Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hol (r)

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Subject: Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hold

Monday July 7 2:01 AM EDT 

Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hold

BANGKOK, July 7 (UPI) _ The continuing power struggle in Cambodia has 
cast doubt on the country's early entry into the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

The Nation newspaper today quotes Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab 
Chaiyasarn as saying that if Cambodia is not ready to join ASEAN as 
scheduled at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 24 and 25, its entry 
could be delayed until later this year. 

The current seven members of ASEAN agreed earlier this year to admit 
Cambodia as a full member along with Laos and Burma. 

But three days of street fighting in Phnom Penh between forces of 
Cambodia's two rival prime ministers, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun 
Sen, have made it doubtful that the country will be able to participate 
in the ASEAN meeting in Malaysia. 

Cambodian Foreign Minister Ung Huot, who was to have represented 
Cambodia's coalition government at the meeting, is a follower of 
Ranariddh. 

Ranariddh has fled Cambodia and his forces appear to be losing the power 
struggle against Hun Sen. 

Thai officials, meanwhile, say they are preparing to send four C-130 
transport planes into Cambodia to evacuate 642 Thai citizens stranded in 
Phnom Penh. 


"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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