DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodia imposed extra security and will make it a priority to ensure all Thai expatriates and their businesses are safe during weekend elections, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Friday.
Tensions are high between the two neighbours after the border temple of Preah Vihear was listed as Cambodia's second World Heritage site earlier this month.
Thailand mobilized troops on the border into what it claims is disputed territory and Cambodia claims is sovereign soil shortly thereafter. Cambodia responded in a military standoff that has dominated the news on both sides and stirred up nationalistic fervour.
'This is a political problem, so civilians should not be involved or suffer,' Kanharith said by telephone. 'We have security in place and Thailand has also advised its citizens through the embassy.'
Kanharith also urged Cambodians not to join a boycott of Thai-made products, saying it was counter-productive.
The boycott campaign has been spread by text messaging and anonymous advertisements in leading Khmer-language newspapers urging true Cambodian patriots to leave Thai products on the shelves.
In 2003 an angry Cambodian mob torched the Thai embassy and a number of Thai businesses over a false rumour a Thai actress had claimed Cambodia's other World Heritage site, the Angkor Wat temple complex, was Thai.
Kanharith said he was confident that would not happen again when Cambodians went to the polls in a national election Sunday.
On Thursday, the Thai embassy in Cambodia advised its nationals on evacuation strategies in case the situation worsened.
Tensions are high between the two neighbours after the border temple of Preah Vihear was listed as Cambodia's second World Heritage site earlier this month.
Thailand mobilized troops on the border into what it claims is disputed territory and Cambodia claims is sovereign soil shortly thereafter. Cambodia responded in a military standoff that has dominated the news on both sides and stirred up nationalistic fervour.
'This is a political problem, so civilians should not be involved or suffer,' Kanharith said by telephone. 'We have security in place and Thailand has also advised its citizens through the embassy.'
Kanharith also urged Cambodians not to join a boycott of Thai-made products, saying it was counter-productive.
The boycott campaign has been spread by text messaging and anonymous advertisements in leading Khmer-language newspapers urging true Cambodian patriots to leave Thai products on the shelves.
In 2003 an angry Cambodian mob torched the Thai embassy and a number of Thai businesses over a false rumour a Thai actress had claimed Cambodia's other World Heritage site, the Angkor Wat temple complex, was Thai.
Kanharith said he was confident that would not happen again when Cambodians went to the polls in a national election Sunday.
On Thursday, the Thai embassy in Cambodia advised its nationals on evacuation strategies in case the situation worsened.
3 comments:
We are friendly people and we won't do any shameful act on Thai civilians.
We just want to communicate to Thai people that they need to understand and accept the reality.
Your government shamefully invading our sovereignty. If both countries decided to go into war, victory will not probably all Thailand with that modern weapons. Cambodia also has modern weapons. The outcome would be somewhat bitter for both sides. You already experienced with war in the northern part of your country, was it good or bad? But now it is country and country confrontation. Do you want to continue with peace in your country and ask your government to withdraw troop? We Cambodians have no problem with this - we had been in the war for long time.
Dear Thai,
I believe that we, Cambodians, would have never harmed or will harm you or your benefits, but you always harm us, want to kill and destroy us like this time. Do you know that we are suffering because of you and your stupid people!!
My people at this time, just boycott of your products is so good enough for Thai!! We will do more than this if you still claim aggressively, violently about Preah Vihear temple!!
Please remember that we, Khmers will not let you, Thai, to take any piece of land or speak out a word that violate our country again. Otherwise, you, Thai,will be destroyed completely like your evil heart destroyed your good heart!! As you see in previous release about the heart of our soldiers, they really want to eat your blood!!
Please Thai, accept the reality, that what we want from you!!
Angkor-Khmer
Yes, 10.01pm:
My friends here are waiting to eat Thai blood too, if government lets us to so, even myself will close my business and go with all my friends to eat Thai.
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