ASEAN ministers meet on Cambodian elections

ASEAN ministers meet on Cambodian elections

MANILA (AFP): Thai and Indonesian foreign ministers arrived here Saturday for a meeting with their Philippine counterpart to discuss upcoming elections in strife-torn Cambodia with the Thai minister calling for flexibility among rival factions.

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan told reporters minutes after arriving on a commercial flight, that "the rigidity of all sides is... a problem for reconciliation."

"All sides will have to be flexible," he added before proceeding to a luxury hotel where the meeting will take place.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who arrived a little more than an hour later, would not comment on the meeting except to say, "let's see how the talks go."

The two ministers, along with Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon, have been tasked by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deal with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The three ministers will be meeting later Saturday and on Sunday, the three will hold expanded talks with foreign ministry representatives from the United States, Australia, Japan and a few other countries belonging to a group called Friends of Cambodia.

Surin warned that "time is running short for the elections," which has been set for July 26.

"We want the process of electoral mechanisms to be in place so elections will be free and fair," Surin said, adding "otherwise, it won't be the mechanism to resolve the problem."

He also repeated remarks of ousted Cambodian first prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh who had said in Bangkok that he would return to Cambodia for the elections despite threats of arrest.

"Ranariddh has already said that he has decided to return... and (is) willing to face any obstacle," the Thai foreign minister said.

Surin said the United Nations had provided a series of guarantees for Ranariddh's safety but added that "it's up to him" to return or not.

Ranariddh earlier said that Thailand fully supported his plan to return home to contest the elections, saying he would go back "as early as possible" even if he faces arrest.

Hun Sen has said the prince must be arrested and tried for a range of crimes, including illegal arms importation if he returns.

The three ministers are expected to discuss the proposed date of the elections, July 26, and the refugee problem created by the continued fighting between forces loyal to Hun Sen and Ranariddh, Siazon earlier said.

They are also expected to talk about a possible cease-fire, the participation of the exiled Ranariddh in the elections and reports about splits within his royalist FUNCINPEC party.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Stanley Roth is already in the Philippines to take part in the expanded meeting with the Friends of Cambodia, the U.S. embassy said.

Cambodia was originally scheduled to join ASEAN last year, along with Myanmar and Laos but Ranariddh's violent ousting by Hun Sen and the outbreak of fighting, derailed its acceptance into the group.

"It's still our responsibility to try to find a sustained resolution to the conflict," Surin said.

ASEAN's membership included Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with Laos and Myanmar joining last year.