ASEAN Statement on Kampuchea Conflict (1985)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a statement in Kuala Lumpur on January 10, 1985 concerning the military situation along the Thai-Kampuchean border as follows:
ASEAN deplores the escalation of the fighting along the Thai-Kanpuchean border which has led to the exodus of tens of thousands of Kampuchean - refugees into Thailand thus exacerbating further the already adverse refugee situation in that country, and inflicting untold suffering and hardships on these unfortunate refugees. ASEAN further deplores the recurrent incursions into Thai territory by Vietnamese forces, in violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and established rules of international relations.
The current military actions by Vietnam once again reveal the utter disregard by Vietnam of the weight of international opinion which has over-whelmingly rejected Vietnam's policy of continued military occupation of Kampuchea. They demonstrate Vietnam's single-minded but futile pursuit of a "military solution" .of the Kampuchean problem and make a mockery of its protestations of peaceful intentions and desire to seek a negotiated settlement of the problem.
ASEAN once again calls on Vietnam to take heed of the clearly expressed desire of the international community for an early and comprehensive political settlement of the Kampuchean problem through negotiations and abandon its policy of military occupation of Kampuchea once and for all. Only if Vietnam abides by the expressed will of the international community and the wishes of the Kampuchean people for the restoration of their rights to a sovereign, independent and non-aligned nation would Vietnam be able to end its present isolation and redeem its much-vaunted credentials as a champion for independence and freedom.