Cambodia's Information Minister Khieu Kanharith speaks to the media during a news conference in Phnom Penh July 24, 2008. Cambodia accused Thailand on Thursday of sending more troops to their joint border as a smoldering dispute over a 900-year-old temple showed no signs of easing. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 July 2008
Cambodia has agreed to postpone its complaint to the UN Security Council over a military border crisis, pending a bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Siem Reap Monday.
The agreement follows a phone conversation between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Thursday and came as heavily armed troops on both sides were positioned at various points along the Thai-Cambodia border.
A government spokesman meanwhile called for both Cambodian and Thai troops to return as soon as possible to positions they held near Preah Vihear temple two weeks ago, to avoid an eruption of violence along the border.
"The stance of the Cambodian government is that we want both sides, Cambodia and Thailand, to return to the situation [as it was] before July 15, because if the troops from both sides stay together it is not good, and a problem will erupt," government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters in Phnom Penh. "If the situation is not returned to the way it was before July 15, there could be an explosion, and we wouldn't be able to avoid fighting each other."
As the crisis entered its ninth day, Thai and Cambodian troops had been deployed along the border near Anlong Veng and O'Smach districts, Oddar Meanchey province, Oddar Meanchey Governor Pich Sophin said.
An increasing number of Thai soldiers have been sent to areas on the border of Banteay Meanchey province, near Poipet, but the international crossing remains open, Banteay Meanchey Governor Ung Ouern said.
Officials say the build-up includes tanks, artillery and the arming of Thai villagers along the border. Up to 4,000 troops from both sides have been deployed.
Khieu Kanharith said Thursday Cambodia had 800 troops on the border, but Cambodian commanders say the number is closer to 1,500.
Cambodia also wants the withdrawal of Thai troops from Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, because their presence there could lead to later claims to the territory by Thailand, Khieu Kanharith said.
Thai Embassy officials declined to comment Thursday.
Thailand maintains the pagoda was illegally built on Thai territory against agreements made between the two countries in border negotiations in 2000.
Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh made a brief visit to the disputed area Thursday.
After the visit, he concluded the situation was still peaceful, but he urged both sides to remain calm.
The Cambodian side will maintain sufficient troops on the border to protect Preah Vihear temple, he told VOA Khmer.
The agreement follows a phone conversation between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Thursday and came as heavily armed troops on both sides were positioned at various points along the Thai-Cambodia border.
A government spokesman meanwhile called for both Cambodian and Thai troops to return as soon as possible to positions they held near Preah Vihear temple two weeks ago, to avoid an eruption of violence along the border.
"The stance of the Cambodian government is that we want both sides, Cambodia and Thailand, to return to the situation [as it was] before July 15, because if the troops from both sides stay together it is not good, and a problem will erupt," government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters in Phnom Penh. "If the situation is not returned to the way it was before July 15, there could be an explosion, and we wouldn't be able to avoid fighting each other."
As the crisis entered its ninth day, Thai and Cambodian troops had been deployed along the border near Anlong Veng and O'Smach districts, Oddar Meanchey province, Oddar Meanchey Governor Pich Sophin said.
An increasing number of Thai soldiers have been sent to areas on the border of Banteay Meanchey province, near Poipet, but the international crossing remains open, Banteay Meanchey Governor Ung Ouern said.
Officials say the build-up includes tanks, artillery and the arming of Thai villagers along the border. Up to 4,000 troops from both sides have been deployed.
Khieu Kanharith said Thursday Cambodia had 800 troops on the border, but Cambodian commanders say the number is closer to 1,500.
Cambodia also wants the withdrawal of Thai troops from Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, because their presence there could lead to later claims to the territory by Thailand, Khieu Kanharith said.
Thai Embassy officials declined to comment Thursday.
Thailand maintains the pagoda was illegally built on Thai territory against agreements made between the two countries in border negotiations in 2000.
Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh made a brief visit to the disputed area Thursday.
After the visit, he concluded the situation was still peaceful, but he urged both sides to remain calm.
The Cambodian side will maintain sufficient troops on the border to protect Preah Vihear temple, he told VOA Khmer.
9 comments:
In the past, Khmer lost its land to Thai due to Khmer leaders listen to pathetic words of Thai leaders. In the war at Angkor, Khmer leaders sympathetically accommodate unfortunate, but deceitful, Thai army. Soon after that Khmer lost the war to Thai because of that blind sympathy. Khmer, once, kindly sent troop to help Thai fight with Burma. Soon after that, tired Khmer was destroyed by Thai. Later wars, Thai said Thai help Khmer to protect Khmer land from Vietnam invasion. But, Khmer lost more and more land to Thai.
Now, Thai seem to play that similar trick with Khmer Leaders. Thai leaders are whining that they have a lot of problem to solve. But, their god sack of problems, they INVADE Cambodia. Thai already won the first round of their trick. Postpone the petition with UNSC and next bilateral talk is the expense of Cambodian Interest.
Current Cambodian Leaders seems to fall into that trick and repeat the history.
Remember Thai the history will not repeat it.This is 21 Century do you understand.The world play by rule,Please don't break the rule.
How much 4.6KM square at Preah Vihar Temple was? Let’s talk about DOLLARS only, regardless of sovereignty, cultural, and other values.
4.6 km square is 4,600,000 meter squares. If this area was developed it would be one of the hottest tourist destinations. Let’s compare: The hottest land in Cambodia reached $3,000 par 1 meter square. This partial of land will worth US$ 13,800,000,000.00 with this price. Yes, baby, yes, almost US$14 billion. Let‘s continue our dream. If Cambodian Government imposes 1% property tax on this partial, it would generate $138 millions a year. One more thing I want to address: this land is not depleted like under water oil along the Cambodian shore.
Oh! God! Buddha! Jesus! Allah! That is why Thai wants it without shameful action.
And that is why you monkeys stole it from Khmer Leu in Issan Province, but that will not happened.
Khmer Leu, Khmer Krom, and Khmer Center are all Khmer. Thai is a thief and is not affiated with Khmer.
We don't care what you called them, but their temple where they've lived for centuries had been stolen from the monkey in Cambodia.
well, if that is the pattern or case, then all khmer leaders, present and future to come must learn from the tragic past and adopt to new and better stragedy for our national interest, not just for own political ambition. anyway, that was history already. i hope and wish khmer leaders are better eduated about the mistakes past leaders made and reform a little as to accommodate to be better than the past. you know, we are human being first, put aside political status for a while so we can see this better, and all human being are resilient and we all can learn from our past mistakes, and we all can perservere and have self-discipline if we are to call ourselves a leader because without this, we are all the same. so, please live up to our name because not everyone is capable leader, however if they are smart and are open-minded we will be likable and people will also look up to us for advise, for example, etc...
anyway, also important is that we must be willing to take constructive criticism as well. i mean, it is ok to blame the past, however, the present is what count. we must avoid the mistake of the past leader with all cost if we don't want to walk in the same destructive path again. god bless cambodia.
PS: avoid bad people, but don't hate cambodia.
For now let's go back to the talk table with the Siam. If the talk is fruitless then Hun Sen has to ask the UN again hoping that they treat the invasion of our country as a serious matter, not as a small issue like Mr. Yeo.
Fat chance, they will lock you up for Theft.
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