By Sopheng Cheang
Associated Press Writer
PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia—Cambodia and Thailand escalated their troop buildup Thursday at disputed territory near a historic border temple despite moves to hold talks next week to defuse the flare-up in tensions, a Cambodian general said.
Cambodian Brig Gen. Chea Keo said the Thais now have more than 400 troops near the Preah Vihear temple, up from about 200 the day before, and Cambodia has about 800 troops there, up from 380 the day before.
Cambodia claims the Thai troops have crossed the border into Cambodian territory in renewed tensions over land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple, while Thailand maintains it is protecting its own sovereignty. However, a Thai military source has acknowledged that the troops are in "disputed" territory.
The border in the area around Preah Vihear has never been fully demarcated.
"They have entered (Cambodian territory) with an intention to provoke us, but we are being extremely patient to prevent weapons from firing," Chea Keo said.
On Wednesday night, Cambodia said it agreed with Thailand to hold talks next Monday aimed at easing tensions early next week. Thailand did not immediately confirm the plans.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the two countries' prime ministers had a "cordial" phone conversation, and that their defense ministers would meet Monday in Thailand to discuss the flare-up in tensions.
Cambodia's application for World Heritage Site status for the temple was granted last week, providing new fodder to the long-standing conflict.
Both countries claim 1.8 square miles of land around the Preah Vihear temple, and Thai anti-government activists have revived nationalist sentiment over the issue. The activists and some government officials fear that the temple's new status will jeopardize their country's claims to land adjacent to the site.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Sundaravej also agreed that "both sides should do the utmost to prevent anything from happening," Khieu Kanharith told The Associated Press.
Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia would not "use force unless attacked" and that the "situation was stable."
Thai army commander Gen. Anupong Paojindasaid likewise said he has ordered his troops to refrain from using force.
"The problem has been there for a long time because there has been no demarcation of the border yet," Anupong told reporters.
Thai officials have publicly denied that their troops crossed the border, saying the soldiers are in Thai territory to protect its sovereignty.
However, a senior Thai military source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation acknowledged Wednesday that Thai troops were inside "disputed border territory."
Thai troops in combat gear and armed with rifles sat in small groups Wednesday in the jungle on Preah Vihear mountain, while Cambodian troops paced only a few yards away, some of them carrying B-40 rocket launchers.
Cambodian troop reinforcements also were on the road Wednesday.
"I have received an order from our commander to back up our forces over there," Ouch Borith, an army captain, told The Associated Press at a Cambodian village several miles from the Preah Vihear mountain.
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 in northwestern Cambodia.
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Associated Press writers Sutin Wannabovorn and Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok and Ker Munthit in Phnom Penh contributed to this report.
Cambodian Brig Gen. Chea Keo said the Thais now have more than 400 troops near the Preah Vihear temple, up from about 200 the day before, and Cambodia has about 800 troops there, up from 380 the day before.
Cambodia claims the Thai troops have crossed the border into Cambodian territory in renewed tensions over land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple, while Thailand maintains it is protecting its own sovereignty. However, a Thai military source has acknowledged that the troops are in "disputed" territory.
The border in the area around Preah Vihear has never been fully demarcated.
"They have entered (Cambodian territory) with an intention to provoke us, but we are being extremely patient to prevent weapons from firing," Chea Keo said.
On Wednesday night, Cambodia said it agreed with Thailand to hold talks next Monday aimed at easing tensions early next week. Thailand did not immediately confirm the plans.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the two countries' prime ministers had a "cordial" phone conversation, and that their defense ministers would meet Monday in Thailand to discuss the flare-up in tensions.
Cambodia's application for World Heritage Site status for the temple was granted last week, providing new fodder to the long-standing conflict.
Both countries claim 1.8 square miles of land around the Preah Vihear temple, and Thai anti-government activists have revived nationalist sentiment over the issue. The activists and some government officials fear that the temple's new status will jeopardize their country's claims to land adjacent to the site.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Sundaravej also agreed that "both sides should do the utmost to prevent anything from happening," Khieu Kanharith told The Associated Press.
Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia would not "use force unless attacked" and that the "situation was stable."
Thai army commander Gen. Anupong Paojindasaid likewise said he has ordered his troops to refrain from using force.
"The problem has been there for a long time because there has been no demarcation of the border yet," Anupong told reporters.
Thai officials have publicly denied that their troops crossed the border, saying the soldiers are in Thai territory to protect its sovereignty.
However, a senior Thai military source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation acknowledged Wednesday that Thai troops were inside "disputed border territory."
Thai troops in combat gear and armed with rifles sat in small groups Wednesday in the jungle on Preah Vihear mountain, while Cambodian troops paced only a few yards away, some of them carrying B-40 rocket launchers.
Cambodian troop reinforcements also were on the road Wednesday.
"I have received an order from our commander to back up our forces over there," Ouch Borith, an army captain, told The Associated Press at a Cambodian village several miles from the Preah Vihear mountain.
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 in northwestern Cambodia.
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Associated Press writers Sutin Wannabovorn and Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok and Ker Munthit in Phnom Penh contributed to this report.
12 comments:
I hope that Thailand Government and military leaders should learn the consequences of the war if it will be erupted. Cambodian people are poor and have suffered a long times ago with many generations of bad leaderships. Therefore, Cambodian people are thinking differently from Thais people. In constrat, Thais people have been peace for many generations and have never suffered at all. I hope now war will be erupted. If there is one, Thailand will face most desastrous than Cambodia. Each Cambodian has enough in life. Therefore fighting a war with a neighbour such as Thailand is not a big dealt. Each Thais people has used to live in peace and in luxury. If a war be erupte, everyone will run for life. Also Cambodian has nothing to loose. If they can walk into Thailand, then it is Thais side who is the looser. Therefore, I think Thais Government should think twice for using military musle to thread Cambodia for a barganing power. It won't work at all. If a war be erupted, then Thais will face another war from the South in which Muslim people are demanding for their independent. Peace and dialogue are the most suitable for this generation of leadership to adopte. Areak Prey
Exactly we got nothing to looose..kill the thai dogs!!!
Thanks, Areak Prey, for your nice comment. I very much appreciate your idea.
Regards,
KI-Media fan
Muslim brothers, now is the time to destroy the infidel thai.
Convert or be beheaded thai dogs!
War...What is it good for? Nothing. Everybody suffers. Nobody is going to win. This is the 21 Century where rule of law and diplomacy prevail. Neither can afford it. Rising food and fuel costs. Come on, who are you guys kidding.
If we unable to deescalate the escalating tensions, rather soon war will erupt, and both sides will lose lives and property. Plus, Thai will not be normal.
Thank Budda that our Cambodian troops have nice new hummers to get to the area quickly and refreshed so they can imeadiatly start fighing those nasty Thai people.
it hard to hearing siam invade our territory. siam is the theft and dog also that always thinking how to take cambodia land. may the god and the sacred of Prasat Preah Vihear bless cambodian people. i don't know now our goverment take action or not? let's me know if our goverment take action to the dog siam.
thanks in advance
I, Khmer ultra-nationalist, would like to humbly and respectfully refute the Cambodian Royal army Brig. General's comment on the Thai soldiers that have more modern weapons, but we're (Cambodian) on the hilltop.
With all due respect, sir (Gen.), the former Khmer Rouge (during the Khmer Rouge era)only needed rubber-black sandles, hammock, and a AK-47riffle (or B-40 rocket launchers) will do the job just fine. Also, remember that we are fighting with the Thai soldiers with modern weapons with conventional soldiers. In fact, we have every advantage to defeat these egregious historic archfoes out of our sovereignty; it is our sovereign right to do so. More importantly, after the war (if hell broke out loose)we'll have the U.N. and the international community blessing. Or perhaps, better yet, our brother Burma will lend us a hand.
May the Lord Buddha bless Cambodia and our soldiers!
Khmer ultra-nationalist
Hey we don't ask for war but it looks that Thai is asking for one.
If they don't want war they should not have build up their army along the border.
Cambodian have been holding on our patient.
It seems the Thai want to taste the Khmer's whipping them.
To all our brothers (Soldiers) at this time our national interest is very high and important please take this matter seriously.
We will fight the invaders without mercy.
There will be no place for the Thai in this region.
What was once belong to us now is a chance for us to fight them deep deep inside into Thailand.
To our brothers (Khmer Surin, Boriram, Si sa Ket, All Khmer in Thailand) now is the time for you all to rise up and come back to rejoin our motherland.
Khmer Eternity!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cambodia should call the UN to solve this problem because the UN is the strong man of the ICJ to force rogue country to respect International Law.
I am a Khmer living in Issan region and a Thai citizen. I do agree with those Khmers living Preah Vihear Province. I think Preah Vihear Temple belongs to people living in Preah Vihear province. No body else who does not live in Preah Vihear province has a rights on deciding the ownership of the temple. Keep in mind the Preah Vihear Province do exist. It is in northern region of Cambodia. But, Issan do not exist. Only the region does. But, mostly Loas people live there. We khmers are small numbers compare to others in the region. I hope this is clear to my brother who claims to be Khmer Issan in Issan province. You don't represent all the Khmers living here. So, stop using the name Issan.
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