By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 6 -- As fighting escalates between Thailand and Cambodia, the UN and its Security Council presidency did not answer questions on the matter, even after Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen wrote to demand an urgent meeting of the Council.
Inner City Press, which had asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesmen about the dispute starting February 4, asked the top two listed contacts at the UN Mission of Brazil, this month's Council president, to confirm the receipt and circulation to members of Cambodia's requests. More than 12 hours later, there was no response. Nor to detailed questions to Ban's two two spokesmen.
While one would expect the UN to be more responsive, perhaps this disinterest is related to the last time this border and temple dispute came to the Council, in 2008. Then, with fellow ASEAN member Viet Nam holding the Council presidency, pressure was brought to bear to keep the dispute at the national and regional level.
Finally, Viet Nam's Permanent Representative told Inner City Press, “Letter withdrawn.... problem disappear.” Will that happen this time?
Ban's spokesman on the morning of February 6 were asked this:
Does Ban Ki-moon agree that this UN affiliated process has increased tension and should be suspended? [Thai PM] “Abhisit said Thailand was attacked first so it had to respond. The country also viewed the areas around the Preah Vihear Temple as "very sensitive", therefore nothing should be done to increase the tensions between the countries. 'That means the World Heritage registration procedures [with regard to areas surrounding the ancient Hindu temple] should now be suspended. We have been warning the World Heritage Committee for quite some time,' Abhisit said.”
Twelve hours later, there was no response. Watch this site