RI Strives To Reconcile Thailand-Kambodia Tensions, Perform Diplomatically

Illustration of military forces in the midst of armed conflict. (Military_Material-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Deputy Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus said the Indonesian government is trying to reconcile Cambodia and Thailand, which are currently at war.

"We will see the steps from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will check to what extent. Because so far we have communicated," said Lodewijk when met at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Central Jakarta, Friday, July 25, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to Lodewijk, the government deeply regrets the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. According to him, if the conflict continues, the stability of security and the economy in the Southeast Asia region will have an impact.

To prevent this, Indonesia as part of the ASEAN community must take steps to reduce conflict.

"We will of course diplomatically approach the two countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate," explained Lodewijk.

However, Lodewijk did not explain in detail what method of approach had been carried out and what would be done in the near future.

On the other hand, Member of Commission I DPR RI Amelia Anggraini emphasized that the government should prepare anticipatory steps if the escalation of the Thai and Cambodian conflicts continues to increase, by strengthening the regional early detection system.

According to him, regional stability is a strategic asset for national development and national security. Do not let, he said, bilateral conflicts of neighboring countries develop into open conflicts that can spread to other countries.

"This is where Indonesia's leadership is tested, not only as a mediator, but also as a regional peacekeeper," Amelia said in Jakarta.

He said, Indonesia through peaceful diplomacy, both bilaterally and within the ASEAN framework, must encourage both countries to exercise restraint, open dialogue, and find peaceful solutions.

In fact, he said, Indonesia has a long experience as a peacekeeper in Southeast Asia, such as when resolving the Cambodian conflict in the late 1980s and in solving the Rakhine crisis in Myanmar.

On the other hand, according to him, the government needs to improve coordination with other ASEAN countries, and prepare scenarios for the evacuation of Indonesian citizens in affected areas if the situation worsens.

"Including the impact caused, especially regarding the flow of refugees, the ideological mix and economic factors," he said.