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| Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh (left) shakes hand with his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwon (right) at a meeting in Indonesia on May 18, 2011. They are accompanied by Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (centred). EPA |
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has agreed to
Cambodia's proposal for a joint team to survey the 4.6 square kilometre
disputed area as a prerequisite to holding a General Border Committee
(GBC) meeting to discuss solving the problems between Thailand and
Cambodia, a reliable source said on Thursday.
The source said the agreement was reached when Gen Prawit and
Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh met for about one hour on Wednesday
in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the sideline of the Asean Defence Ministers
Meeting (ADMM).
The two defence ministers discussed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen's proposal for Thailand to accept terms of reference (TOR) which
would lead to the sending of a joint survey team of Thai, Cambodian and
Indonesian soldiers into the disputed area, a GBC meeting and then
deployment of the Indonesian Observers Team (OIT).
Gen Tea Banh wanted Thailand to endorse the TOR as proposed by Hun
Sen but Gen Prawit said the Thai government could not sign any document
as it is presently only a caretaker administration.
"However, Thailand has agreed to allow a joint survey team (of Thai,
Cambodian and Indonesians) into the disputed area before holding the 8th
GBC, to be hosted by Cambodia.
"Thailand had to concede a little, for Cambodia's proposal, to save
Hun Sen's face, otherwise the GBC meeting on solving border problems
would never be held," the source said.
At the GBC meeting, the two sides would discuss the repositioning of
Thai and Cambodian soldiers in the 4.6 square kilometre area
around Preah Vihear temple, as well as around the Ta Muen and Ta Kwai
temples.
After that the Indonesian Observers Team would move into the area.
This would be followed by the withdrawal of troops of the two countries
to make way for demarcation by the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the
source said.
Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng, the defence spokesman, in an interview
from Indonesia confirmed that the talks between Gen Prawit and Gen Tea
Banh would lead to the 8th GBC, to be hosted by Cambodia.
The two ministers wanted the GBC to be brought forward from June so
that problems between the two countries could be settled more quickly.
"The defence ministers of the two countries agreed to solve problems
through peaceful means. They do not want to see any more clashes or any
more losses which affect the livelihoods of people living along the
border.
"Gen Prawit reaffirmed Thailand's policy of not invading a neighbouring country," Col Thanathip said.
Bangkok Post
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