DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “ASEAN urges early dispatch of observers to Cambodia-Thai border” plus 9 more

BALI, Indonesia, July 23, Kyodo - Foreign Ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations called in a statement Saturday for the early dispatch of Indonesian observers to a disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand.

According to the statement, the foreign ministers support Indonesia, which has been tasked with dispatching observers to help secure a cease-fire, ''to continue to undertake consultations with Cambodia and Thailand...including on the early assignment of the Indonesia Observer Team.''

It said the minister recognized the importance of the July 18 order by the International Court of Justice that both Cambodia and Thailand allow the observers access to a demilitarized zone in the disputed area.

Cambodia and Thailand agreed last February at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta to accept Indonesian observers, but their deployment has long been delayed, partly because of Thailand's demand that Cambodian soldiers be withdrawn first.

Cambodia insists the withdrawal be done simultaneously and in the presence of Indonesian observers.

Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has made known his intention to soon approach both sides for the talks on the sending of observers, according to Kao Kim Hourn, Cambodia's secretary of state for foreign affairs.

But the Cambodia official also told Kyodo News that the timing and venue of such a meeting remain unclear.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday his country is ready to host or join any such meeting on implementing the ICJ ruling.

The Cambodia-Thai border issue was among the topics discussed during a series of ASEAN-organized meetings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in the past week.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told other participants that the United States continues ''to believe that ASEAN is the best venue to address issues between Thailand and Cambodia.''

''We encourage both sides to restrain from taking steps that would escalate into violence and instead focus on building mutual trust,'' she said at a U.S.-ASEAN meeting Friday.

BANGKOK, July 22 -- Thailand's caretaker Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday that Bangkok and Phnom Penh must hold a discussion before military withdrawal as ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In response to the ICJ's decision that both countries should allow observers from the Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN) into the area, the minister said Indonesian observer team will be assigned only after an agreement on troop withdrawal between the neighbors is reached.

The outgoing minister added that on July 25, the ministry will hold a meeting with the Defence Ministry to lay the framework for the matter.

Further details on the subject, however, will be rested with the new government which is expected to take the office in August.

Following the Cambodia's application in late April for reinterpretation of the ICJ's 1962 ruling and provisional measure, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 18 ordered both countries to remove their troops from disputed area.

The court went beyond Cambodia's request for immediate and complete withdrawal of Thai troops from the area, saying that both countries should allow observers from the ASEAN into the area to observe a cease-fire.

Indonesia, as the rotating chairman of the ASEAN, offered to deploy an observer team along Thai-Cambodian border following their first clash in February.

The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu temple was located in an area under Cambodian sovereignty. However, both sides have laid claim to some 4.6 square kilometer land surrounding the temple.

Tensions have mounted since 2008 when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization listed the temple as a World Heritage Site, triggering sporadic clashes along the border. In February, some 10 people were killed and thousands fled to makeshift camps in the clashes. (Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, July 22 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday rejected Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's partition of Cambodia-Thai's territory areas in the Provisional Demilitarized Zone (PDZ).

"We rejected Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's claim that the newly defined demilitarized zone covers the area of 17.3 square kilometers-- of the area, 8.8 square kilometers is Cambodian land and 8.5 square kilometers is Thai territory," said Hun Sen during a press briefing to express Cambodia's stance on the border issue with Thailand.

"Thailand uses its unilateral map to claim the area," he added.

"Base on the international recognized map, of the newly defined demilitarized zone, 14.363 square kilometers is Cambodian land and 3.025 square kilometers is Thai land," he said.

The premier said the newly defined demilitarized zone by the ICJ's order covers the area of 17.388 square kilometers. "As the area is larger, the number of Indonesian observers may be more than 15 people on each side," he said.

"Cambodia still sticks to its ground that Cambodian troops will leave the temple area after the arrival of Indonesian observers," he added.

"Cambodia will allow Indonesian observers to station wherever they want within the newly defined demilitarized zone," he said. "And we hope Thailand will also open up for Indonesian observers to station on its side."

Hun Sen said Cambodia on Thursday had sent a seven-point draft agreement to Thailand, Indonesia, The Hague, and the United Nations Security Council, hoping to sign it with Thailand in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) to define a demilitarized zone around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

The draft agreement includes: to inform the court on the details of its military personnel and their positions, as of 18 July, 2011, within the PDZ; to report to the Court on the status of any non-military activities as of July 18 2011 within the PDZ; to request the speedy assignment and dispatch of the Indonesian observer teams after the entry into force of this agreement; to cooperate with the Indonesian observer teams to determine the location on the ground of Points A, B, C and D of the PDZ; to draw up a timetable for the immediate withdrawal of all their respective military personnel from the PDZ;

The U.N. Court on Monday ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple, but did not set the deadline for the pullout. The Court's order was made after Cambodia, on April 28, submitted a petition for interpretation of Court's 1962 judgment along with a request for the indication of provincial measures.

The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as Thailand claims the ownership of 4. 6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides. (Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, July 22 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday the country has proposed an agreement with Thailand in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to define a demilitarized zone around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"On Thursday, we had sent the draft agreement to Thailand, Indonesia, The Hague, and the United Nations Security Council," he said during a press briefing to express Cambodia's stance on the border issue with Thailand.

According to the seven points of the draft agreement proposed by Cambodia, it said that with a view to implement the immediate withdrawal of all military personnel from the provisional demilitarized zone (PDZ) as defined in the ICJ's order, Cambodia and Thailand, in cooperation with the Indonesian observer teams, shall inform the court on the details of its military personnel and their positions, as of 18 July, 2011, within the PDZ.

With a view to ensure Cambodia's free access to the temple of Preah Vihear and to maintain normal administration within the PDZ, each party, in cooperation with Indonesia, shall report to the Court on the status of any non-military activities as of July 18 2011 within the PDZ.

After the entry into force of this agreement, both parties request the speedy assignment and dispatch of the Indonesian observer teams, on behalf of ASEAN, as indicated in the Court's order and as agreed in the statement by the ASEAN chair on Feb. 22 in Jakarta.

Once the Indonesian observer teams are in place, the parties shall cooperate with the Indonesian observer teams to determine the location on the ground of Points A, B, C and D of the PDZ.

Both parties, in cooperation with the Indonesian observer team, shall draw up a timetable for the immediate withdrawal of all their respective military personnel from the PDZ.

In accordance with the order, this agreement shall not prejudice the works of the General Border Committee and Joint Border Committee with a view to demarcate the border and assure security and order at the border.

The assignment of duties, responsibilities and terms of reference for the Indonesian observer teams and responsibilities of Cambodia and Thailand in facilitating the mission of the Indonesian observer teams shall be defined in a separate agreement to be signed between Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia, in accordance with the court's order.

"If the temple area is formed as the demilitarized zone, there will be no more bloodshed between the two nations," said Hun Sen. The U.N. Court on Monday ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple. (Xinhua)

SEOUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The South Korea government urged its people Friday to reduce electricity consumption as a recent surge in power use poses threat to the country's electricity supply.

"Rising power demand is inevitable due to economic growth, but one of the major factors of the recent spike in electricity demand is a surge in electricity consumption by households and buildings for air-cooling," Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Joong-kyung said in a news briefing.

Choi forecast the nation's power demand will reach a fresh record high in the second week of August amid a heat wave, saying that a 20 percent cut in power use for air-conditioners and fans can save about three million kilowatts of electricity.

The nation's maximum power demand amounted to 70.96 million kilowatts on Monday, breaching the last year's high of 69.89 million kilowatts tallied for the summer period. The previous record demand for electricity was 73.14 million kilowatts set at January 17 when abnormally cold weather boosted power use.

The ministry projected the electricity supply reserve to maintain 4.2 million kilowatts or 5.6 percent of the maximum power demand, during the summer, saying that it will take emergency measures when the reserve fall below the four million kilowatt level. Enditem

PHNOM PENH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that troop withdrawal from the newly defined demilitarized zone surrounding the 11st century Preah Vihear temple must be done simultaneously.

"The troop pullout must be done simultaneously, it's impossible that Cambodia withdraw its troops first," he said during a press briefing to express Cambodia's stance on the border issue with Thailand.

His remark came after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple ruins until Cambodian troops had left. He added that talks between the two sides are needed to discuss procedures to prevent any misunderstanding from occurring.

"We welcome negotiations with Thailand at anytime, anywhere and any levels of officials in order to speed up the process," said Hun Sen. "But the talks on the area defined by the court must be done with ASEAN participation at any cost."

He said the newly defined demilitarized zone by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order covers the area of 17. 388 square kilometers.

Cambodia on Thursday had sent a seven-point draft agreement to Thailand, Indonesia, The Hague, and the United Nations Security Council, hoping to sign it with Thailand in order to comply with the order of the ICJ to define a demilitarized zone around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"Cambodia still sticks to its ground that Cambodian troops will leave the temple area after the arrival of Indonesian observers," he added.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia issues a welcome press release the ICJ and blast Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva saying that the outgoing prime minister's attitude is a child. Abhisit said that Thailand troop would not be drawn until Cambodia pull out its military and Indonesia would not be allowed unless Cambodia pulls out its troops first.

Hun Sen said that the Thai outgoing PM has to have well organized words before speaking out and should not disturb a soon-to-be Thai Prime Minister Ying Lak.

- Tells Cambodian people that the troop withdrawal of Cambodia does not mean that the lost of ownership and rights of management but it means that the area will be non fight zone which is the mutual interests of the two nations.

- The ICJ's ruling is the enforcement of the international law.

-​ Cambodian government protects its sovereignty and peace which Cambodia and Thailand deserve to get in 21st century non bloodshed era.

- There is a 17.388 Km2 demilitarized zone.

- Abhisit's comments were completely different from the ICJ's ruling.

- When Indonesian monitors arrive we have to jointly demarcate Zones A,B,C to make the zone clear after the start troop withdrawals.

- We don't want to exploit some one, but what we want is peace for our people.

- Both sides discuss to deploy police or guards to prevent any loggings or crimes.

-​ The February 22 Decision is still effective but the package of May 9 Agreement was damaged.

- For demilitarize zone, Cambodia has three positions: Chak Chreng, Ta Sim and 5 Makara and Indonesia has the rights to choose the place wherever they want.

-​ Yesterday, Indonesia Foreign Affair Minister Mati Natalegawa, head of ASEAN, sent a draft agreement to both nations, but Thailand rejected. When it is sent to Cambodia confidentially, I asked Hor Namhong whether we should it to ICJ when the draft agreement was not accepted.

-The opposition in Cambodia keeps their eyes open, spoke without responsibility led to lost the election.

-​ I urge to have working team from Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia in order to speed up the process of troop withdrawal and Cambodia is ready to host any meeting to comply with the ICJ's rules.

- Cambodia opens doors for Thailand and Indonesia.

- Surin Pitsowan said that if the two sides agree on it, they should drop their case. It is a word of a child, and not as secretary general of ASEAN. Surin should say in term of Thai nations is better in the name of ASEAN.

- Cambodia is ready to pull out the 14 km2, because of protection the temple.