Thailand denies reported objection

INDONESIA: Thailand's Ambassador to Indonesia Atchara Seriputra has denied reports that his country has objected to a proposal by Indonesia to establish a regional peacekeeping force.

"It was a misquote; our minister has in principle agreed with the action plan for an ASEAN peacekeeping force," Seriputra said, as quoted by Antara on Monday.

He was referring to a Bangkok Post report that quoted Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Surakiart Sathirathai as saying that an ASEAN peacekeeping force was not necessary.

According to the minister, said Seriputra, the plan should be an evolving process considered on a case-by-case basis and be based on consensus.

The peacekeeping force was proposed by Indonesia as part of its ASEAN Security Community (ASC) concept, initially mooted by Indonesia last October at the ninth ASEAN Summit in Bali.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said recently that she was looking forward to a discussion on the creation of a regional peacekeeping force. --JP