ASEAN delays decision on Cambodian issue

ASEAN delays decision on Cambodian issue

SINGAPORE (Agencies): ASEAN delayed a decision on when to let Cambodia join the organization yesterday but said the country's admission, deferred by recent political turmoil, was just a formality.

"Cambodia is part of Southeast Asia. The timing for actual membership is just a formality," Philippines Foreign Minister Domingo Siazon said after a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said Norodom Ranariddh, who was ousted as First Prime Minister last month, remained "a very important figure as the leader of one of the political parties" in Cambodia.

But ASEAN would not challenge Second Prime Minister Hun Sen's actions to arrest Ranariddh if he returned home, Alatas said.

ASEAN postponed Cambodia's membership last month after Second Prime Minister Hun Sen ousted Ranariddh after two days of bloody fighting.

ASEAN has stopped referring to exiled Ranariddh as Cambodia's "first prime minister," saying yesterday the situation had changed with the election of another man to the post.

After an emergency session, the nine ASEAN foreign ministers said they had discussed the latest developments in Cambodia, "including the election of ... Foreign Minister Ung Huot as first prime minister," and were continuing their "efforts to restore political stability in Cambodia".

The use of the title for Ung Huot was significant.

Previous ASEAN statements had continued to refer to the prince as "first prime minister," even after co-premier Hun Sen, the man who ousted Ranariddh in a bloody takeover on July 5 and July 6, said the prince no longer held that office.

ASEAN issued a statement July 10 delaying Cambodia's entry into the group, criticizing the violence that accompanied the coup and referring to the prince as "first prime minister".

Alatas, who heads ASEAN's three-man delegation to restore political stability in Cambodia, explained the use of the title only after repeated questioning.

He said the ASEAN delegation had pressed Hun Sen, in an Aug. 2 meeting, to proceed with free and fair elections next May, in which all political parties could participate.

Ranariddh's participation remains problematic because Hun Sen continues to insist that the prince must stand trial for treason if he returns.

ASEAN's problem of what to do with Cambodia is complex. It has long aimed to group all 10 Southeast Asian countries in what would be the world's fourth-largest trading bloc.

But it does not want to appear to be siding with one of the factions in Cambodia's internal tussle.

ASEAN's dilemma was further complicated Saturday by Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, who said he regarded Ung Huot as a puppet and that his son, Ranariddh, was still premier.

But the king, who reigns but does not rule, also authorized acting head of state Chea Sim to appoint Ung Huot in Ranariddh's place.

Siazon said it was unclear when Cambodia would join ASEAN.

"There's really no answer to that. Later or sooner are really relative terms. It didn't happen today. It won't happen tomorrow. It depends on further developments," he said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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