PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — About 40 Thai troops entered Cambodian territory on Tuesday as tension escalated over disputed land around an ancient temple, a Cambodian official said.
The Thai military denied any border violation, saying the troops had only deployed near the disputed area near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple "to protect our sovereignty."
The claimed intrusion follows the arrest by Cambodia of three Thai citizens who crossed the frontier near the temple, which was recently awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.
Thailand claims some of the territory near Preah Vihear.
The Thai troops entered Cambodian territory near the temple, said Hang Soth, director-general of the national authority for Preah Vihear temple, an agency responsible for the monument.
Cambodian troops have been ordered to be on alert but not to be the first to fire, Hang Soth said.
Thai Maj. Gen. Kanok Netakawesana, the regional army commander, said in a telephone interview that the troops were on Thai soil close to the disputed area. He declined to give the number of soldiers deployed.
"We are not violating the territory of Cambodia. We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," Kanok said.
Hang Soth said a Thai Buddhist monk, a woman and a man apparently managed to evade a checkpoint on the Thai side and crossed through a jungle border into Cambodia.
The incident marked the first cross-border foray by Thai protesters since Cambodia shut off access to Preah Vihear temple to visitors from Thailand late last month.
He said they were immediately stopped by Cambodian guards and were being held until Thai officials came to take them back. Earlier, he had said the protesters had already been returned to Thailand.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia.
The decision 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.
Cambodia's recent move to secure the world landmark status has angered political leaders in Thailand. Thais have held small protests, fearing it would jeopardize their country's claims to the disputed land.
Domestic opponents of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej have seized on the issue in an attempt to bring down his government.
On Tuesday, the activist movement, People's Alliance for Democracy, launched impeachment proceedings against the government by submitting 40,000 signatures of eligible voters to the upper house of Parliament.
The Thai military denied any border violation, saying the troops had only deployed near the disputed area near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple "to protect our sovereignty."
The claimed intrusion follows the arrest by Cambodia of three Thai citizens who crossed the frontier near the temple, which was recently awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.
Thailand claims some of the territory near Preah Vihear.
The Thai troops entered Cambodian territory near the temple, said Hang Soth, director-general of the national authority for Preah Vihear temple, an agency responsible for the monument.
Cambodian troops have been ordered to be on alert but not to be the first to fire, Hang Soth said.
Thai Maj. Gen. Kanok Netakawesana, the regional army commander, said in a telephone interview that the troops were on Thai soil close to the disputed area. He declined to give the number of soldiers deployed.
"We are not violating the territory of Cambodia. We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," Kanok said.
Hang Soth said a Thai Buddhist monk, a woman and a man apparently managed to evade a checkpoint on the Thai side and crossed through a jungle border into Cambodia.
The incident marked the first cross-border foray by Thai protesters since Cambodia shut off access to Preah Vihear temple to visitors from Thailand late last month.
He said they were immediately stopped by Cambodian guards and were being held until Thai officials came to take them back. Earlier, he had said the protesters had already been returned to Thailand.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia.
The decision 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.
Cambodia's recent move to secure the world landmark status has angered political leaders in Thailand. Thais have held small protests, fearing it would jeopardize their country's claims to the disputed land.
Domestic opponents of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej have seized on the issue in an attempt to bring down his government.
On Tuesday, the activist movement, People's Alliance for Democracy, launched impeachment proceedings against the government by submitting 40,000 signatures of eligible voters to the upper house of Parliament.
8 comments:
The Thais are deliberately and intentionally provoking Cambodia. This is not an act of a friendly neighbor but a belligerent agressor.
Hun Sen, now is the time to earn your dirty money. Protect your people instead of assassinating them.
DO YOUR FUCKING JOB YOU SOB!!!!
I will never fly Thai airways ,enter Thailand , buy Thai goods again. They have shown their true colors. A country of pimps and prostitutes.
11:07 PM
Thailand, a country ruled and reigned by the killer, Bhumibol who shot the real King Anannda Mahidol his old brother in cold blood. He f* his young sister in law. His family is mafia. His only one son has aid disease, his oldest and youngest daughters are whores. Everywhere his pictures must be displayed and Thai people must bow and crawl. enuf said.
This siamese act of stupidity is not out of ordinary. It's their usual arrogance. Break that arrogance once and they'll be kept at bay. Shot and kill the bastard that are so arrogant.
Can you do the maths?
Thai 62 millions
Khmer 14 millions
Estimate who will lose?
Khmers don't be so arrogant.
You'll be killed first dudes
According to Thai historian Charnvit Kasetsiri of Thammasat University of Bangkok, Chulalongkuoy signed the 1904 treaty with France to prevent Siam from being colonized by Western Powers. It is the legal border between Thailand and Cambodia to this day. The world court awarded the temple and the surrounding land to Cambodia in 1962.
12:59AM...
With more population you have, but with the same land you have, you will have problems feeding your people. Cambodia have 14 million people, but we still have more land. Who will be starved to dead first. I don't think 62 million of thais are all capable to fight. Most of them are not even thais. They will go to other places if there is a war. Cambodia has been through many wars. We are used to it. Come and try out if you like to see what happens. Don't forget our king is a closed friend of the Chinese. Don't you think that Chinese are out numbers compare to thailand?
62 million Thais and 14 million Khmers if war breaks who will die the most? Thais will face more death, because Thais have never gone to war. As we know the thugs in PP are mostly Khmer Rouge, they fight very crude. In the old day and today is different. The number 62M vs. 14M make no different, because Khmers knew how to survive with little food while Thais can't.
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