ASEAN delays decision on Cambodian issue<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): ASEAN delayed a decision on when to let
\nCambodia join the organization yesterday but said the country's
\nadmission, deferred by recent political turmoil, was just a
\nformality.<\/p>\n
"Cambodia is part of Southeast Asia. The timing for actual
\nmembership is just a formality," Philippines Foreign Minister
\nDomingo Siazon said after a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said Norodom Ranariddh,
\nwho was ousted as First Prime Minister last month, remained "a
\nvery important figure as the leader of one of the political
\nparties" in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
But ASEAN would not challenge Second Prime Minister Hun Sen's
\nactions to arrest Ranariddh if he returned home, Alatas said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN postponed Cambodia's membership last month after Second
\nPrime Minister Hun Sen ousted Ranariddh after two days of bloody
\nfighting.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has stopped referring to exiled Ranariddh as Cambodia's
\n"first prime minister," saying yesterday the situation had
\nchanged with the election of another man to the post.<\/p>\n
After an emergency session, the nine ASEAN foreign ministers
\nsaid they had discussed the latest developments in Cambodia,
\n"including the election of ... Foreign Minister Ung Huot as first
\nprime minister," and were continuing their "efforts to restore
\npolitical stability in Cambodia".<\/p>\n
The use of the title for Ung Huot was significant.<\/p>\n
Previous ASEAN statements had continued to refer to the prince
\nas "first prime minister," even after co-premier Hun Sen, the man
\nwho ousted Ranariddh in a bloody takeover on July 5 and July 6,
\nsaid the prince no longer held that office.<\/p>\n
ASEAN issued a statement July 10 delaying Cambodia's entry
\ninto the group, criticizing the violence that accompanied the
\ncoup and referring to the prince as "first prime minister".<\/p>\n
Alatas, who heads ASEAN's three-man delegation to restore
\npolitical stability in Cambodia, explained the use of the title
\nonly after repeated questioning.<\/p>\n
He said the ASEAN delegation had pressed Hun Sen, in an Aug. 2
\nmeeting, to proceed with free and fair elections next May, in
\nwhich all political parties could participate.<\/p>\n
Ranariddh's participation remains problematic because Hun Sen
\ncontinues to insist that the prince must stand trial for treason
\nif he returns.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's problem of what to do with Cambodia is complex. It has
\nlong aimed to group all 10 Southeast Asian countries in what
\nwould be the world's fourth-largest trading bloc.<\/p>\n
But it does not want to appear to be siding with one of the
\nfactions in Cambodia's internal tussle.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's dilemma was further complicated Saturday by Cambodian
\nKing Norodom Sihanouk, who said he regarded Ung Huot as a puppet
\nand that his son, Ranariddh, was still premier.<\/p>\n
But the king, who reigns but does not rule, also authorized
\nacting head of state Chea Sim to appoint Ung Huot in Ranariddh's
\nplace.<\/p>\n
Siazon said it was unclear when Cambodia would join ASEAN.<\/p>\n
"There's really no answer to that. Later or sooner are really
\nrelative terms. It didn't happen today. It won't happen tomorrow.
\nIt depends on further developments," he said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Assault -- Page 7<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-delays-decision-on-cambodian-issue-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }