The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday he was ready to pull troops back from the Thai border but was leaving the timing up to Thailand, a day after officials agreed to ease a tense two-week armed standoff near a disputed ancient temple.
As of Tuesday afternoon, neither army had budged from their positions near Preah Vihear temple on the border.
Foreign ministers from both countries met Monday for more than 12 hours in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. They failed to resolve the central issue over rights to a strip of land near the temple, but agreed in principle to move the 800 Cambodian troops and 400 Thais stationed nearby.
It remained unclear, however, when the troops would move or where they would be sent.
"For our side, there is no problem at all," Hun Sen told reporters in the capital, Phnom Penh. "The issue is up to Thailand to decide when to act. For us, anytime."
The standoff has stoked nationalist sentiment in both countries and helped strengthen Hun Sen's popularity ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections. His ruling party appears to have won a landslide victory.
"We still have a standing order to remain calm and exercise restraint," said Cambodian Maj. Gen. Srey Doek, contacted by telephone at the border. "Thai troops are keeping the same position, and so are we. But both sides do not want to wage war and only desire to live in peace with each other."
Thai army commander Gen. Anuphong Paochinda said his troops also had no immediate plan to budge.
"Thai soldiers will pull out from the area only after we receive an order from the government," Anupong told reporters in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The dispute over 1.8 square miles (4.6 square kilometers) of land near the 11th century temple escalated earlier this month when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage site. Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had backed the bid, sparking anti-government demonstrations near the temple.
Both sides stationed soldiers near the temple July 15. A first round of talks on July 21 foundered over which map should be used to demarcate the border, prompting Cambodia to request a meeting of the United Nations Security Council before agreeing to a second round of talks.
Monday's talks ended with both foreign ministers agreeing further talks were needed to resolve the larger border dispute.
"We cannot solve all problems at one meeting. We need to take gradual steps," said Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. "The immediate task is to avoid clashes through the redeployment of troops."
Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag agreed that "the meeting would help reduce tension at the border."
A joint statement said "both countries should exercise utmost restraint to avoid the possibility of armed confrontation."
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear and the land it occupies to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles many Thais even though the temple is culturally Cambodian, sharing the Hindu-influenced style of the more famous Angkor complex.
The decision was based on a French colonial map demarcating the border, which Thailand says favors Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.
As of Tuesday afternoon, neither army had budged from their positions near Preah Vihear temple on the border.
Foreign ministers from both countries met Monday for more than 12 hours in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. They failed to resolve the central issue over rights to a strip of land near the temple, but agreed in principle to move the 800 Cambodian troops and 400 Thais stationed nearby.
It remained unclear, however, when the troops would move or where they would be sent.
"For our side, there is no problem at all," Hun Sen told reporters in the capital, Phnom Penh. "The issue is up to Thailand to decide when to act. For us, anytime."
The standoff has stoked nationalist sentiment in both countries and helped strengthen Hun Sen's popularity ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections. His ruling party appears to have won a landslide victory.
"We still have a standing order to remain calm and exercise restraint," said Cambodian Maj. Gen. Srey Doek, contacted by telephone at the border. "Thai troops are keeping the same position, and so are we. But both sides do not want to wage war and only desire to live in peace with each other."
Thai army commander Gen. Anuphong Paochinda said his troops also had no immediate plan to budge.
"Thai soldiers will pull out from the area only after we receive an order from the government," Anupong told reporters in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The dispute over 1.8 square miles (4.6 square kilometers) of land near the 11th century temple escalated earlier this month when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage site. Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had backed the bid, sparking anti-government demonstrations near the temple.
Both sides stationed soldiers near the temple July 15. A first round of talks on July 21 foundered over which map should be used to demarcate the border, prompting Cambodia to request a meeting of the United Nations Security Council before agreeing to a second round of talks.
Monday's talks ended with both foreign ministers agreeing further talks were needed to resolve the larger border dispute.
"We cannot solve all problems at one meeting. We need to take gradual steps," said Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. "The immediate task is to avoid clashes through the redeployment of troops."
Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag agreed that "the meeting would help reduce tension at the border."
A joint statement said "both countries should exercise utmost restraint to avoid the possibility of armed confrontation."
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear and the land it occupies to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles many Thais even though the temple is culturally Cambodian, sharing the Hindu-influenced style of the more famous Angkor complex.
The decision was based on a French colonial map demarcating the border, which Thailand says favors Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.
13 comments:
fuck all this American technical assistance drawn map for thailand.fucking thai believe what ever the fucking american say. Don't belive all this american and thai shit!!!
Samdach Decho Hun Sen Should use Iron Fist/Steel Fist as he used to use within Cambodians..." But I think Khmer fight strongly only with Khmers...."
We ahve many Generals Excellencies Samdachs.. Ministers Deputy Minister Deputy Prime Ministers....
Governors..... Pleasde use Iron Fist NOT plastic Fist.."
Excellency Bandit General Oknha Achar Knoy= Phd. from Chea Chamreorun Unv. PPenh.
Fuck off,
This is the weakness and coward of the Cambodia government.
They are goon in killing thier people, bu dare not fighting with Thai...
Idiot the Xmers!
4:32 PM
I have to completely concur with you.
These son-of-bitches are not ready to fight the foreign aggressors,yet looking for the joint development.
Ah Hun, you're going down, you son-of-bitch.
Signed: ah Hun's worst nightware
There is no need to waste money to station any soldier on top of the cliff. What is the Thai going to do? Attacking the Temple? Plus, the tip of the mountain is not a good battle strategy for Cambodia when the Enemy is next to you and because you can't get the food supplies to your soldiers. They all will died of starvation once the Thai destroyed all the paths up the cliff.
There will be no the low life son of a bitch Hun Sen will withdraw first, and this will be use by the siem to justify the so called disputed zone.
Now that he has the majority in the parliament he can exercise his stupidity at full extent. Don't hold back ah Hun.
When it comes to bad decisions he will not disappoint us, that for sure.
All of you concern only the power!! Fucking A Sam Rain Sy (called A Venn Ta), A Kim Sokha(called A Chhout Tek Moit), A Ranarith( called A Chhout Srey), A Keo Puth Raksmey( called A Lob Lob), A Hun Sen ( called Ah Hun Kvak)!!!! all of you don't care our nation faces with the evil neighboring that occupy illegally into our land.
Please all khmer stop vote for All idoit leader of political party in Cambodia at next election poll because They care the power and how to get powerful only.
Stop play the stupid game by using the people for your power.
Khmer need to think our land first, no time to care with these crazy man!!!
From Khmer boring with politic in Cambodia.
Ah Hun is waiting for instruction from his Yourn boss on the Preah Vihear affair.
You guys should let this crap get into you.
There is nothing we can do.
Before choosing ah Hun ah Yourn saw that he was the most idiot guy on earth.
This is no coincidence.
"The problem comes from the same root, which is mapping based on unequal treatment by powerful countries in the past," he said (Thai Vice-Admiral Pratheep).
= There is no one on this planet Earth who has more irrational thinking and illogical reasoning than the Thai leaders! These Thai leaders like to twist Cambodian history to fit their need and their ego to show the world of how powerful and influential the Thai politic on Cambodia!
Now! I want to know. What is so unequal treatment about the Thai who doesn't want to be colonized by the European Powers? If the Thai were willing to submit to colonialism and maybe the Thai can get special treatment from the British or the French! But the problem is the Thai was never wanted to be colonized and now they complain about unequal treatments which help save them from colonialism!
So who can blame Cambodia for wanting to be French Protectorate which helps save Cambodia from Thai and Vietnamese aggression! For Cambodia being a French Protectorate, Cambodian people were never treated anything special more than the Vietnamese! Because the French allowed the Vietnamese to work as Cambodian government officials at every level in Cambodian government while Cambodian people were looking down by the French as being lazy, uneducated, and not hard working! So is this how the Thai people want to be treated under the French colonial master? Of course not! So what is the point for the Thai to complain about unequal treatment under the French?
Now that the Thai leaders are in the spot light on the issue of violation of Cambodian territory, The French map of Cambodia which recognized by International Community and United Nations will be used to verify every square inch of Cambodian territory on Thai side and the Vietnamese side to see if they both had violated Cambodian territory in anyway shape or form! Cambodian leaders can’t afford to have endless ongoing bilateral talk between the Thai and the Viet to solve Cambodian border conflict because bilateral talk is nothing more than a whisper which nobody can hear or understand including International Community or the United Nations!
I believe International Community and United Nations have a role to play in helping Cambodia in verifying the French International Map to end the Thai-Viet-Cambodian conflict! Otherwise the Thai and the Viet will insist on using their own map to violate Cambodian territory forever! At the end, I believe there won’t be peace and stability in the mainland Southeast Asia!
Now you know why even the Vietnamese government blocked Cambodian leaders from seeking the help from United Nations to solve the Thai-Cambodia conflict because the Vietnamese government is also in violation of Cambodian territory too!
How to settle Preah Vihear Dispute ?
No Problem with Preah Vihear issue-- we will win-win
Because-
1. We have much more Army Generals than Thailand has( we have a lot of Generals from 1 stars to 4 Top Gold stars
2. We have more Excellencies than Thailand has
3. We have more Samdachs, Oknha, Bandits (Phd.), Prime ministers (in 1995), Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, provincial Governors.... that Thailand has/ or than other counties world wide...
4. We have a lot of Military equipment such as Military trucks which are used to Transport illegal Loggings and Military Vehicles used countrywide to anywhere such as to restaurants and Bars...... We have a lot of Guns/pistols which are used every day in the cities and county sides to fire on people in ladies affairs disputes.
5. We have much more Luxury Cars-Lexus Landcruisers with Army & Police Plate Numbers that represent Our Top Generals and Excellency countrywide.....
6. The best way to settle such a problem is to send some hundreds of Cambodian Generals to the Disputed Borders.....Thais will be afraid of our numerous Multi-Generals which increase from day to day.
7. Send the so-called Development Army (the main Army troop playing Roles in Land dispute in Kampong Speu to Preah Vihear... they have experiences in illegally Occupying people's Land ... now let them to occupy our Preah Vihear.
8. But is the National Embarrassment that our Army (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) have used a lot of forces to fight with Local unarmed-Cambodians in Land grabbling... so our Armed forces (Army, Police Economy Police, and military Police-PM) may be too weakened now...
9. It is a National Embarrassment that most of our Generals just attack in the Cities and with Local Cambodians in Land disputes, small Disputes in Night Clubs, Traffic Accidents, Karaoke and any unnecessary Fire shots.
Note: when I saw the Cambodians army in Dispute with Thai Army ..It reminds me about the Royal Cambodian Army disputing with Unarmed People in Land Disputes in Cambodia; They can protect their land But for Preah Vihear how will it be going on....?
"Thai uses the same Trick as Cambodia uses in Land dispute with Local Khmer People-- as of when the empowered men deploy army to illegally occupy people's land... ".
Can we use or do we dare to use " Iron Fist /Steel Fist " ????
Do you believe that Cam Army Dare to shot Siams army ???
Our Army has spent alot of force to shot people's Animals-oxes/cows Buffalos in Koh Kong in the Land Claimed by Ly Yong Phat, in Banteay Menachey .....
From Excellency Phd. Bandit, General 7 Diamond Stars, Oknha Achar Knoy
I do not want that people/publics Call "My Samdach Decho as A frog in the nmarrow well.."
Samdach should use all force physically, mentally morally diplomatically, politically and militarilly to protect our territory as You have had effort to protect your Power for some decades... Please Samdach.....
Do like you have done so far with Innocent Khmer People e.g in land Grabling....and with all political Parties to hand Power Gaining...."
History will note your name forever......
Excellency Bandit General Oknha Achar Knoy-Phd. from Chea Chamreourn Poli-Technical Multi-Techn. Unv. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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