Asean to Seek Help in Solving Cambo

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Subject: Asean to Seek Help in Solving Cambodian Conflict

(The Nation - July 3rd, 1997)

Asean to seek help in solving Cambodian conflict 



BY DON PATHAN 

ASEAN foreign ministers have decided to ask the co-chairs of the Paris 
peace accord on Cambodia, France and Indonesia, to intervene in the 
ongoing political conflict in the war-ravaged nation. 

Meanwhile, more fighting erupted yesterday between Cambodian government 
army units near Phnom Penh but was not connected to the feud between the 
two premiers, military officials said. 

Speaking yesterday after returning from Hong Kong, Foreign Minister 
Prachuab Chaiyasan said he and his Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations counterparts attending the handover met on Tuesday to discuss 
the final preparations Cambodia, Burma and Laos must make before they 
are admitted into the regional grouping on July 23. 

Asean ministers discussed their concerns over the eruption of violence 
in Cambodia that has resulted from the bitter rivalry of the country's 
two prime ministers and agreed that it was necessary to take action to 
promote peace and stability in the country. ''There is still some 
tension between the two leaders. We [Asean foreign ministers] have 
proposed that France and Indonesia, in the context of the United 
Nations, examine the political situation in Cambodia and look for ways 
to promote political stability in the country," Prachuab said. 

He said the Malaysian and Vietnamese ministers briefed ministers from 
the other Asean nations ­ Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore 
and Thailand ­ on the political situation in Pnomh Penh. Prachuab said 
the gathering had agreed that Asean should continue to promote 
democratic institutions in Cambodia even after it becomes an Asean 
member. 

Prachuab said Thailand would continue to explore other avenues for 
bringing about stability in Cambodia. ''It's clear that our aim is to 
see peace and stability in the country," the minister said. 

He said France, which along with Indonesia helped organise several 
Cambodian peace talks and the eventual Paris peace accord in 1991, might 
be able to take a ''different" approach to solving the conflict. 

Prachuab said Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi, who recently 
visited Cambodia, Burma and Laos, gave ''positive" reports on the three 
prospective members' preparations for their integration into Asean. 

Badawi, the current chairman of the Asean Standing Committee, visited 
the capital cities of Phnom Penh, Rangoon and Vientiane to officially 
inform each country of Asean's decision to admit them on July 23. 

Prachuab said Asean ministers had also agreed to assist Cambodia in its 
upcoming general election, scheduled for May 23 next year. 

''One possibility is to have the [Cambodian] election officials visit 
Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia or other countries to observe their 
electoral processes," he said. 

"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."


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