Cambodia unlikely to join ASEAN this week: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas expressed skepticism yesterday that Cambodia would officially join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week during the regional grouping's annual ministerial meeting.

"I think the time factor makes Cambodia's admission impossible, because we will receive Laos and Myanmar as full members on July 23," Alatas said after receiving New Zealand's Foreign Minister Don McKinnon.

Laos and Myanmar will officially join ASEAN at a special ceremony tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, the day before the organization's foreign ministers hold their annual meeting. ASEAN currently comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Cambodia's admission to ASEAN was postponed following the ouster of First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh by co- Premier Hun Sen in a bloody takeover on July 5.

Cambodia, however, retains its observer status at the meeting and has the right to address the association. Press reports said yesterday that Cambodia's Foreign Minister Ung Huot would attend the meeting.

Alatas said ASEAN would not take any new initiative to assist the Phnom Penh government find a solution to its problems because Hun Sen had clearly told the Association not to interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs.

"One of the clashing parties does not want our assistance, and that's final," Alatas said.

He did not rule out, however, the possibility of giving Cambodia full-member status later this year, such as when ASEAN celebrates its 30th anniversary on Aug. 8 or at the ASEAN informal summit in Kuala Lumpur in December.

"I hope the situation in Cambodia will make it possible (for them) to join us at the summit," he said.

Stressing ASEAN's intention not to interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs, as accused by Hun Sen, Alatas said:

" We do not mean to interfere. But there are drastic changes happening in Cambodia. Armed conflicts are involved and people have been killed," he said.

He said ASEAN had the right to take certain measures when regional security and stability could be affected by its neighbor's political turmoil.

"ASEAN has the right to judge whether Cambodia has the credibility to exercise its rights and obligations as a full member," Alatas said.

Postponement

Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted by Reuters as saying yesterday that the postponement of Cambodia's ASEAN membership was merely a temporary setback

"I see this merely as a temporary setback," Abdullah told an ASEAN congress of diplomats, academics and businessmen.

"I look forward to Cambodia joining the ASEAN family in the near future once the problems are resolved."

Ranariddh was in Singapore yesterday lobbying for support among ASEAN members. He denounced Hun Sen at the weekend for rejecting ASEAN's peace efforts.

"In rejecting ASEAN mediation, I think Hun Sen is isolating Cambodia by himself," Ranariddh told reporters in Bangkok. "Now I'm really afraid we'll again have civil war in my country." Ranariddh does not plan to go to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN meetings.

AFP, quoting Cambodian officials and sources, reported from Phnom Penh yesterday that troops loyal to Ranariddh have launched a counter-attack on a former northern base but failed to recapture it from rival forces.

About 20,000 Cambodian villagers were massing at a town near the border with Thailand following the latest fighting, the Thai military said. (06)

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