By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press
UNITED NATIONS, February 14 -- Cambodia's request that the UN Security Council meet and send peacekeepers or at least observers to its border conflict with Thailand was at most half successful on Monday. A meeting was held, but the resulting Council press statement did not sent observers.
Rather, the UN Security Council deferred almost entirely to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is convening a meeting of the region's foreign ministers in Jakarta on February 22.
Inner City Press asked ASEAN chair Marty Natalegawa if his ability to mediate the conflict was hurt by the lack within ASEAN of procedures to expel or apply sanctions to a member. While ASEAN does not have those powers, Natalegawa replied ASEAN “member states... must behave in a certain manner.” Video here.
Since Cambodia's presentation to the Council said “Thailand used sophisticated weapons including cluster bombs,” Inner City Press asked Natalegawa what would happen within ASEAN to these charges. Ask the two foreign ministers, Natalegawa replied.
When Inner City Press asked Thai minister Kasit Piromya about Cambodia's charge, Kasit said “we deny all of that... we did not shoot first.” Video here.
Kasit said that Thailand gives money to Cambodia, and referred to as Mr. “Prescoe” UN Under Secretary General Lynn Pascoe, who skipped the stakeout that UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said would be held.
Natalegawa previously at UN, Cambodia requests not shown
The last speaker was Cambodia's deputy prime minister Hor Namhong. Inner City Press asked if he and Cambodia were disappointed that the UN Security Council did not grant the request for peacekeepers.
“We regret the Security Council did not send observers on the ground,” he said, before adding that Cambodia now counts on Natalegawa to keep the peace. Video here.
Inner City Press asked what actions Cambodia would ask ASEAN to take with respect with Thailand. The response was deferred until the February 22 ASEAN minister's meeting in Jakarta. Watch this site.
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