Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hol

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Subject: Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hold

Monday July 7 
Cambodia fighting puts ASEAN on hold
BANGKOK, July 7 (UPI) _ The continuing power struggle in Cambodia has cast 
doubt on the country's early entry into the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN). 
The Nation newspaper today quotes Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn as 
saying that if Cambodia is not ready to join ASEAN as scheduled at a meeting 
in Kuala Lumpur on July 24 and 25, its entry could be delayed until later this 
year. 
The current seven members of ASEAN agreed earlier this year to admit Cambodia 
as a full member along with Laos and Burma. 
But three days of street fighting in Phnom Penh between forces of Cambodia's 
two rival prime ministers, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen, have made it 
doubtful that the country will be able to participate in the ASEAN meeting in 
Malaysia. 
Cambodian Foreign Minister Ung Huot, who was to have represented Cambodia's 
coalition government at the meeting, is a follower of Ranariddh. 
Ranariddh has fled Cambodia and his forces appear to be losing the power 
struggle against Hun Sen. 
Thai officials, meanwhile, say they are preparing to send four C-130 transport 
planes into Cambodia to evacuate 642 Thai citizens stranded in Phnom Penh.