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Joint Statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the Situation on the Thai-Kampuchean Border
Bangkok, 25 June 1980 |
- The ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their serious concern over the act of aggression by Vietnam along the Thai-Kampuchean border and the intrusion of their troops into Thai territory. This irresponsible and dangerous act will have far-reaching and serious consequences and constitutes a grave and direct threat to the security of Thailand and the South East Asian region.
- They noted that on 23 June 1980, at about 5 a.m.,, after attacking the encampments of Kampuchean civilians along the Thai-Kampuchean border, Vietnamese forces intruded deep inside Thai territory and attacked Ban Non Makmoon village in Prachinburi province and occupied the village. At that same time, another group of Vietnamese forces moved into Thai territory at Ban Non Sao-E, South of Ban Non Makmoon, and clashed with Thai military forces. in these incidents, many innocent Kampuchean civilians and Thai villagers suffered heavy casualties before the intruders were repelled. in the afternoon of 24 June 1980, a Thai reconnaissance plane and a Thai helicopter were shot down inside Thai territory. According to latest reports, the fighting still continues in some areas. The nature of these attacks demonstrates clearly that they were premeditated and coordinated.
- The Foreign Ministers condemned these acts perpetrated by Vietnam and called on it to desist from -all such acts against Thailand.
- The Foreign Ministers registered their grave concern at the failure of the Vietnamese leaders to honour their repeated pledges to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand. These latest acts of aggression against Thailand have further undermined Vietnam's own credibility and have seriously undercut the trust and confidence which ASEAN has patiently attempted to forge with Vietnam.
- The Foreign Ministers were gravely concerned that these attacks would obstruct the repatriation of Kampuchean civilians carried out on a voluntary basis and in cooperation with the UNHCR. They reaffirmed that it is the legitimate right of these people -to return to their homeland to resume their livelihood, which is in full accord with humanitarian principles.
- The Foreign Ministers fully supported Thailand's actions in the exercise of her legitimate right to self-defense and the steps taken by Thailand at the United Nations. They also reiterated their urgent request to the United Nations secretary-general for the stationing of United Nations observer teams on the Thai side of the Thai-Kampuchean border.
- The Foreign Ministers agreed that any incursion of foreign forces into Thailand directly affects the security of the ASEAN member-states and endangers peace and security in the whole region. In this regard, they expressed ASEAN's firm support and solidarity with the government and people of Thailand in the preservation of Thai independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
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