By SOPHENG CHEANG
PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia and Thailand sent more troops Thursday to their disputed border region surrounding an 11th century temple — despite agreeing to hold talks next week to avoid military action.
The standoff — now in its third day — is the latest escalation in a long-standing conflict over land that surrounds Preah Vihear temple, which is similar in style to the more famous Angkor Wat in northeastern Cambodia.
The confrontation came to a head last week when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application for World Heritage Site status for Preah Vihear. Protesters in Thailand have decried their government's decision to endorse the application, saying it undermines Thai claims to the territory.
They have also accused Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of bypassing Parliament and backing the UNESCO application in exchange for business contracts for the cronies of toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Constitutional Court has ruled in the protesters' favor.
To some extent, the demonstrators appear to be playing to nationalist sentiment to gain support for their larger goal of unseating Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy for Thaksin.
The border standoff began after three of the protesters crossed into Cambodia on Tuesday to visit the temple and were briefly detained.
Soon afterward, Thai troops deployed to the border. The army has been tightlipped about reasons behind the troop movements, saying only that it is protecting Thai sovereignty, though it's unclear why it thought it was threatened.
Cambodia has accused the Thai troops of crossing into its territory, but Thailand has publicly maintained otherwise.
However, a senior Thai military official acknowledged Wednesday that the troops are on "disputed" ground. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.
The two countries' defense ministers are to meet next Monday to ease tensions. More than 400 Thai troops — up from 200 on Wednesday — are now facing down 800 Cambodian soldiers — up from 380 — Cambodian Brig. Gen. Chea Keo said.
The only clashes so far have been between Thai protesters and Thai villagers who resent their lands becoming ground-zero for a political battle.
One such clash took place Thursday about five miles from the temple in Sisaket Province, and about 10 people were injured, said Sisaket Governor Seni Jitkasem.
"It was a chaotic scene. People were beating one another with flag poles and kicking and punching," Seni said. "But the situation is now under control."
Earlier, hundreds of villagers blocked the anti-government protesters from marching to Preah Vihear, some shouting for them to "go home" and stop fomenting trouble. Police stood by a barricade blocking the road to the temple.
"We are Thais. We should be able to talk about this" to settle any differences, villager Ubondej Panthep said. "We don't want to provoke anyone to start shooting."
One protest leader, Pramoj Hoimook, said Cambodians have settled on Thai soil "and we want to correct that."
Samak condemned the Thai protesters for "trying to ignite a conflict." But he has not said anything about why the troops moved to the border.
"Now the troops on both sides are confronting each other. What madness is this? There are people who want to provoke this," Samak told reporters, referring to the anti-government protesters.
Most of the 900 Cambodian villagers living nearby fled their homes when the confrontation began Tuesday. However, some Cambodian and foreign tourists risked possible harm Thursday by visiting the temple. One of them was Liz Shura from New York City.
"It's a little frightening for me, but I don't think I am actually in danger," Shura told an Associated Press reporter, discounting the possibility of violence.
Associated Press writers Sutin Wannabovorn and Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok, and Ker Munthit in Phnom Penh contributed to this report.
The standoff — now in its third day — is the latest escalation in a long-standing conflict over land that surrounds Preah Vihear temple, which is similar in style to the more famous Angkor Wat in northeastern Cambodia.
The confrontation came to a head last week when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application for World Heritage Site status for Preah Vihear. Protesters in Thailand have decried their government's decision to endorse the application, saying it undermines Thai claims to the territory.
They have also accused Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of bypassing Parliament and backing the UNESCO application in exchange for business contracts for the cronies of toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Constitutional Court has ruled in the protesters' favor.
To some extent, the demonstrators appear to be playing to nationalist sentiment to gain support for their larger goal of unseating Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy for Thaksin.
The border standoff began after three of the protesters crossed into Cambodia on Tuesday to visit the temple and were briefly detained.
Soon afterward, Thai troops deployed to the border. The army has been tightlipped about reasons behind the troop movements, saying only that it is protecting Thai sovereignty, though it's unclear why it thought it was threatened.
Cambodia has accused the Thai troops of crossing into its territory, but Thailand has publicly maintained otherwise.
However, a senior Thai military official acknowledged Wednesday that the troops are on "disputed" ground. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.
The two countries' defense ministers are to meet next Monday to ease tensions. More than 400 Thai troops — up from 200 on Wednesday — are now facing down 800 Cambodian soldiers — up from 380 — Cambodian Brig. Gen. Chea Keo said.
The only clashes so far have been between Thai protesters and Thai villagers who resent their lands becoming ground-zero for a political battle.
One such clash took place Thursday about five miles from the temple in Sisaket Province, and about 10 people were injured, said Sisaket Governor Seni Jitkasem.
"It was a chaotic scene. People were beating one another with flag poles and kicking and punching," Seni said. "But the situation is now under control."
Earlier, hundreds of villagers blocked the anti-government protesters from marching to Preah Vihear, some shouting for them to "go home" and stop fomenting trouble. Police stood by a barricade blocking the road to the temple.
"We are Thais. We should be able to talk about this" to settle any differences, villager Ubondej Panthep said. "We don't want to provoke anyone to start shooting."
One protest leader, Pramoj Hoimook, said Cambodians have settled on Thai soil "and we want to correct that."
Samak condemned the Thai protesters for "trying to ignite a conflict." But he has not said anything about why the troops moved to the border.
"Now the troops on both sides are confronting each other. What madness is this? There are people who want to provoke this," Samak told reporters, referring to the anti-government protesters.
Most of the 900 Cambodian villagers living nearby fled their homes when the confrontation began Tuesday. However, some Cambodian and foreign tourists risked possible harm Thursday by visiting the temple. One of them was Liz Shura from New York City.
"It's a little frightening for me, but I don't think I am actually in danger," Shura told an Associated Press reporter, discounting the possibility of violence.
Associated Press writers Sutin Wannabovorn and Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok, and Ker Munthit in Phnom Penh contributed to this report.
6 comments:
What are we waiting for to convene he United Nations security council
to denounce thai agression.
Once we have the international community behind us we can start pressuring the thai to leave.
Right now they are playing games with us.
We need more thai demonstrators to rally against the PAD. The PAD is dangerous to your nation and your lively hood. If you cherish peace in your country you would vote to get rid of the PAD and to never see them take office.
Mr. prime minister, please invoke your executive order.
On behalf of our troops (Cambodia), we're awaiting for your order. Please do not delay your action.
Pol Pot knew that he couldn't defeat the Vietcong and so he open Cambodia to Vietcong military force so the Vietcong can claim their victory! But what the Vietcong didn't know that Pol Pot military force make the Vietcong spent $1 million dollar a day just to maintain their troop in Cambodia and with the Russian help they manage to stay in Cambodia for 10 years! Now the Vietcong claimed that back then they were young, inexperience, and arrogant because they were intoxicated by all their military success against the French, the Jap, and the American and China. They think that they can conquer Cambodia easily and now they know realize their military capability and just want to be good neighbor! Ahahhahah
It is time to open Cambodia to the Thaicong military occupation so that the Thaicong can realize their military capability! Ahahhah
I never thought that the Thaicong can be so stupid!
Preah Vihear temple is now belonging to United Nation list as World Heritage Site.
If Thai create the war it will destroy 900 years old temple.
How Thai will explain to United Nation?.
Don't worry right now Samak is working real hard to clean up the shit of the PAD and the Thai king.
He just want the Thai troop out of there fast.
Because they are challenging the UN legitimacy.
PS: ICJ and the UN live below the same roof.
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