Prolonged Talks Endanger Border: Analysts
Cambodian political analysts are worried that bilateral border talks with Thailand will not yield results, as Cambodia's neighbor conti
Cambodian political analysts are worried that bilateralborder talks with Thailandwill not yield results, as Cambodia'sneighbor continues to face a political crisis, and that continued delays couldlead to eventual fighting among troops on the border. Critics of bilateral talks say Cambodia should instead renew itsefforts for international intervention, including through the UN SecurityCouncil or Asean. Independent analysts Chea Vannath, founder of the Center forSocial Development, said in a recent interview that bilateral talks shouldnever have taken place and are unlikely to bring results now. "Under the present circumstances of political turmoil,I don't think the Thai government can make a proper decision," she said. "Wehave enough legal grounds from theHague International Court, which ruled the areabelongs to Cambodia.So we could go to the international community rather than sit in such bilateraltalks with Thailand." Cambodian and Thai troops have been deployed on the borderin several provinces, following an incursion by Thai soldiers into a pagodaclaimed by Cambodian near Preah Vihear temple in July. Opposition protesters are demanding the Thai prime minister,Samak Sundaravaj, step down, and last week the second foreign minister in twomonths resigned. At least one demonstrator has been killed in politicalviolence in Bangkok,and 43 have been injured. Thun Saray, president of rights group Adhoc, said that insuch an environment, Cambodiashould seek opinions from the opposition and civil society and begin to lobbydiplomats for multi-lateral negotiations. "The government should take different opinions from allCambodian circles, from within and outside the government, as well as civilsociety," he said. A lobby campaign with diplomats should "explainthat Cambodiahas already long acted in goodwill, but now bilateral talks have gonenowhere." Without a strong lobbying campaign with internationaldiplomats, complaints will produce little results, he added. Nor will relyingon Thailand'sbeneficence to solve longstanding border disputes. Prolonged deployment of soldiers along the border will meanincreased tension, as soldiers begin to feel bored, or if an accidentalexplosion occurs, he said. "We have waited long, so if it will take another yearand another, what can we do?" he said. "We should think reallyhard." Many of the soldiers along the border are former Khmer Rougefighters, with strong nationalist tendencies and "boiling hearts,"Chea Vannath said. Such conditions run a high risk of serious danger, she said. Chaturont Chaiyakam, first secretary of the Thai Embassy,declined to comment. However, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith expressedoptimism with bilateral negotiation so far and said he didn't expect the UN totake any action other than to tell both sides to settle the matter among eachother. "If we complain to the United Nations or the UnitedNations Security Council, what would the reply be?" he said. "They willsay, 'Both sides, please be tolerant and continue negotiations and solve the problempeacefully.' That's all." "We already know about it, so why should we do that andget them to admonish us?" he said. "We know the UN's principles. Insupporting Cambodia, theyare afraid Thailandwill feel upset. In supporting Thailand,they are afraid Cambodiawill feel upset. Seeking the UN's help is not as easy as they predict." Both sides have already withdrawn most troops from thepagoda at the center of the standoff, which lies just west of Preah Viheartemple, Khieu Kanharith said, adding that border issues are complicated andhave gone unresolved for more than 100 years. Negotiations over border demarcation move slowly, he said,but they must continue little by little, settling demarcation posts andavoiding armed conflict. He also acknowledged that Thailand's government will not beable to do anything while it is in crisis. Council of Minister spokesman Phay Siphan also saidbilateral talks had been encouraging so far. The government recognized thedemocratically elected prime minister, he said, and was working to show goodfaith before seeking multi-lateral solutions. "We are trying our best," he said. "This workis enormous, an international issue. Even national issues, such as a civil casein a national court, sometimes take more than a year. We have worked on thisjust more than a month, but we have worked quickly." Not everyone is as optimistic. Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said recently the talks hadfailed time and again, allowing for the border dispute to spread, from PreahVihear into other provinces, including the Ta Moan temple complex in OddarMeanchey province. "The longer they have negotiated with us, the more rightsthey have claimed on territory," he said. "Moreover, we seecontinuing negotiations make no sense, because it seems the [Thai] government willcollapse before long. So we should seek as many experts as possible to bringthe case to UN."