ASEAN watches Cambodia
ASEAN watches Cambodia
By Santi WE Soekanto
PETALING JAYA (JP): ASEAN signaled yesterday that Monday's
meeting of the Cambodian National Assembly in Phnom Penh could be
a benchmark for reconsidering the timing of Cambodia's entry into
the grouping.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said after the
opening of yesterday's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that the
grouping would watch Monday's development closely.
"We are watching to see the credibility of the process... As
soon as we're satisfied and if they continue to wish to join
ASEAN, then of course will give serious consideration," he said.
Asked whether it could happen this year, Mahathir said: "It's
possible."
Cambodia's entry into ASEAN Wednesday, unlike Laos and
Myanmar's, was postponed due to the political takeover by Second
Prime Minister Hun Sen from First Prime Minister Norodom
Ranariddh.
A last minute request by Cambodia to be admitted Wednesday was
rejected.
Singaporean Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar said in his opening
speech that: "ASEAN had no choice but to delay Cambodia's
admission. Any other decision would have diminished ASEAN's
reputation and standing."
Jayakumar said "the use of force to overthrow the established
government is a legitimate concern of the international community
because it can also pose a threat to regional stability.
"While ASEAN cannot in principle forcibly intervene to right
any wrong, it can express its stand and undertake quiet,
constructive diplomacy," he said.
Fear
Mahathir stressed it was important that members of the
Cambodian National Assembly who went abroad after the political
turmoil should be allowed to return and take part in the meeting
without fear of persecution.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said Hun Sen must
provide guarantees for the return of National Assembly FUNCINPEC
members loyal to Prince Ranariddh.
"There should be an arrangement for their safe return and a
guarantee they will not be persecuted once they're there," he
said.
The ministers also expressed eagerness to help resolve the
crisis in Cambodia. They agreed the conflicting parties would
need to work together.
Alatas had earlier said the ministers could not yet describe
the exact nature of help it was going to extend to Cambodia. He
also reiterated the need for the coalition government to work
together.
As for the possibility of a "drastic change in government",
namely the replacement of the ousted Ranariddh during the
National Assembly, Alatas said: "It is not yet certain that a
premier election would take place because the assembly would also
discuss other matters such as the bill on the general elections."
"There's time to monitor the process... We'll see how the
assembly proceeds and then we'll reassess the implications of
what happens that day," he told the press. He said he has yet to
learn the collective stance of ASEAN on the matter.
"We thought it would be conducive to the restoration of
political stability, the lessening of tension and mutual mistrust
and even hostility, if a credible if not mutually acceptable
coalition government would take place."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
decision to postpone Cambodia's admission had not been taken
lightly. The association was pondering on how best to resolve the
problem "given the principle of noninterference that ASEAN has
prescribed for itself".
Badawi said that whatever steps may be taken regarding the
association's contribution to help resolve the dispute,
"uppermost in our minds should be ASEAN's own interest and the
role it should play in promoting that interest".
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Ung Huot promised in his speech to
"maintain political stability, bring about peace, democracy, the
respect of human rights and the freedom of expression".
He said the situation in his country was neither a fight
between the two political parties or between the prime ministers,
nor was it a coup as many have alleged. "It was a legitimate
action to prevent Cambodia from slipping into anarchy and a
possible second genocide," he said.
Hun Sen -- Page 6