DPA
Siem Reap - Discussions over the ancient Preah Vihear temple stalled on Monday afternoon, Cambodian delegates said, adding that the prognosis for a bilateral solution was not good.
A senior Cambodian official who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed part of the problem for his side was the inexperience of the newly appointed Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnang.
"Cambodia is not happy. Neither side is happy," the Cambodian diplomat said. "On the Thai side, the new foreign minister has not enough capacity to talk with the veteran Cambodian Foreign Minister."
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has held the post for decades. A seasoned diplomat, he is not known for giving ground.
The two sides of six delegates moved into a third phase of talks late Monday, hours after they had been scheduled to end.
Shortly after the Preah Vihear temple was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO this month, Thailand moved troops into what it calls a disputed area that Cambodia maintains is its territory.
The 11th-century temple is sacred to Thais and Cambodians but only easily accessible from Thailand. Cambodia closed the border in June, saying it feared trouble after Thai protests.
Both sides have said they would not back down on the issue, which has voter nationalism running high.
Cambodia held national elections Sunday, returning the current government with an increased majority, but the Thai government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej remains under pressure.
Meanwhile troops in Preah Vihear, around 300 kilometres from the capital, were increasingly restless and a troop buildup continued.
"I am former Khmer Rouge. I am not used to sitting around. I am used to attacking my enemy," said Khun Sarath, 57. "I am ready to fight the Thai invader as soon as the government gives the word."
The Cambodians have said the word will not come and the next step will be mediation at the United Nations if bilateral talks fail. A total alcohol ban is in force around the temple to curb the enthusiasm of fighters like Sarath.
In 2003 an angry mob torched the Thai embassy and some businesses over a false rumour that a Thai actress had claimed another temple, Angkor Wat, was Thai, and Cambodian officials have said they are determined that such a diplomatic disaster will not be repeated.
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Earlier report:
No progress was reported on Monday from bilateral talks on the flashpoint Preah Vihear temple despite the presence of new Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, reports from Siem Reap say.
Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian nations expressed optimism that their talks would produce a breakthrough in the dispute.
But midway through the talks Monday in Siem Reap, the mood was tense and progress remained elusive, officials said.
"We have discussed many points but we have not reached a solution yet," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.
A senior Cambodian official who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed part of the problem for his side was the inexperience of the newly appointed Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnang.
"Cambodia is not happy. Neither side is happy," the Cambodian diplomat said. "On the Thai side, the new foreign minister has not enough capacity to talk with the veteran Cambodian Foreign Minister."
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has held the post for decades. A seasoned diplomat, he is not known for giving ground.
The two sides of six delegates moved into a third phase of talks late Monday, hours after they had been scheduled to end.
Shortly after the Preah Vihear temple was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO this month, Thailand moved troops into what it calls a disputed area that Cambodia maintains is its territory.
The 11th-century temple is sacred to Thais and Cambodians but only easily accessible from Thailand. Cambodia closed the border in June, saying it feared trouble after Thai protests.
Both sides have said they would not back down on the issue, which has voter nationalism running high.
Cambodia held national elections Sunday, returning the current government with an increased majority, but the Thai government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej remains under pressure.
Meanwhile troops in Preah Vihear, around 300 kilometres from the capital, were increasingly restless and a troop buildup continued.
"I am former Khmer Rouge. I am not used to sitting around. I am used to attacking my enemy," said Khun Sarath, 57. "I am ready to fight the Thai invader as soon as the government gives the word."
The Cambodians have said the word will not come and the next step will be mediation at the United Nations if bilateral talks fail. A total alcohol ban is in force around the temple to curb the enthusiasm of fighters like Sarath.
In 2003 an angry mob torched the Thai embassy and some businesses over a false rumour that a Thai actress had claimed another temple, Angkor Wat, was Thai, and Cambodian officials have said they are determined that such a diplomatic disaster will not be repeated.
------------
Earlier report:
No progress was reported on Monday from bilateral talks on the flashpoint Preah Vihear temple despite the presence of new Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, reports from Siem Reap say.
Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian nations expressed optimism that their talks would produce a breakthrough in the dispute.
But midway through the talks Monday in Siem Reap, the mood was tense and progress remained elusive, officials said.
"We have discussed many points but we have not reached a solution yet," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.
7 comments:
Is Cambodia is going to talk with the Thai until they are happy?
They will be happy when they get our land.
And they know our answer about this.
Go back to UN and see if this time they our in disposition to intervene.
Right now they are condoning with the invasion Cambodia by the Thai.
It's amazing how the smart people of the UN can let this happens. Right they are not even aware that they creating a precedence by not intervening in this affair.
In the future the UN will lose a lot of credibility because of this affair.
"... the new Thai foreign minister has not enough capacity to talk with the veteran Cambodian Foreign Minister."
Haha, shame on you siamese. The criminals are NOT being blessed with wisdom. And the criminals will be condamned. Down with siam.
The UN and international community already lost their credibility to many countries that don't have much power. Look at what happened in Rwanda during 1994; the UN withdrew its troops after they got the order from the USA because they don't want more of their white citizens to die. Instead, they left the mass killing to occur within the Rwandans which known as the genocide. Basically, the USA has power over the UN and the USA has stronger relationship with Thailand than our nation, Cambodia. For now, we have to go to the UN other another powerful third party to solve this issue, otherwise start killing ah greedy siam armies if we have to and we'll go to the international court later. All Khmer People please stay strong together to get our lost territory back from both ah Siam and Youn!!!
I know all that but it the right way to do thing. We don't want to do like the Thai, a joyous outlaw.
Still the UN need to wear their pants, running around naked like the last time they reject our request, is not very inspiring.
What Hor Nam Hong experiance exept stay put untill a new order from Hanoi is comming!
How experiance and not giving ground mean id no third party judges!
Only two talk in thr jungle the one with big sticj=k will win, fool head!
It is time to stop all the fucken talking by showing some concrete action such as for the Thai government to withdraw their troop from Cambodian territory! Talking too much won't get anything done!
Now go do the right!
before any bilateral talks or whatever can take place, cambodia demands that thailand must respect the treaty of 1907 and the icj verdict that had used this this treaty for its decision. if thailand cannot respect the international law that governs this treaty, then no bilateral talks or whatever is agreed to by cambodia. look, we don't want to share our preah vihear with thailand, period, given they can't even respect the treaty of 1907, let alone the icj verdict. for cambodia, yes, this is the foundation of the problem, thus thailand cannot choose to ignore it. if thailand continue to ignore it, then don't expect anything much from cambodia i.e. bilateral talks or whatever they want to call it. a rose by any other names is still smell like a rose!!!! cambodia, settle this with the UN council as talks with thailand is cheap and produce nothing other than their illegal demand as they use emotional drama over the rule of the international law. any new maps that will be used in this bilateral talks or whatever must be based on the treaty of 1907 and the icj verdict because that was the map that cambodia recognized and was officially concluded. any other newer maps, which for one is so unilaterally redrawn and without international recognition, therefore, is not lawful with cambodia. as a result don't expect cambodia to go with that. thailand's unilateral redrawing of this border map is the real problem for cambodia, and we cannot accept that. case closed!!!!! see you at the UN's international court of justice again!!! god bless cambodia.
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