Malaysia adopts cautious stance over conflict

KL adopts cautious stance over conflict. Malaysia has adopted a cautious stance over the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, choosing to reserve further comment on the dispute amid the diplomatic and military tension between the two countries. In a meeting between Malaysian army chief Datuk Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (pictured) and Thai army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, Gen Zulkifeli "gave no opinions" on the issue, Gen Prayuth said yesterday. Gen Zulkifeli said he respects the decisions of both Thailand and Cambodia and that the problem would be solved mainly through bilateral talks as "Asean cannot force them to act" on the dispute, Gen Prayuth quoted him as saying. Meanwhile, Malaysia's charge d'affaires to Thailand described a remark made yesterday by Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot Jaem as "a misunderstanding". The Malaysian deputy minister accused Thailand in his comments to the media of reneging on its promise to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire in the 4.6-square-kilometre area near the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border. Thailand has insisted Phnom Penh must withdraw its troops from the disputed area so that the so-called "package solution", including the deployment of an Indonesian monitoring team, will be translated into action. Indonesia, this year's chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), has stepped in to broker talks between Phnom Penh and Bangkok following a series of border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops since late February. Although cross-border shelling has stopped over the past nine days, Thailand and Cambodia have retained their forces along the disputed border area. Fears of renewed fighting have kept villagers and tourists away from popular border spots including a market at Chong Jom border pass in Surin's Kap Choeng district. Ni, a Cambodian trader, said she has been unable to make any money after the fighting forced the closure of the market in late April. Although the market was reopened last week, the presence of soldiers in the area has driven away potential customers, she said. "I want the two countries to love each other," she said. "Why not speed up talks and withdraw the soldiers?".

Bangkok Post, 12/05/2011