PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The Cambodian government said Thursday it will not back down from a demand that hundreds of Thai troops leave disputed land near a historic temple, contending that its Southeast Asian neighbor is trying to "permanently occupy" the site.
But Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith also insisted that his country's military will do everything it can to avoid a clash with Thai soldiers stationed a few hundred yards from the 11th century Preah Vihear temple near their border.
"We cannot soften our position because this is a violation of our territorial integrity," he told a news conference. "Thailand is trying to turn its aggression into a permanent occupation."
Military tensions between the two countries over 1.8 square miles of land intensified earlier this month after UNESCO approved a Cambodian application to have the temple designated a World Heritage Site.
Thailand sent troops to the border July 15 after anti-government demonstrators attacked Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government for supporting Cambodia's application. They claim the temple's new status will undermine Thailand's claim to land around the temple. Cambodia followed suit with its own troop deployment.
Cambodia has since taken its complaint to the U.N. Security Council after talks on Monday with Thailand failed to solve the crisis. The Security Council is expected to take up the matter soon.
"We are worried by the situation and by the potential tension due to the situation raising around the temple," France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said Wednesday. "Everybody was in favor of discussing the situation."
Thailand wants the dispute solved bilaterally. On Wednesday, the country's U.N. ambassador, Don Pramudwinai, accused Cambodia of bringing the quarrel before the Security Council because "the Cambodian target is not only Preah Vihear but the entire common border."
Cambodian says some 4,000 troops from both countries are massed in the area around Preah Vihear. Thailand says it has 400 troops in the area and that Cambodia has 1,700.
Don said Cambodia was trying to force Thailand to accept a French colonial map's demarcation of the border.
Thailand relies on a different map drawn up later with American technical assistance, but accepts a ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded the disputed temple to Cambodia in 1962.
But Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith also insisted that his country's military will do everything it can to avoid a clash with Thai soldiers stationed a few hundred yards from the 11th century Preah Vihear temple near their border.
"We cannot soften our position because this is a violation of our territorial integrity," he told a news conference. "Thailand is trying to turn its aggression into a permanent occupation."
Military tensions between the two countries over 1.8 square miles of land intensified earlier this month after UNESCO approved a Cambodian application to have the temple designated a World Heritage Site.
Thailand sent troops to the border July 15 after anti-government demonstrators attacked Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government for supporting Cambodia's application. They claim the temple's new status will undermine Thailand's claim to land around the temple. Cambodia followed suit with its own troop deployment.
Cambodia has since taken its complaint to the U.N. Security Council after talks on Monday with Thailand failed to solve the crisis. The Security Council is expected to take up the matter soon.
"We are worried by the situation and by the potential tension due to the situation raising around the temple," France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said Wednesday. "Everybody was in favor of discussing the situation."
Thailand wants the dispute solved bilaterally. On Wednesday, the country's U.N. ambassador, Don Pramudwinai, accused Cambodia of bringing the quarrel before the Security Council because "the Cambodian target is not only Preah Vihear but the entire common border."
Cambodian says some 4,000 troops from both countries are massed in the area around Preah Vihear. Thailand says it has 400 troops in the area and that Cambodia has 1,700.
Don said Cambodia was trying to force Thailand to accept a French colonial map's demarcation of the border.
Thailand relies on a different map drawn up later with American technical assistance, but accepts a ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded the disputed temple to Cambodia in 1962.
5 comments:
Don Pramudwinai,
It is kind of ignorant of you to state that Cambodia play guerrilla tactic and that your genuine cooperation with Cambodia was blinded by Cambodia’s exterior motive-a move to claim all 4.6 as part of Cambodia.
It is Thailand all along play military power tactic against weaker Cambodia. All analysts agreed that Thailand was to BLAMED for this problem. It is your politicians and your ultra-nationalist PAD to blame for your social and political unrest and instability. I foresee another military coup is looming in coming days.
KevinKhmer
We should accept bilateral talking with Thailand only they remove the troops from our land. The Government should not postpone the emergency meeting of UN security council. Let bring Thai to the ICJ again.
It seems that they sacrifice Camboidia sovereignty right for the survival of the ASEAN and the UN is a not in a hurry to do his job either.
The Hun Sen government should prepare it's army. If this situation linger to much we'll kick the Siam out of our territory ourself.
I don't think it it will change anything to go to the ICJ.
If the UN is this serious toward Cambodia, going to the ICJ is just a waste of time.
The government should make sure that our troops in shape and get the right military material. Nobody will help in this Siam made shit.
So what, 11:12? Cambodia go to ICJ, and the UN boot Thai out of the UN. So what will that get you?
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