10-Man ASEAN Observer Team In Cambodia To Monitor Ceasefire

TEN ASEAN military officers led by Malaysia as the ASEAN Chairman have departed to Cambodia as part of the mandate to set up an augmented Interim Observer Team (IOT) in order to monitor the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in light of its recent border disputes.

The team comprising 6 officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), and a pair each from Indonesia and the Philippines, led by the Malaysian Army’s Brigadier General Asri Shukor. The team was deployed via a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules airlifter from Subang Air Base.

Malaysia’s Joint Force Commander (JFC) Lieutenant General Zahani Zainal Abidin said, “The IOT was established at the invitation of the Cambodian government, while negotiations with Thailand are still ongoing. Malaysia, as the lead nation, has been mandated to coordinate this mission together with Indonesia and the Philippines. We are also working to involve Singapore and Brunei in the near future.”

The IOT would be stationed for three months at two locations in Cambodia–Preah Vihear and Banteay Meanchey which are less than 50 kilometres from the conflict zones with Thailand. The members would then conduct daily and weekly unarmed patrols to ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement. Aside from that, the team is entrusted with building a Terms of Reference (TOR).

“Like the United Nations (UN) observer teams, the IOT is unarmed and equipped only with four-wheel drive vehicles, radio communication systems, and other communication facilities necessary to carry out its observation and reporting duties professionally. This mission is temporary, with an initial deployment period of three months. However, it may be extended based on the situation on the ground and with the agreement of the host country, Cambodia,” he added.

Furthermore, the primary challenge for the IOT is to ensure its reports remain neutral and credible, particularly since the team is stationed on the Cambodian side of the border, while Thailand has yet to agree to receive the IOT. The IOT’s establishment underscores ASEAN’s solidarity in promoting peaceful solutions through dialogue, as well as impartial and professional monitoring.

“We have reminded all team members to ensure their reports are completely neutral and unbiased. This mission symbolises ASEAN commitment to supporting the peace process between the two countries. The MAF’s quick mobilisation of an observer team also demonstrates its high level of readiness and professionalism, comparable to international monitoring teams”.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:ADJ)