DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Statement by the Chairman of ASEAN” plus 2 more

JAKARTA, Feb. 22  -- Indonesia, as the ASEAN Chair, was appointed to become observer, ensuring the avoidance of further arm clash in the border of Cambodia and Thailand following cease fire agreement pledged by high level staffs of the two disputing countries in the region on Feb. 19, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an informal meeting attended by foreign ministers of ASEAN member of states, discussing solution to end clashes in Cambodia-Thailand border, Marty said that the appointment on Indonesia as the observer team was under the requirement of both disputing parties.

"We will place our team members in both sides, in Cambodia and in Thailand. They would cooperate with authorities of the respective countries, ensuring both parties restrain from arm clashes," Marty told a press conference, flanked by all of ASEAN countries' foreign affairs ministers plus ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan in Indonesian Foreign Affairs premises here.

Marty added that his office would send memo to the related ministries in the country to prepare the modalities for that noble task, saying that deployment of the observer team in both countries would be conducted as soon as possible.

"Among the institutions we told to prepare their officials in carrying out the task was the Indonesia armed force. Together with officials from other institutions, they would monitor, observe and do the reporting about the ongoing situation on the ground to Indonesia as the chair of ASEAN," Marty said.

According to Marty, the appointment on Indonesia as the observer team was unique since it was requested by both feuding countries and would be placed in both countries respectively, not in a particular enclave.

The cease fire on the arm clashes in Thailand-Cambodian border area, commenced in Feb. 4, was resulted from Indonesia-brokered peace talks held in Phnom Penh and Bangkok on Feb. 7-8 and endorsement from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in its meeting attended by Marty on Feb. 14.(Xinhua/sp)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, FEB 22, 2011-Visiting UN Human Rights Rapporteur met with top judicial officials of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on 22 February to assess the Khmer Rouge tribunal's progress.

Prof. Surya Subedi visited the court and held a consultative meeting with Plenary President Kong Srim and Vice President Silvia Cartwright to discuss various aspects of the tribunal's work. The meeting lasted twice as long as it was planned.

After the hour-long meeting, Mr. Subedi said the insight the judges provided him was helpful for his assessment of the work of the tribunal.

"The meeting was very informative and I got the information that I needed on the work of the court," he said. One of his mandates as a UN rapporteur is to monitor the work of the tribunal.

During the meeting, he and the judges discussed the independence of the tribunal and the human rights dimensions of the work of the court, such as detention conditions and fair trial rights of the accused.  "I've learned what's going on at the court…. What I found out today will be reflected in my report to the Human Rights Council later this year."

Prof. Subedi's 10-day visit in Phnom Penh is his fourth official visit to Cambodia to assess the human rights situation on the ground. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet with representatives of the government, civil society, UN agencies and diplomatic corps.