Cambodian Entry into ASEAN

ASEAN - CAMBODIA AIMS TO JOIN - Timing is everything when it comes to membership.
12 December 1998
Bangkok Post

Cambodia wants to join Asean. Most of the members of the trade bloc agree the timing is right, but Thailand has reservations. The Kingdom's failure to show enthusiasm for Cambodia's entry may do little to improve relations between touchy neighbours.
Thailand's demand for proof of political stability in Cambodia before it joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations could lead to strained relations between the two countries.

The insistence on the fulfillment of the deal between two previous rivals, Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh, including the formation of a new government, underscores Thai concern about the possibility of another break-up of the government. Other aspects of the agreement brokered by King Norodom Sihanouk late last month are a constitutional amendment for the creation of an upper house and the appointment of senators.

Policy makers in Bangkok see the setting up of the new government after four months of impasse as a rushed effort by Phnom Penh designed to seize the chance for Asean membership offered by a supportive Vietnam which is hosting the event.
Thai policy-makers say there is no guarantee that the newly established administration will ensure a smooth co-existence between Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and Prince Ranariddh's Funcinpec.

Asean deferred admission of Cambodia in July last year because of the rupture between the two leaders when Hun Sen ousted his nemesis in a bloody coup.
Since the international community has washed its hands of Cambodia, exhausted by the political wrangling among Cambodians, membership of Asean remains the only bargaining chip to ensure that the two leaders work together to make the coalition government function well.

"It would be more appropriate for Cambodia to carry out its commitments and show that its new government can function first. Membership for Cambodia is a matter of when," a Foreign Ministry official said.

Other observers argue that Hun Sen will push for realisation of the deal soon, installing CPP veteran Chea Sim as the senate chairman, who will be empowered to work on behalf of the king during his absence.

Thai concerns are understandable because the Kingdom is the only country that will be directly affected by any new turmoil in Cambodia resulting from a collapse of the deal. Another conflict could mean the prince and opposition party members basing themselves in Thailand, with Bangkok becoming a centre for political campaigns against Phnom Penh. Thailand's border with Cambodia could again suffer from armed conflict.

The strategy for delaying Cambodia's Asean membership - possibly for another six months - has allied Thailand with Singapore, which questions the country's ability to fulfill commitments to Asean, and the Philippines, which is not satisfied with human rights problems there. Asean foreign ministers meet every July, with Singapore as the next host.

In talks due to begin during dinner last night, the three countries' foreign ministers have to convince supporters of Cambodia, which include Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam, to change their stance. Brunei has not made clear its position.

The foreign ministers of the nine-member organisations are in Hanoi to prepare agendas for the summit of their heads of government on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cambodia will take part in the proceedings as an observer until full membership is granted.

No matter what the talks achieve, the Thai strategy could sour relations with Cambodia.

There has been hardly any progress in Thailand's relations with Cambodia since the violent fighting in Phnom Penh in July 1997. Thailand has put most of its energy into tackling its own economic crisis and making sure that the election in Cambodia, which took place last July, went ahead with the participation of Prince Ranariddh and former finance minister Sam Rainsy.

Although Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said on Wednesday that Thailand's stance on Cambodian membership of Asean was not meant to interfere with the country's internal affairs, membership is what Cambodian leaders have been promised, and Phnom Penh could view the Thai position differently.

Phnom Penh could see it as a bid by Thailand to block Cambodia's re-entry into the global community, and this could lead to a failure to trust Thailand's sincerity in boosting ties between the two countries.

Hun Sen has been gauging Thai policy towards Cambodia since Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai returned to power in November last year, succeeding Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

Unlike Gen Chavalit, who used his military ties to foster relations with Cambodia, the position of Mr Chuan and his Democrat-led coalition government is unclear to Phnom Penh.

With Hun Sen's party taking control of key ministries, including that of foreign affairs, the Thai stance on Asean membership for Cambodia could be met with irritation in Phnom Penh.