ASEAN Sec-Gen hopes PH will lead Cambodia-Thai peace accord implementation

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General  Kao Kim Hourn expressed hope Thursday that the Philippines, as next year's regional bloc chairman, will lead in the monitoring and implementation of the peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand.

"I hope the Philippines will continue on their role as ASEAN chair, as has been provided in the ASEAN Charter because that has to do with the emergency situation or a crisis situation in the region," Kao said during the 9th ASEAN Media Forum here.

"Because now we are moving from the Kuala Lumpur peace accord to the actual implementation," he added.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a ceasefire agreement on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 26.

Earlier this year, Cambodia and Thailand forces clashed along the disputed border which resulted in deaths of more than 30 people and displacement of 130,000 residents. It was considered as the worst fighting between Cambodia and Thailand in 13 years.

Kao said the implementation of the peace agreement "would require leadership on both side, of the two countries of course, and leadership of ASEAN."
  
"We want to make sure that ASEAN will remain peaceful, stable, and secure. I'm sure this is the wish of the ASEAN people. We have to subscribe to the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)," he said.

According to the ASEAN website, TAC is a legally-binding code established in 1976. It embodies universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation among States in Southeast Asia.

At present, there are 58 high-contracting parties to TAC.

"ASEAN should not engage (in violence), it should resolve the differences through peaceful means, and of course not to use force under any circumstances. This is very important for us," said Kao.

"We have to make sure that all high contracting parties, we have 58 now, they respect the spirit and letter of the TAC and one of which of course is the non-use of forces in the conduct of the relations," he reiterated. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News