PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP) — Senior defence officials from Thailand and Cambodia will meet Monday to try and resolve a week-long military standoff on their border, but pessimism has clouded the talks.
As more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops face off in a patch of disputed land near an ancient temple , Thai Supreme Commander General Boonsrang Niumpradit will sit down in an eastern Thai border town with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh to try and hammer out a resolution.
Both countries have expressed willingness to peacefully diffuse the territorial dispute in which weapons were briefly drawn last week, but there appears to be little room for diplomatic manoeuvring.
Brigadier Chea Keo, commander of the Cambodian forces in the disputed area, said Sunday he had little faith in the talks because Thailand insisted that the land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was inside their country.
Cambodia maintains that Thai troops are trespassing on their territory.
"We have very little hope about the negotiations," Chea Keo said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, meanwhile, said on his weekly Sunday television show that negotiations would not be easy since both countries were sticking to their original positions.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. But the most accessible entrance to the Khmer ruins lies in Thailand, and 4.6 square kilometres (1.8 square miles) of the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said they had sent a letter to the United Nations to try and draw attention to what they say is an illegal Thai incursion, but insisted they were committed to Monday's talks.
"We will try to do our best to resolve the situation peacefully and bilaterally," he told AFP.
Recent tensions between the neighbours began with Cambodia's moves to have Preah Vihear -- which the World Court in 1962 said belonged to Cambodia -- listed as a United Nations World Heritage Site.
UN cultural body UNESCO earlier this month finally granted heritage status to the Hindu temple perched on a mountaintop, sparking an outcry from nationalist groups in Thailand who are battling Samak's government.
Thailand historically laid claim to the temple itself, but the dispute is now focused on the surrounding land.
The situation boiled over after three Thai protesters were arrested on Tuesday for jumping a fence to reach the temple. Troops headed to the border, and on Thursday witnesses said they had pointed their guns at each other.
Both sides have set up around a small Buddhist pagoda on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of Preah Vihear.
The standoff is of great national importance to both countries.
Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, and Prime Minister Hun Sen has portrayed the UN recognition of the ruins as a national triumph, organising huge public celebrations.
Thailand remains in the grip of anti-government protests, with its cabinet threatened by impeachment proceedings.
The territorial dispute has long dogged relations between the two countries, which were last strained in 2003 when rioters burned and looted Thailand's embassy and several Thai-owned businesses in Phnom Penh after a row over Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple.
As more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops face off in a patch of disputed land near an ancient temple , Thai Supreme Commander General Boonsrang Niumpradit will sit down in an eastern Thai border town with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh to try and hammer out a resolution.
Both countries have expressed willingness to peacefully diffuse the territorial dispute in which weapons were briefly drawn last week, but there appears to be little room for diplomatic manoeuvring.
Brigadier Chea Keo, commander of the Cambodian forces in the disputed area, said Sunday he had little faith in the talks because Thailand insisted that the land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was inside their country.
Cambodia maintains that Thai troops are trespassing on their territory.
"We have very little hope about the negotiations," Chea Keo said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, meanwhile, said on his weekly Sunday television show that negotiations would not be easy since both countries were sticking to their original positions.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. But the most accessible entrance to the Khmer ruins lies in Thailand, and 4.6 square kilometres (1.8 square miles) of the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said they had sent a letter to the United Nations to try and draw attention to what they say is an illegal Thai incursion, but insisted they were committed to Monday's talks.
"We will try to do our best to resolve the situation peacefully and bilaterally," he told AFP.
Recent tensions between the neighbours began with Cambodia's moves to have Preah Vihear -- which the World Court in 1962 said belonged to Cambodia -- listed as a United Nations World Heritage Site.
UN cultural body UNESCO earlier this month finally granted heritage status to the Hindu temple perched on a mountaintop, sparking an outcry from nationalist groups in Thailand who are battling Samak's government.
Thailand historically laid claim to the temple itself, but the dispute is now focused on the surrounding land.
The situation boiled over after three Thai protesters were arrested on Tuesday for jumping a fence to reach the temple. Troops headed to the border, and on Thursday witnesses said they had pointed their guns at each other.
Both sides have set up around a small Buddhist pagoda on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of Preah Vihear.
The standoff is of great national importance to both countries.
Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, and Prime Minister Hun Sen has portrayed the UN recognition of the ruins as a national triumph, organising huge public celebrations.
Thailand remains in the grip of anti-government protests, with its cabinet threatened by impeachment proceedings.
The territorial dispute has long dogged relations between the two countries, which were last strained in 2003 when rioters burned and looted Thailand's embassy and several Thai-owned businesses in Phnom Penh after a row over Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple.
9 comments:
It's so clear that the "disputed land" belongs to Cambodia.
Like old saying, "wherever there are palm trees, it is cambodian land." But I should add,"whenever you step on a landmine, you are in Cambodia."
The Thai government has not intention to solve this issue, on the contrary they want this to last.
If Thailand lose face by pulling their troops Samak government will lose its head.
This is Cambodia territory according to the 1097 Treaty and 1962 verdict from the ICJ.
That is why Cambodia should file for UN assistance to make Thailand respect Cambodia sovereignty and the International Law.
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... ".
From Excellency Phd. Bandit, General 7 Diamond Stars, Oknha Achar Knoy
Well, Preah Vihear needs no protection from Cambodia because it doesn't belong to Cambodia, but belong to Khmer People in Issan.
My brother and sister around the world:
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand. If we can be together on this matter, we will partly win this war... The Siam will turn to fight each other once they start to lose their individual benefits... Let's use this strategy to help fight this war with our soldiers along Khmer Thai border.
5:03 if you don't know that issan people has in their body, khmer blood, you better close your mouth and wait to see khmer issan take back the khmer empire. it won't be long... Thailand will be just like salt in the water... it is only the curse from buddha... it is predicted that thailand will be disappear from the world map... you wait and see... it won't be long... it will be within your lifetime.
There's no disputed area anymore.
Because those areas are belong to Thailand.
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand.
Easier said than done.
Khmers in Cambodia still rely mostly on Thai commodities and products. We ain't Khmer Overseas who always suggest things that can't be done.....
respect the 1907 treaty and the icj verdict and we won't have any problem!
Post a Comment