JAKARTA: Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Friday rejected a Thai demand to withdraw troops from an 11th-century Khmer temple at the disputed border, saying Bangkok was not sincere about peace. “We never can withdraw our troops from our own territory. That should be very clear,” Hor Namhong told reporters after a meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. The Indonesians are trying to broker a ceasefire and the deployment of neutral military observers to the flashpoint area on the Thai-Cambodian border where some 18 people have died in fighting in recent months. The issue is likely to be discussed at a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders in Jakarta starting on Saturday, where plans for a more closely integrated regional community will top the agenda. “Non-development, non-progress, lack of development, the status quo is not an option,” Natalegawa said after meeting his counterparts from both countries. “We're seeing a status quo meaning exchange of fire and artillery as we talk about ASEAN community. That's not quite right. There's something wrong if we keep on doing this,” he said. Both countries have accused each other of sparking the violence, which centers on territory around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, the most celebrated example of ancient Khmer architecture outside Cambodia's Angkor. The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6 square kilometers surrounding area. The temple was granted UN World Heritage status in 2008. Cambodia has previously denied it has troops stationed at Preah Vihear itself, although it has soldiers in the contested area. The neighbors agreed in late February to allow Indonesian observers near Preah Vihear, but Thailand has been dragging its feet on their deployment as fighting continues. “The problem is the willingness of Thailand to accept the observers or not – that is the real problem,” Hor Namhong said. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not speak to reporters after his talks with Natalegawa and did not meet directly with his Cambodian counterpart. – Agence France
