DPA
Phnom Penh - The Thai embassy in Cambodia called Thai nationals for a meeting Thursday to advise on options in case they require evacuation after upcoming national elections, a Thai business representative and Cambodian officials said.
A representative from the Thai Business Association of Cambodia who declined to be named said the Thai embassy had called a meeting Thursday in Phnom Penh to discuss emergency options for Thai citizens in case of problems after national elections scheduled for Sunday.
However, she said most Thai businesses were so far not affected by cross-border tensions and continued business as usual. Cambodian government officials said they were aware of the meeting and stressed it was routine consular protocol.
'The embassy just told us what time until after the vote finishes for Cambodians that we had time to call the embassy if we want to leave,' the Thai Business Association spokeswoman said.
'But no problem. Right now for Thai businesses in Cambodia everything is still happy - no problem. We did not have a problem,' she said.
Thailand and Cambodia began a troop build-up along their border shortly after UNESCO declared the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, 300 kilometres north of Phnom Penh, a World Heritage site earlier this month, citing disputed surrounding territory.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith again urged calm Thursday and said what Thailand felt was in the best interests of its citizens was up to the Thais, but added that Cambodia has no intentions of aggression.
'If Thailand wants to stop business, that is their loss,' he said.
Cambodia has asked the UN for intervention.
Despite tensions and some voluntary evacuations of some locals on the disputed border, business continues as usual in the capital and most provinces, government officials and business people said.
However, security is tight, with national elections due Sunday and the memories of an angry Cambodian mob in 2003 torching the Thai embassy and a number of Thai businesses over rumours a Thai actress had claimed Cambodia's other World Heritage site, Angkor Wat, was Thai.
The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh could not be contacted Thursday.
A representative from the Thai Business Association of Cambodia who declined to be named said the Thai embassy had called a meeting Thursday in Phnom Penh to discuss emergency options for Thai citizens in case of problems after national elections scheduled for Sunday.
However, she said most Thai businesses were so far not affected by cross-border tensions and continued business as usual. Cambodian government officials said they were aware of the meeting and stressed it was routine consular protocol.
'The embassy just told us what time until after the vote finishes for Cambodians that we had time to call the embassy if we want to leave,' the Thai Business Association spokeswoman said.
'But no problem. Right now for Thai businesses in Cambodia everything is still happy - no problem. We did not have a problem,' she said.
Thailand and Cambodia began a troop build-up along their border shortly after UNESCO declared the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, 300 kilometres north of Phnom Penh, a World Heritage site earlier this month, citing disputed surrounding territory.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith again urged calm Thursday and said what Thailand felt was in the best interests of its citizens was up to the Thais, but added that Cambodia has no intentions of aggression.
'If Thailand wants to stop business, that is their loss,' he said.
Cambodia has asked the UN for intervention.
Despite tensions and some voluntary evacuations of some locals on the disputed border, business continues as usual in the capital and most provinces, government officials and business people said.
However, security is tight, with national elections due Sunday and the memories of an angry Cambodian mob in 2003 torching the Thai embassy and a number of Thai businesses over rumours a Thai actress had claimed Cambodia's other World Heritage site, Angkor Wat, was Thai.
The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh could not be contacted Thursday.
4 comments:
If after the general election and the issue of the Security Council's meeting of the UNO, the government makes nothing to make leave the troops thais of our territory, we are going to create a front armed with volunteers and we are going to dislodge by weapons the troops thais of our territory.
The troops can stay in their own Issan province for as long as they like, just like Canadian troop can stay in Canada for as long as they like, and the French (the former owner) can't do shit about it.
Business as usual, my ass!
Who are you trying to kid? Yourself?
No, what used to be normal simply not normal anymore.
Kigu===
Stupid Issan dude again. Well, at least you did your homework about the Issan region, which is in the north eastern of Thailand. Issan Province does not exist. Only Preah Vihear Province does. We Khmers don't want the dispute gets out hand either. So, the Thais solders should withdraw back the status quo before July 15. Of course, you guys will gain profits too from the listing of the temple. The secrete deal the Thailand and Cambodia did was to let Cambodia own the temple and the rich Thais can build hotels and Casinos to make money from tourists and gamblers. This is called joint development. You understand? You people living the region can come and visit as well. Don't worry, you have to pay the fee to get in.
From Khmer Issan living in Preah Vihear Province.
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