ASEAN watches Cambodia<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
PETALING JAYA (JP): ASEAN signaled yesterday that Monday's
\nmeeting of the Cambodian National Assembly in Phnom Penh could be
\na benchmark for reconsidering the timing of Cambodia's entry into
\nthe grouping.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said after the
\nopening of yesterday's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that the
\ngrouping would watch Monday's development closely.<\/p>\n
\"We are watching to see the credibility of the process... As
\nsoon as we're satisfied and if they continue to wish to join
\nASEAN, then of course will give serious consideration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether it could happen this year, Mahathir said: \"It's
\npossible.\"<\/p>\n
Cambodia's entry into ASEAN Wednesday, unlike Laos and
\nMyanmar's, was postponed due to the political takeover by Second
\nPrime Minister Hun Sen from First Prime Minister Norodom
\nRanariddh.<\/p>\n
A last minute request by Cambodia to be admitted Wednesday was
\nrejected.<\/p>\n
Singaporean Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar said in his opening
\nspeech that: \"ASEAN had no choice but to delay Cambodia's
\nadmission. Any other decision would have diminished ASEAN's
\nreputation and standing.\"<\/p>\n
Jayakumar said \"the use of force to overthrow the established
\ngovernment is a legitimate concern of the international community
\nbecause it can also pose a threat to regional stability.<\/p>\n
\"While ASEAN cannot in principle forcibly intervene to right
\nany wrong, it can express its stand and undertake quiet,
\nconstructive diplomacy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fear<\/p>\n
Mahathir stressed it was important that members of the
\nCambodian National Assembly who went abroad after the political
\nturmoil should be allowed to return and take part in the meeting
\nwithout fear of persecution.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said Hun Sen must
\nprovide guarantees for the return of National Assembly FUNCINPEC
\nmembers loyal to Prince Ranariddh.<\/p>\n
\"There should be an arrangement for their safe return and a
\nguarantee they will not be persecuted once they're there,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The ministers also expressed eagerness to help resolve the
\ncrisis in Cambodia. They agreed the conflicting parties would
\nneed to work together.<\/p>\n
Alatas had earlier said the ministers could not yet describe
\nthe exact nature of help it was going to extend to Cambodia. He
\nalso reiterated the need for the coalition government to work
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
As for the possibility of a \"drastic change in government\",
\nnamely the replacement of the ousted Ranariddh during the
\nNational Assembly, Alatas said: \"It is not yet certain that a
\npremier election would take place because the assembly would also
\ndiscuss other matters such as the bill on the general elections.\"<\/p>\n
\"There's time to monitor the process... We'll see how the
\nassembly proceeds and then we'll reassess the implications of
\nwhat happens that day,\" he told the press. He said he has yet to
\nlearn the collective stance of ASEAN on the matter.<\/p>\n
\"We thought it would be conducive to the restoration of
\npolitical stability, the lessening of tension and mutual mistrust
\nand even hostility, if a credible if not mutually acceptable
\ncoalition government would take place.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
\ndecision to postpone Cambodia's admission had not been taken
\nlightly. The association was pondering on how best to resolve the
\nproblem \"given the principle of noninterference that ASEAN has
\nprescribed for itself\".<\/p>\n
Badawi said that whatever steps may be taken regarding the
\nassociation's contribution to help resolve the dispute,
\n\"uppermost in our minds should be ASEAN's own interest and the
\nrole it should play in promoting that interest\".<\/p>\n
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Ung Huot promised in his speech to
\n\"maintain political stability, bring about peace, democracy, the
\nrespect of human rights and the freedom of expression\".<\/p>\n
He said the situation in his country was neither a fight
\nbetween the two political parties or between the prime ministers,
\nnor was it a coup as many have alleged. \"It was a legitimate
\naction to prevent Cambodia from slipping into anarchy and a
\npossible second genocide,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hun Sen -- Page 6<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-watches-cambodia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }