by Usa Pichai
Sunday, 19 July 2009 17:01
Phuket, Thailand (mizzima) – The situation in Burma and the Korean peninsula are on the agenda of the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting with their dialogue partners amidst stiff security measures in Phuket, the island province in southern Thailand.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva said on Friday that he will meet US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on July 21, to discuss issues of bilateral relationship and the Burma situation.
Vitavas Srivihok, Thailand’s Director-General of Department of ASEAN Affairs also said that the political situation in Burma and the Korean peninsula would be discussed in the summit but did not reveal the details.
He added that the bombing in Indonesia is evidence of continuing terrorism in Southeast Asia. “Our officials will follow it closely.” He said security in Phuket would be tightened further, after the incident in Indonesia.
He also pointed to the possibility of mass demonstration of the anti-government group that led to the cancellation of the previous ASEAN meeting in Pattaya, in April. “Even though the red-shirt (anti-government) group in Phuket said they would not interrupt the meeting but we have to careful about the troublesome group from outside the area.”
ASEAN Foreign Ministers also strongly condemned the bombings in Jakarta on 17 July 2009, which caused loss of innocent lives and led to injuries.
“We fully support the Indonesian Government’s effort to bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Indonesian Government and people, in particular to the victims and their families,” the statement released in the summit said.
The group added that ASEAN stands united with the government and people of Indonesia and remains steadfast in its continued fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Foreign ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries on Monday will discuss issues that include the formation of an ASEAN human-rights body and regional political and security issues. Later in the week they will meet their counterparts and their representatives from 17 other countries and the European Union for the PMC and ARF when Burma’s political situation and the problems in the Korean Peninsula will be raised.
Nyan Win, Burmese Foreign Minister also arrived in Phuket on Saturday to attend the meeting.
Among the participants are US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will attend the ARF.
Phuket has been placed under the Internal Security Act since July 10. The law was imposed on the island province in order to avoid the embarrassing mistakes committed in Pattaya.
However, the ASEAN Secretary-General, Surin Pitsuwan confirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the meeting.
“I can assure you all that Thailand’s preparation on the security arrangements is superb. I am most confident that the meetings will proceed without disruption,” said the Secretary-General, who arrived in Phuket on Thursday.
Security arrangements had never before been an issue for Thailand until the incident in Pattaya last April, which forced the cancellation of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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