to flee to safe shelters.
Since the past years Indonesia and other members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have tried to support both Thailand and Cambodia to solve their border problem through peaceful negotiations.
As Chairman of ASEAN in 2011, Indonesia represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa conducted several bilateral meetings with his Cambodian and Thai counterparts separately. Both Cambodia and Thailand welcomed Minister Marty to help in their search for an amicable and peaceful solution to their differences, as ASEAN continued to strengthen its dispute settlement mechanism, in line with the ASEAN Charter, Dr. Surin stated.
However, despite the commitments made by the conflicting nations, a couple of armed clashes had occurred again in their border. There had also been a report saying that Thailand did not wish Indonesia`s facilitating role in its conflict with Cambodia, but the report was later denied by Thai officials.
Marty also denied the report saying that Thailand was open for ASEAN involvement.
"ASEAN is a big family to which Thailand also belongs, so it is no longer considered as a third party in this process," Marty told the press.
Meanwhile, an Indonesian legislator, Fayakhun Andriadi, called on ASEAN to end its border conflicts.
"It will be hard to realize ASEAN unity in 2015 if the members are still in clash over their border lines," the member of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I dealing with defense and security said.
He took an example of the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia which took casualties from both sides and other potential Malaysia-Indonesia, Philippines-Malaysia, Indonesia-Singapore and Indonesia-Vietnam conflicts.
"Border conflicts are among vital issues which can trigger people`s anger. I hope Indonesia as the 2011 Chairman of ASEAN can play a role in solving border problems among members of ASEAN," the legislator said. (*)
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
