Indonesian Observer Team For Thai-Cambodia Border

JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will carry out its long-delayed plan to send an observer team to the Thai-Cambodia border, in the wake of recent developments related to border disputes between the two countries. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said both countries have reaffirmed their wish to have an Indonesian observer team in the 4.6 sqkm provisional demilitarised zone, as a follow-up to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)ruling over the disputed area surrounding the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple. In its verdict July last year, the ICJ defined a provisional demilitarised zone from which both countries were required to withdraw their military personnel. Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia would try to update the terms of references on the team's deployment "to reflect the latest development", Marty was quoted in the Jakarta Globe Tuesday. "One possibility is that the Indonesian observer team will work with the Thai and Cambodian teams in carrying out their mission. The team will have a new task to ensure compliance in observing the provisional demilitarised zone," he said. Under the previous terms of reference, Indonesia was to have sent two teams to both sides of the border, with 15 unarmed observers each, to ensure that cease fire was maintained, but the plan was not effected. Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro announced the revival of the plan during a press conference after a meeting with the ministry's top brass Monday. Indonesian Armed Forces Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono also said that the team was ready for deployment as soon as the terms of reference were updated. -- BERNAMA