AOT Plays Crucial Role In Monitoring, Ensuring Success Of Peace Plan Between Thailand-Cambodia - PAT
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) will play a crucial role in monitoring and ensuring the success of the peace plan signed between Thailand and Cambodia, said Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Chief Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.
He said the AOT, comprising military personnel from ASEAN countries, was officially established through the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord (KL Peace Accord) and is tasked with ensuring that both countries fully implement four agreed-upon action plans to ease the border crisis between the two nations.
“They now have four main action plans that need to be implemented: repositioning heavy weapons back to their original locations, ensuring demining operations are fully carried out, relocating the 'scam centres' in Cambodia, and ensuring humanitarian missions are executed.
“All four plans must be implemented, only then will Thailand release the 18 Cambodian detainees they currently hold,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme here tonight.
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord was previously signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit on Oct 26.
Mohd Nizam said the AOT is a continuation of the Interim Observer Team (IOT) established earlier to monitor the initial stage of the ceasefire, and it will increase the military personnel contribution from ASEAN countries in both nations.
According to him, through the AOT, ASEAN countries will station 16 personnel in Thailand and 16 in Cambodia.
"We are awaiting confirmation for additional members from other participating countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei," he said.
He noted that ensuring both countries comply with the drafted peace plan is a major challenge for the ASEAN chairmanship, which will be assumed by the Philippines next year.
According to him, both countries need to have a high level of trust before implementing the agreed-upon steps, as the withdrawal of heavy weapons would leave their respective borders exposed to threats.
Mohd Nizam stressed that the effort to eliminate landmines in the border area is expected to take a long time, given that both countries must first agree on the sectors to be cleared before the demining process can begin.
“Until the mine clearance work is completely finished, the process of redemarcating the two countries' border area, which is one of the causes of the conflict, cannot be implemented,” he said.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been involved in a protracted dispute over the 817-kilometre border area, with the latest tension sparking a military confrontation on July 24.
On July 28, Anwar hosted a meeting in Putrajaya between Manet and Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, which successfully eased tensions along the two countries' border through an agreement to implement a ceasefire.
The ceasefire, described as a major ASEAN achievement, successfully prevented an escalation of the military conflict and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians.
-- BERNAMA
