Thai soldiers sit in a trench along the Thai and Cambodian border near Preah Vihear temple, in the disputed area between the two countries. Thailand's army chief welcomed Tuesday talks with Cambodia to resolve a two-week tense military standoff, but refused to commit to withdrawing troops from their border. (AFP/File)BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's army chief welcomed Tuesday talks with Cambodia to resolve a two-week tense military standoff, but refused to commit to withdrawing troops from their border.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed during talks on Monday to consider pulling troops out of disputed land near an ancient temple, but did not commit to any firm steps to end the standoff.
"The resolution from the meeting between Cambodia and Thailand will help relieve tension and improve the situation," General Anupong Paojinda said.
"Lowering the troops at the border, however, needs to receive an order from the government first," he told AFP by phone.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP that "we hope that the situation will be eased" following the 12-hours of talks in the Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap.
Foreign ministers from both countries emerged from the talks late Monday promising to ask their governments to redeploy the thousands of soldiers stationed around a small pagoda near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
The ruins of the Khmer temple, which sits on a mountaintop overlooking the jungle, belong to Cambodia, but the most practical entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.
Both sides claim some of the surrounding territory and say a full resolution of the decades-long dispute is likely to involve protracted negotiations.
The latest conflict has enflamed nationalist sentiment in both countries. In Cambodia, holding a strong stance on the temple helped Prime Minister Hun Sen win general elections on Sunday.
In Thailand, embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is threatened by nationalist protesters who have made the temple a core issue in calling for his resignation.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed during talks on Monday to consider pulling troops out of disputed land near an ancient temple, but did not commit to any firm steps to end the standoff.
"The resolution from the meeting between Cambodia and Thailand will help relieve tension and improve the situation," General Anupong Paojinda said.
"Lowering the troops at the border, however, needs to receive an order from the government first," he told AFP by phone.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP that "we hope that the situation will be eased" following the 12-hours of talks in the Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap.
Foreign ministers from both countries emerged from the talks late Monday promising to ask their governments to redeploy the thousands of soldiers stationed around a small pagoda near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
The ruins of the Khmer temple, which sits on a mountaintop overlooking the jungle, belong to Cambodia, but the most practical entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.
Both sides claim some of the surrounding territory and say a full resolution of the decades-long dispute is likely to involve protracted negotiations.
The latest conflict has enflamed nationalist sentiment in both countries. In Cambodia, holding a strong stance on the temple helped Prime Minister Hun Sen win general elections on Sunday.
In Thailand, embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is threatened by nationalist protesters who have made the temple a core issue in calling for his resignation.
8 comments:
Thais want Khmer oil, but they won't get it. Khmers will build a strong army. But I don't think anyone will sell the missiles to Hun Sen, because the US and China are afraid it will fall into the wrong hands it could destroy million lives. We all know how Hun Sen is.
It seems entirely possible that a bullet could come out of the barrel at any time, and the diplomatic equation will change, and perhaps bring about the newly elected government.
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 have many Generals, Excellencies, Samdachs.. Ministers Deputy Minister Deputy Prime Ministers....
Governors..... Pleasde use Iron Fist NOT plastic Fist.."
The Khmer army is brave only with Khmer... this remind me about the Land Dispute with People in Cambodia... Thai understand well the Psycological Conditions of Khmers through land dispute while Armed forces are used to grab Lands by high Rank Officials,,Tycoons...I remember they also shot People Cows/buffollos when they walk around the Land of Tycoon Ly Yong Phat in Koh Kong... alot of cows/oxes...as animals were killed by our armies... BUT WHEN THE SIAMS CAME/COME IN OUR TERRITORY OUR GENERRALS ARMIES BECOME QUIET UNDER PRETEXT OF PEACEFUL PATIENT NEGOTIATION.....
"I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT KHER ARMY DO NOT DARE TO SHOT SIAMS ROBBERS....."
"THAI LOOK DOWNM ON OUR GOVERNMENT"
Thi believes that Khmer Leaders will surrender.."
"..This is a National Embrassement"
Please remember Copmpatriots....
Excellency Bandit General Oknha Achar Knoy= Phd. from Chea Chamreorun Unv. PPenh.
what are you waiting, start shoot these khmer soldiers. These soldiers are not up to the challenge.
8:13 PM....
I don't see any khmer solder hurt. But, I saw one thai solder got blowed out to the air and lost a leg. Who is better?
8:13,
What are you waiting for...... shoot at your intended target not up in the air? Man enough? See what happen!
"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!
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