PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP)
Thailand has boosted its military forces on disputed land at the Cambodian border, an army official said Wednesday, after two days of simmering tensions over an ancient Hindu temple.
Publicly, officials from both nations have called for talks to peacefully resolve the dispute over a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) area near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple that is home to a small Cambodian village.
But Thailand's army chief, General Anupong Paojinda, ordered 140 elite soldiers to the border to pressure Cambodia to the bargaining table, an army official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Thailand is angry that Cambodia has allowed its people to build a village in the disputed area, he said.
"The additional 140 troops will work in a temporary outpost to press Cambodian officials to bring the issue to Township Border Committee, so Thailand can push the Cambodian community out of the overlapping area," the official said.
More than 250 Thai forces and 380 Cambodian soldiers were already stationed around a Buddhist pagoda in the disputed territory, located on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of the ancient Khmer temple.
Thailand's air force chief Chalit Pukbhasuk told reporters that an F-16 fighter was conducting surveillance flights over the region.
"Which country does that disputed area belong to?" he said, expressing frustration at the standoff.
"Has Cambodia staged a de facto occupation of the area?"
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that his country was ready to hold talks, but did not say whether Phnom Penh would discuss border demarcation.
"We are ready to meet, and after that we will decide what to discuss. What we want to discuss is the presence of the two forces," he told AFP.
In Bangkok, Anupong also urged talks.
"There should be negotiations between the two countries. The problem has been unaddressed for a long time because there has been no demarcation of the border yet," he told reporters.
The standoff began after three Thai protesters crossed a Cambodian military barricade to try to reach Preah Vihear. Cambodia arrested them, but returned them to Thailand later in the day.
But following the arrest, dozens of Thai soldiers arrived at the Buddhist pagoda in the village in the disputed zone.
Both sides have slowly increased their troop presence, though no violence has broken out.
One Thai soldier was injured when he stepped on a landmine in the disputed zone, possibly a remnant from the decades of war that once plagued the border.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in both countries after the UN cultural agency UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage status earlier this month.
Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, when Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to extend his decades-long grip on power.
He has portrayed the UN recognition of the ruins as a national triumph, organising huge public celebrations.
In Thailand, critics of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej -- already the target of street protests -- have stoked the temple controversy to fire up nationalist sentiment.
Samak's government had originally signed a deal supporting Cambodia's bid to make the ruins a World Heritage site, but a court overturned the pact, forcing the resignation of foreign minister Noppadon Pattama.
The parliamentary opposition is now mulling impeachment motions against the entire cabinet.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. The exact border around the ruins remains in dispute, with the main compound lying inside Cambodia but the most accessible entrance at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.
Publicly, officials from both nations have called for talks to peacefully resolve the dispute over a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) area near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple that is home to a small Cambodian village.
But Thailand's army chief, General Anupong Paojinda, ordered 140 elite soldiers to the border to pressure Cambodia to the bargaining table, an army official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Thailand is angry that Cambodia has allowed its people to build a village in the disputed area, he said.
"The additional 140 troops will work in a temporary outpost to press Cambodian officials to bring the issue to Township Border Committee, so Thailand can push the Cambodian community out of the overlapping area," the official said.
More than 250 Thai forces and 380 Cambodian soldiers were already stationed around a Buddhist pagoda in the disputed territory, located on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of the ancient Khmer temple.
Thailand's air force chief Chalit Pukbhasuk told reporters that an F-16 fighter was conducting surveillance flights over the region.
"Which country does that disputed area belong to?" he said, expressing frustration at the standoff.
"Has Cambodia staged a de facto occupation of the area?"
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that his country was ready to hold talks, but did not say whether Phnom Penh would discuss border demarcation.
"We are ready to meet, and after that we will decide what to discuss. What we want to discuss is the presence of the two forces," he told AFP.
In Bangkok, Anupong also urged talks.
"There should be negotiations between the two countries. The problem has been unaddressed for a long time because there has been no demarcation of the border yet," he told reporters.
The standoff began after three Thai protesters crossed a Cambodian military barricade to try to reach Preah Vihear. Cambodia arrested them, but returned them to Thailand later in the day.
But following the arrest, dozens of Thai soldiers arrived at the Buddhist pagoda in the village in the disputed zone.
Both sides have slowly increased their troop presence, though no violence has broken out.
One Thai soldier was injured when he stepped on a landmine in the disputed zone, possibly a remnant from the decades of war that once plagued the border.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in both countries after the UN cultural agency UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage status earlier this month.
Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, when Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to extend his decades-long grip on power.
He has portrayed the UN recognition of the ruins as a national triumph, organising huge public celebrations.
In Thailand, critics of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej -- already the target of street protests -- have stoked the temple controversy to fire up nationalist sentiment.
Samak's government had originally signed a deal supporting Cambodia's bid to make the ruins a World Heritage site, but a court overturned the pact, forcing the resignation of foreign minister Noppadon Pattama.
The parliamentary opposition is now mulling impeachment motions against the entire cabinet.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. The exact border around the ruins remains in dispute, with the main compound lying inside Cambodia but the most accessible entrance at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.
11 comments:
"The Thai troops could leave the Cambodian territory only after they signed documents to admit their incursion," local newspapers Wednesday quoted him (Khieu Kanharith)as saying.
=The Thaicong army is weak because they try to use the Thaicong protesters as human shield! Why would the fucken Thaicong army want to go to war by hiding among the Thaicong protesters? Why?
The fucken Thaicong army is cheaper than a terrorist by hiding themselves among the unarmed Thaicong civilians and hoping that Cambodian soldiers would shoot the unarmed Thaicong civilians so that the Thaicong army can claim their righteousness!
Fuck all you Thaicong mother fucker and you are cheaper than a terrorist for putting your unarmed civilian in harm way! And it is no wonder the Muslim militants in Southern Thailame will target any Thaicong civilians because this is how the Thaicong army behaves by hiding among their population!
There is no such thing as overlapping area according to the world map of 1904 and 1907 ruled by the world court! I suggest the fucken Thaicong army get the hell out along with their sorry arse Thaicong unarmed civilians who are being use as human shield!
Fear no Thaicong!
Cambodia needs to field more portable SAM (Surface to Air Missiles) to shoot down any Thaicong jet fighters that want to conduct illegal surveillance flights over Cambodian territory.
United States help Cambodia to destroy their SAM (Surface to Air Missile) stock piles due to the terrorist threat and now the Thaicong has become a terrorist and threaten Cambodia peace and stability and United States has the responsibility and the obligation to sell Cambodia the PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM and if United States refuses and Cambodia can turn to China for the unlimited supply of SAM!
No Thaicong jet fighters will be safe over Cambodian air space!
Dont listen to the thai double talk:
The only good thai is a dead thai.
DIE DIE DIE
THAI THAI THAI
this is our rallying cry for the khmer nation!
That will not help your case, stupid (11:43). The Khmer People in Issan will not let you keep their temple.
the articles i read never mention the fact that the 1907 treaty was signed to create the boundary line. i think this is the real dispute here is the 1907 treaty line of the border, however, the icj in 1962 ruled in favor of cambodia already about this same dispute on the 1907 treaty, so, what part did thailand not understand? why are they still say that the border line is at the gate of the temple? not so, in accordance to the icj verdict which ruled that the 1907 treaty was the legitimate boundary line between cambodia and thailand. so there is the lawful facts in black and white!
No, the 1907 treaty was sign to protect Thailand from the French infidel invader; that is all. But they are defeated by Indochinese; therefore, everyone is no longer bind to the French infidel's treaties that is no longer ruling Indochina.
6:31 AM...
Indochinese included Cambodia. If the French was defeated by Indochinese, it means that it was defeated by Cambodia. So, whatever the French had must belong to Cambodia. The 1907 treaty was to protect Thailand giving khmer lands back to the khmer king that time.
2:37AM... We have already kept it. Come and take it...But, you must not steep on the mines.
6:51 AM
Brilliant argument, did you thought about all by yourself?
Now go to the ICJ and tell them what you just write.
It will be sensational, trust me.
What is this Anupong asshole is talking about, that Cambodia is impress by your 140 monkeys!
Do you think Cambodia will kneel in front of you and give whatever you ask?
Fuck man are you a general or a monkey???
You watch way to much Rambo movies!!!
By the way an F-16 in the jungle not very useful. Careful not to be shut down.
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