Time for ASEAN to act<\/p>\n
When government forces captured the last stronghold of troops
\nloyal to deposed co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Sunday,
\nit signaled Second Prime Minister Hun Sen's ascendance to de
\nfacto ruler of Cambodia.<\/p>\n
But fighting between warring factions could continue for
\nmonths. Hun Sen, in his bid to consolidate power, has pledged to
\nstamp out the dwindling Khmer Rouge rebels who have taken sides
\nwith Ranariddh in the current power struggle.<\/p>\n
Moreover, as Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy said
\nyesterday: \"O Smach may fall at any time because even steel can
\nbe pierced ... but there are likely to be many other O'Smachs all
\nover Cambodia which will show the determination of the Cambodian
\npeople to resist (Hun Sen's) tyranny.\"<\/p>\n
As a result, all previous efforts to bring peace and stability
\nto a war-torn Cambodia may have been to no avail. This is despite
\nthe work of the international community, including the United
\nNations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in the late 1980s and
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the early
\n1990s.<\/p>\n
Judging from the latest developments in Cambodia, it is high
\ntime for ASEAN to step in and, when necessary, exercise its
\ninfluence to solve the Cambodian problem. ASEAN, despite its
\npolicy of non-intervention in a country's internal problems, can
\nno longer remain a spectator.<\/p>\n
ASEAN could perhaps persuade or insist Hun Sen allow Ranariddh
\nto return and take part in the general elections, which are
\nscheduled for next May. The prince's return would be on the
\ncondition that he does not have to face trial for alleged illegal
\ncollaboration with the outlawed Khmer Rouge.<\/p>\n
If Hun Sen agrees, he will be demonstrating his solidarity to
\nASEAN. Cambodia would have become a member of the association had
\nit not been for the bloody ousting of Ranariddh early last month.<\/p>\n
The prince's return would also allow Hun Sen to show the
\ninternational community that the scheduled elections will be
\ncarried out freely and fairly. This would ease the tension among
\ncoalition factions and prompt them to iron out their differences
\npeacefully.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, therefore, should not hesitate to make a more concerted
\neffort and take concrete steps to help solve the Cambodian
\nproblem. Even if its actions are interpreted as intervention it
\nis, nevertheless, a constructive move which will benefit the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
In a world being condensed by globalization, no one country
\ncan solve its problems in isolation, especially if the problems
\ninclude armed conflict which threatens to spill-over and
\ncompromise the security of other nations.<\/p>\n
Although the number of Cambodian refugees who fled into
\nThailand was less than last decade -- between 21,000 and 30,000
\ncompared to some 400,000 in the late 1980s -- it is already a
\nburden for the Bangkok government.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's help and intervention, obviously, are needed to rein
\nin the armed conflicts.<\/p>\n
Cambodia's long history resembles a maze through which the
\ncountry has been stalked by successive revolutions and civil
\nwars.<\/p>\n
International and regional power politics must ensure that the
\ncurrent civil war does not escalate, thereby threatening peace
\nand security in the region.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-for-asean-to-act-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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