AP, DPA & The Mekong Times
Cambodia and Thailand escalated their troop build-up yesterday in disputed border territory near the historic Preah Vihear temple despite their agreement to hold talks next week to defuse tensions, a Cambodian general has said.
An emergency meeting of the General Border Committee – which was originally set up to cope with the two countries’ border problems and includes both countries’ ministers of defense – will be held Monday in Thailand’s border province of Sa Kaeo, to speed up talks on the disputed territory, said The Bangkok Post citing foreign ministry sources.
Cambodian Brigadier General Chea Keo said Thailand has more than 400 troops near Preah Vihear temple, up from about 200 on Wednesday, and Cambodia has about 800, up from 380.
Cambodia claims the Thai troops crossed the border into Cambodian territory on Tuesday in renewed tensions over land near the Cambodian temple. Thailand maintains it is protecting its sovereignty, while ensuring that any protests by Thais near the temple remain orderly, although a senior Thai military official acknowledged Wednesday that the Thai troops were on “disputed” ground.
The border around Preah Vihear has never been fully demarcated.
In a letter to the Thai prime minister yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Thailand to withdraw its troops from the border area.
“Unfortunately, as of 17 July 2008 the situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military inside and around the area of Keo Sihka Kiri Svara pagoda [Preah Vihear Pagoda],” he said.
“The deteriorating situation is very bad for the relations between our two countries.”
Yet despite the official rhetoric, the atmosphere around the temple appeared to be calm.
Cambodian soldiers snapped photographs of their Thai opponents just meters away and some tourists, including an American woman, visited the spectacular site.
The long-standing conflict over the territory was recently revived by Thai anti-government protesters and came to a head after Cambodia’s application for World Heritage Site status for the temple was granted last week with an endorsement from Thailand’s government.
Both countries claim 4.6 square km of land around the temple, and the Thai protesters have revived nationalist sentiments over the issue, fearing the temple’s new status will jeopardize territorial claims.
However, Thais living just across the border sought to calm the situation.
Hundreds of villagers in Sisaket province blocked a group of Thai anti-government protesters from marching to Preah Vihear on Thursday. Some shouted at the protesters to “go home” and stop fomenting trouble, as 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.
One protest leader, Pramoj Hoimook, said Cambodians have settled on Thai soil “and we want to correct that.”
“We want to get to Preah Vihear to read a statement, asking for our land back,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej condemned the Thai protesters for “trying to ignite a conflict.”
“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 anti-government protesters who have seized on the issue in attempts to bring down his government.
Samak called for a meeting of all armed forces commanders in Bangkok on Friday in preparation for the border committee meeting Monday.
Hun Sen meanwhile urged in his letter to Samak “to ease the tension and order Thai troops to withdraw … [as these] troops have encroached on our territory.”
Earlier Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia would not “use force unless attacked” and that the “situation was stable.”
Thai army commander General Anupong Paojindasaid likewise said he ordered his troops not to use force.
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,” said Shura, discounting the possibility of violence. “The temple is extraordinary. It’s really amazing.”
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.
An emergency meeting of the General Border Committee – which was originally set up to cope with the two countries’ border problems and includes both countries’ ministers of defense – will be held Monday in Thailand’s border province of Sa Kaeo, to speed up talks on the disputed territory, said The Bangkok Post citing foreign ministry sources.
Cambodian Brigadier General Chea Keo said Thailand has more than 400 troops near Preah Vihear temple, up from about 200 on Wednesday, and Cambodia has about 800, up from 380.
Cambodia claims the Thai troops crossed the border into Cambodian territory on Tuesday in renewed tensions over land near the Cambodian temple. Thailand maintains it is protecting its sovereignty, while ensuring that any protests by Thais near the temple remain orderly, although a senior Thai military official acknowledged Wednesday that the Thai troops were on “disputed” ground.
The border around Preah Vihear has never been fully demarcated.
In a letter to the Thai prime minister yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Thailand to withdraw its troops from the border area.
“Unfortunately, as of 17 July 2008 the situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military inside and around the area of Keo Sihka Kiri Svara pagoda [Preah Vihear Pagoda],” he said.
“The deteriorating situation is very bad for the relations between our two countries.”
Yet despite the official rhetoric, the atmosphere around the temple appeared to be calm.
Cambodian soldiers snapped photographs of their Thai opponents just meters away and some tourists, including an American woman, visited the spectacular site.
The long-standing conflict over the territory was recently revived by Thai anti-government protesters and came to a head after Cambodia’s application for World Heritage Site status for the temple was granted last week with an endorsement from Thailand’s government.
Both countries claim 4.6 square km of land around the temple, and the Thai protesters have revived nationalist sentiments over the issue, fearing the temple’s new status will jeopardize territorial claims.
However, Thais living just across the border sought to calm the situation.
Hundreds of villagers in Sisaket province blocked a group of Thai anti-government protesters from marching to Preah Vihear on Thursday. Some shouted at the protesters to “go home” and stop fomenting trouble, as 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.
One protest leader, Pramoj Hoimook, said Cambodians have settled on Thai soil “and we want to correct that.”
“We want to get to Preah Vihear to read a statement, asking for our land back,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej condemned the Thai protesters for “trying to ignite a conflict.”
“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 anti-government protesters who have seized on the issue in attempts to bring down his government.
Samak called for a meeting of all armed forces commanders in Bangkok on Friday in preparation for the border committee meeting Monday.
Hun Sen meanwhile urged in his letter to Samak “to ease the tension and order Thai troops to withdraw … [as these] troops have encroached on our territory.”
Earlier Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia would not “use force unless attacked” and that the “situation was stable.”
Thai army commander General Anupong Paojindasaid likewise said he ordered his troops not to use force.
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,” said Shura, discounting the possibility of violence. “The temple is extraordinary. It’s really amazing.”
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.
17 comments:
That's the way Thais always do.
Cambodia has to take Thailand to the Court again to get back the land they lost.
Thais, you should not have been so greedy. More Than enough for you. And no more room for your greed.
No, the Thai are not greedy, they are protecting Khmer people from being rip off by the greedy monkeys in Cambodia who think they are the only Khmer on the planet and try to set standard for everyone. Meanwhile most off them are a drop out from school. What a joke?
I just bought a condo in bangkok.
Don't do anything stupid thailand.
If all the foreigners leave then its a disaster.
It is critically imperative that the prime minister, Hun Sen, of Cambodia must demonstrate his strength (not weakness)through articulating his leadership skills (if he 'still' has one) during these tumultuous times to convey to his people that he can still lead the country.
As for this recent crisis with Thailand, the prime minister needs to make the decision to defuse or de-escalate the tense situation -- or perhaps seek advice from his advisors whether or not to invoke his executive order -- or at least set a deadline for the Thai black-clad extremists to withdraw from our sovereign soil, or face the inevitability.
Again, Mr. prime minister, I humbly and respecfully ask you to invoke your executive order to protect our sovereign right.
Khmer ultra-nationalist
What strength? Everyone knows Cambodia has none.
3:28 PM
You son-of-bitch! We dare you to fire the first shot, and see what'll happen.
Go ahead and make Cambodian day, you punk!
Talking about strength, man! You mention Cambodia has none... You sick! Take your time and watch TV about palestinian and Israel. Never forget that Israel got Nuclear weapon in their Arsenal but was it able to stop Palestinian from claiming back their land??? If you are talking about gun and number of soldier as strength, I believe that you are so dead wrong... I am not sure where you come from but if you are Khmer you probably heard about Klang Meang! Do you think his dead really bring the troop of ghost to help his team... I don't think so! You guy have no idea what strength can come from... Please just sit back, wait and take the advantage from others sacrify!
3:40, are you blind? The Khmer Soldiers in Issan had fired many shots already. What are you waiting for? No one can live forever, you know?
3:55, stop dreaming. The monkeys in Cambodia is no Palistinian. Secondly, they are not doing as good as you seen on TV.
To: 2:03 PM & 3:28 PM
Your country has been in peace for so long, how come on earth there have been still lots of ignorant & inhuman beings like you and your leader. What kind of EDUCATION there in your country? Or just to teach people to be gays?
If you want to have a meeting with Cambodia, can't you write a letter to invite? or you are just the wild animals that has no civilization? Bullshit your leaders to raise the excuse, increasing your troops to push the Cambodian government to hold the meeting with you and that your PM has nothing to control the army situation.
A Khmer countryside youth live & educated locally.
I appeal to Khmer by blood living in Thailand to prepare for the worst cenario to attack again A Siam Robbers and get back our land. You see how the Muslim people in South provinces are doing right now and don't let A Caor Siam be safe anymore. They are rich by sucking ecnomy and getting land from the neibouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Burma and they've never felt enough.
Parachey Ah Chaor Siam!!! Cheyo Khmer empire!!!
4:27
shut up thai dog
You what, 4:26? Khmer by blood? Remember they can't speak Khmer, and because of that, you stole the temple from them.
People in Thai Issan province were the slave of Khmer people and now they become the slave of Thai and Chinese
The Preah Vihear temple must be free of damage.
Otherwise, Thai must responsible.
It is belonging to the United Nations.
Shut da fuck 11;18pm. UN didn't build Khmer PRV.
11:27 PM
Brilliant comment!!!
You should use your brain before writing comment.
Post a Comment