In a moment of
euphoria, “experts” could become blind and lose their intellectuality and
reasonableness leading them to express opinions devoid of common sense.
This was the case of
many “experts” including Teuku Rezasyah, a researcher at the Indonesian Center
of Democracy, Diplomacy and Defense who “are voicing concern that
incoming chair Cambodia may not do as well and may not use the office
neutrality to resolve its border dispute with Thailand,” as reported by
Mustaqim Adamrah in the Jakarta Post, Jakarta on Wednesday 23 November 2011
under the title “Can Cambodia match Indonesia’s good job at ASEAN’s helm?”
Mustaqim Adamrah also reported that Syamsul Hadi, University of Indonesia
International Relations expert had said: “It will probably be hard for
Cambodia not to use its chairmanship and to act as a fair chairman in border
disputes with Thailand.”
Cambodians sincerely
and proudly admire ASEAN for the job well done under Indonesia chair in 2011.
Doing well or not by ASEAN under the chairmanship of Cambodia depends largely
on the spirit of collaboration and trust among the member states, due to the
fact and reality that the foundation insuring the success of ASEAN in 2012,
namely ASEAN Charter, ASEAN and ASEAN Plus’ successive declarations, the
secretariat general and other functioning offices, and the long running ASEAN
agenda have remained undisturbed. Nine years ago, in 2002 through the process
of annual rotation of chairmanship among ten member states, and it was just
less than 4 years after the Kingdom of Cambodia achieved total peace, political
stability and internal security under the win-win policy of Samdech Akka Moha
Sena Padey Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister, ASEAN was under the chairmanship of
Cambodia and the success of ASEAN was acclaimed by all member states, regional
and world participants. Therefore, the said “Experts” should not have short
memory and should not have missed meaningful information in support of their
opinion.
Samdech Techo HUN SEN, in receiving
symbolically the ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship handed over by Indonesia last
week in Bali has officially reconfirmed the Royal Government of Cambodia
position by requesting Indonesia to
continue its role as the representative of ASEAN to solve the border conflicts between
Cambodia and Thailand under the framework of the International Court of Justice
(ICJ). The Bangkok Post published an article on 22 November under the title
“Thailand hands in border reports to ICJ” is fair enough to report the request
expressed by Samdech Techo HUN SEN during a meeting with Indonesia’s President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The
“experts” including Teuku Rezasyah and Syamsul Hadi should not have missed this meaningful piece of
information, and should not have expressed such a derogatory opinion doubting
Cambodia’s qualification to uphold the chairmanship’s neutrality in Cambodia’s
border dispute with Thailand. On the other hand it is extremely sad when those
who call themselves “experts” work frantically to transform the chairmanship of
ASEAN to be a contest for prestige among leaders of member nations. It is fully
appropriate to remind those unworthy “experts” the motto of ASEAN, that
is: One vision, one identity, one
community (Article 36 of ASEAN Charter)
25
November 2011
Press
and Quick Reaction Unit
Office
of the Council of Ministers
Royal
Government of Cambodia