ARANYAPRATHET, Thailand, July 21 (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia began high-level talks on Monday aimed at resolving a military stand-off over the disputed Preah Vihear temple on their joint border.
After a week of diplomatic sparring and a build-up of troops, expectations for a breakthrough were low, but both sides said they wanted to ease tensions in a dispute that has regional neighbours worried it could turn violent.
"We believe they will agree to our reasonable offer which will help ease the tension along the border," Thai Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit told reporters before meeting Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh.
"We hope they will have a similar offer that we can accept," Boonsrang said, without giving details of the Thai proposal.
The two met in the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, about 350 km (215 miles) from the 11th century temple that has been a source of tension for decades after it was bestowed by an international court to Cambodia in 1962.
Hundreds of Thai and Cambodian troops have faced each other at the temple since last Tuesday, backed up by several thousand more troops and heavy artillery on both sides.
In Phnom Penh, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith did not expect a swift end to the stand-off, but "at least it will ease some of the tension because both sides have agreed to sit down at the negotiating table."
At the heart of the dispute is a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area around the temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary, that is claimed by both nations.
Cambodia complained to the U.N. Security Council on Friday about Thailand's violation of Cambodia's "sovereignty and territorial integrity", but did not ask the U.N. to intervene.
"While Cambodia exercises maximum restraint to avoid armed confrontation, we cannot ignore that Thai military provocation is to create a de facto 'overlapping area' that legally does not exist on Cambodia soil," Phnom Penh's U.N. ambassador Sea Kosal said.
ASEAN URGES RESTRAINT
Thai troops moved into the disputed area last Tuesday after three Thai protesters were detained by Cambodian soldiers as they tried to plant a Thai flag on the temple.
The dispute has revived memories of a 2003 spat over Cambodia's world famous Angkor Wat temple, which saw a nationalist mob setting fire to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, and worried neighbours.
The 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged its fellow members Thailand and Cambodia to show "utmost caution and restraint" and offered to help resolve the impasse.
"They are hoping that the two sides will find amicable resolution to the situation," Surin Pitsuan, ASEAN Secretary-General, told reporters at the start of the annual ASEAN ministerial meeting in Singapore.
Analysts say domestic politics in Thailand, where the temple is known as Khao Pra Viharn, have played a key role in fuelling the border dispute.
Preah Vihear's listing as a World Heritage site this month triggered a political uproar in Bangkok, where the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accused the government of selling out Thailand's history by initially backing the listing.
The PAD, a coalition of activists and royalists, is waging a street campaign against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they accuse of being a proxy of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006.
"The PAD will use any tool, any instrument to bring down the Samak government. Khao Pra Viharn is a casualty of Thailand's domestic political crisis," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a foreign affairs lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in PHNOM PENH)
(Writing by Darren Schuettler; Editing by Alex Richardson)
After a week of diplomatic sparring and a build-up of troops, expectations for a breakthrough were low, but both sides said they wanted to ease tensions in a dispute that has regional neighbours worried it could turn violent.
"We believe they will agree to our reasonable offer which will help ease the tension along the border," Thai Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit told reporters before meeting Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh.
"We hope they will have a similar offer that we can accept," Boonsrang said, without giving details of the Thai proposal.
The two met in the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, about 350 km (215 miles) from the 11th century temple that has been a source of tension for decades after it was bestowed by an international court to Cambodia in 1962.
Hundreds of Thai and Cambodian troops have faced each other at the temple since last Tuesday, backed up by several thousand more troops and heavy artillery on both sides.
In Phnom Penh, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith did not expect a swift end to the stand-off, but "at least it will ease some of the tension because both sides have agreed to sit down at the negotiating table."
At the heart of the dispute is a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area around the temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary, that is claimed by both nations.
Cambodia complained to the U.N. Security Council on Friday about Thailand's violation of Cambodia's "sovereignty and territorial integrity", but did not ask the U.N. to intervene.
"While Cambodia exercises maximum restraint to avoid armed confrontation, we cannot ignore that Thai military provocation is to create a de facto 'overlapping area' that legally does not exist on Cambodia soil," Phnom Penh's U.N. ambassador Sea Kosal said.
ASEAN URGES RESTRAINT
Thai troops moved into the disputed area last Tuesday after three Thai protesters were detained by Cambodian soldiers as they tried to plant a Thai flag on the temple.
The dispute has revived memories of a 2003 spat over Cambodia's world famous Angkor Wat temple, which saw a nationalist mob setting fire to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, and worried neighbours.
The 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged its fellow members Thailand and Cambodia to show "utmost caution and restraint" and offered to help resolve the impasse.
"They are hoping that the two sides will find amicable resolution to the situation," Surin Pitsuan, ASEAN Secretary-General, told reporters at the start of the annual ASEAN ministerial meeting in Singapore.
Analysts say domestic politics in Thailand, where the temple is known as Khao Pra Viharn, have played a key role in fuelling the border dispute.
Preah Vihear's listing as a World Heritage site this month triggered a political uproar in Bangkok, where the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accused the government of selling out Thailand's history by initially backing the listing.
The PAD, a coalition of activists and royalists, is waging a street campaign against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they accuse of being a proxy of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006.
"The PAD will use any tool, any instrument to bring down the Samak government. Khao Pra Viharn is a casualty of Thailand's domestic political crisis," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a foreign affairs lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in PHNOM PENH)
(Writing by Darren Schuettler; Editing by Alex Richardson)
31 comments:
THERE WILL MORE 1000 CAMBODIAN AMERICAN PROTEST IN FROM OF THAI EMBASSY IN D.C THE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN DEMAND THE THAI ARMFORCE TO GET THE HELL OUT OF PREAH VIHEAR AREA!!!
Congradulation Cambodian-American. I support you and encourage all Cambodian people who live in EU, Australia to create the demand protest such that in front of Thai Embassies.
I appreciate your commitment and high love.
Long Live Preah Vihear, and surronding Cambodian Land.
Be down Thais.
DON'T JUST SAY.IT'S USELESS..DO IT! YOU ALL ARE GOOD AT PROTESTING AGAIN YOUR HOME COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT AGAINST FOREIGN INVADERS. SHOW ME, DON'T SWALLOW YOUR WORDS, DO IT.
It's a time to "smile" and a time to "kill," and -- very important--the Thai need to remember that we (Cambodians)are smiling and shaking your hands (with shaking our heads), but we'll shoot and kill you later. Remember that -- and remember it well. You are Cambodian historic archfoe, and we'll make sure it should stay that way for a long, long time.
God bless Cambodia and her Preah Vihear!
Khmer ultra-nationalist
Yeah, and remember that you will always be a loser as usual since day1.
2:12 PM
You must be egregiously audacious and bold now while the Bangkok city (the city of copious whores) still standing; however, the collapse is impending.
Khmer ultra-nationalist
Please All Khmers Stand up against the Siams by diplomatic resort.
We, Khmers, will no longer let the historical SIAM expansionists do what have done to our Khmers like in the past.
We, Khmers of new generation, do not let SIAMS to blind the world. We have to do everything we can in non-violence to settle this border issue before resorting to military means.
To swallow our Khmer Land, the two expansionist neighbors – Yuons and Siams - have set Khmers against Khmers for many centuries until now. They have even killed and massacred Khmers and then blamed Khmers for killing each other. Actually, they have masterminded the genocide of Khmers to weaken the Khmer Nation and eliminate the Khmer Race.
The history of how the Yuons and Siams have destroyed Khmers to roots is very long. However, the recent events of border demarcation with YUONS are hurting Khmers. Khmers lose again.
Seeing this, Greedy SIAMS want to fish in Khmer troubled water. Siams do not care about the International Court of Justice's decision in 1962 or that of UNESCO or French-Siam agreement in 1902 and so on..
To all Khmers, BE KHMERS AT HEART AND MIND IN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY.
To Siams of original Khmer blood, you can either sit on the fence in this matter or join Khmer Brothers for our survival.
To the International Community, Find Justice for Khmers.
Black Cat
What Thai expansion? Thailand is getting smaller and smaller since the French arrived, and it has not change since the 15th century. On the other hand, Cambodia is getting bigger and bigger by using their mighty French Colonial to steal lands and temples from Thailand. So what are you talking about?
In any case, since your mighty French colonial is no longer with you, we just want our land and temple back, and that is it. Do you mind?
Stupid Siamized head,
Where were Siams in 11th Century when Prasat Preah Vihea was built?
Did You SIAMS Built it? You are too much brainwashed by Siam ideology.
And where were France in the 17th century, moron?
The soon-war-torn Thailand will learn the cataclysmic repercussion when the regional war breaks, if diplmatic dialoque failed. The Thai black-clad extremists shall soon learn their fate (the hard way).
Remember, sufferings, trials and tribulations will be brought onto the country of Thailand.
May the Lord Buddha bless Cambodia and her people and her temple as we are beginning to massacre our historic archfoes.
Khmer ultra-nationalist
Laos, Burma, Thai Muslims (from the South), and Cambodia, boy -- I could the resounding of impending collapse of the city of copious whores (of course, Thailand).
Khmer ultra-nationalist
Just want to ask Bangkok Post...Who is this "Pridiyathorn"? Can he/she prove his statement that "significant parts of the Preah Vihear temple site were in Thai territory". Prove it here, little tricky siam!!! or else, close your smelly mouth...
Dear all,
Let's not fighting with each other, khmer and khmer. This is the time that we should together as one. Let's focus on helping our troop who are protecting our land at the border around the country. We should ask ourselves, are we contributing enough to our heros who stand along the border to protect our motherland from all invaders... Are we doing enough to keep those hero healthy? are we providing enough food for them? Are we providing them enough weapons and moral and psychological support to face with invader's psychological warfare? Let's be as one... One khmer, one nation and one spirit!!!!
My brother and sister around the world:
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand. If we can be together on this matter, we will partly win this war... The Siam will turn to fight each other once they start to lose their individual benefits... Let's use this strategy to help fight this war with our soldiers along Khmer Thai border.
The sitting primate mistress of Thailand should spend a few nights together with the monkey king to de-escalate the escalating tensions.
Fuck Thai primate mistress and the monkey king!
We khmer have big land to develop. Did we do well with it yet? Why we need to have problem with other country for just face. It's not pride. It's not pride to make our ancestor unhappy to see ancient brothers fight and kill each other. I dont' think we need it.
We khmer are entrapped in political and benefit of just some khmer businessmen. We don't really need thai mountain. We can build up our economy without it. Don't blind ourselves. We and Thai are neighbour. We both can't move the country to other place. Our politician gets vote with feeling of Vihear. But what we get? How many khmers actually get benefit from that thai mountain? How many khmer will die? It's just feeling and face. But the war will kill our people. And what about future? Are you sure you will get better life with it? For me, I don't believe.
Why don't we khmer create our civilization of mind in the present time, instead of claiming on hundreds years ago civilization. We are now going back to the past, not the future. How can civilization remains, if we kill people? How many of you have seen the real vihear at that place? We khmer just imagine. What will we get from vihear? Does it really good for living? How many children are now starving in our khmer land. Do we think about them?
Look at your house... How about your house's neighbour? Do you think you and your neighbour need a good fence? Why do we have to broke our neighbour's fence to fight? It doesn't bring peace to both of our house.
Our khmer people live well in Thailand at the border. Why do we have to make them die? I don't think Thailand as bad as we all think now. I hate war.
Why we don't listen to our khmers who don't like war? The one who support war don't die, innocent people die instead. I hate it absolutely. Thai's land won't make our live happy, both now and future.
we khmer hate war but it doesn't mean we accept to be swallowed by ah chor siam.
or we fight, or we die!
I strongly support the boycott the world of siam product, called by comment 5.17pm.
Every Khmer patriot all over the world should follow this recommendation.
PREAH VIHEAR BELONGS TO US.
WE LEGALLY OWN IT. (THE TREATY 1907
FRANCO-THAI, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN LA HAGUE 1962, THE PARIS PEACE AGREEMENT 1991.
WHY DOES HUN XEN WANT TO NEGOCIATE IT WITH SIAM?
IT SMELLS SOMETHING WORSE TO KHMER!
Terrorism & Counterterrorism
Violence in Thailand's Muslim South Intensifies
Jun 6, 2007 – By Nancy-Amelia Collins, VOA
Jakarta -- In Thailand's Muslim-dominated south, an increasingly violent insurgency is breeding fear and mistrust among neighbors, and government efforts to bring peace have made little progress. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins recently traveled to the region and has this report.
Some call it a war; others describe the almost daily bombings, arson, beheadings, and drive-by-shootings in southern Thailand as an ethnic cleansing.
A Thai Muslim girl (far L) salutes a soldier on patrol while heading back home along with friends in Thailand's insurgency-torn southern Narathiwat province, June 6, 2007.
Whatever it is called, it does not change the fact that more than 2,000 people have died since a Muslim insurgency flared up in 2004 in Thailand's Muslim-majority southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.
While the majority of Thailand's 65 million people are Buddhists, around 1.3 million ethnic Malay Muslims live in the south.
Most identify more with Muslim Malaysia and the Melayu language than with Thai Buddhists.
Many have complained of discrimination and attempts at forced assimilation since Thailand annexed the region 100 years ago.
The shadowy insurgents have never identified themselves nor made any public demands. Officials and analysts widely believe they want to establish a separate Islamic state.
Monsour Salleh, an activist and businessman from Pattani town, sums up the views of many Muslims in the south.
"We have struggled through us that Islam is our discipline and way of life," Monsour said. "Of course this is because of Islam we can protect our identity, we can develop our soul, and we can develop our lifestyle. So the outside should understand that Islam is the main role of religion here, not Buddhist."
Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, says that as the violence escalates, the insurgents' goal becomes clearer.
"Now the idea of independence becoming clearer on the surface," Panitan said. "Now the idea of being a Melayu-based town, driving out other ethnic groups are being rising up on the surface."
The insurgents attack symbols of the government, including the armed forces, schools, businesses, workers in critical industries such as rubber, and places deemed un-Islamic, like bars that serve alcohol.
They also kill Muslims viewed as government collaborators.
The insurgents, however, primarily target Buddhists in what is believed to be an attempt to drive them from the region. Officials estimate tens of thousands have fled.
Many of the Buddhist temples here have closed and all are heavily guarded.
Prosonthon Pariyawithan is the senior monk of a Buddhist temple in Pattani.
"There are many temples here with no monks in them. The problem in southern Thailand is the insurgents want to destroy the Buddhist religion and kill Buddhist monks."
Although Prosonthon says residents must find a way to work for peace, he fears that will not happen.
"And I think the point of the violence here is to run the Buddhists out of southern Thailand," Prosonthon said.
Many Buddhists agree. Prayoondej Kanannruck is a lawyer and a member of the local government. He lost everything when insurgents set fire to his rubber plantation, and now, he says, he has lost faith in the government.
"The insurgents are destroying the region's economy and the government cannot control the violence or protect the people," Prayoondej said.
The government that took power in a military coup last September vowed to make peace in the south a priority, but has made little progress.
Francesca Lawe-Davies is an analyst with the International Crisis Group and has worked extensively in southern Thailand. She says the rising violence shows the security forces have failed.
"I think it signifies that the security forces have proved incapable of fighting this insurgency and that the rebels are increasingly confident and increasingly assertive," Lawe-Davies said.
The imam of the Central Mosque in Pattani, Yakob Hraimanee, says Buddhists and Muslims used to live in peace and must find a way to do so again.
"I believe the Buddhists think the Muslims are responsible for the violence and the Muslims do not know who is responsible for the violence. However, we must continue to try to bring peace to this land," Yakob said.
Kitipup Thongsin is a Buddhist and a teacher in Narathiwat. He says everyone, Buddhist and Muslim, is afraid.
"We cannot go out to work because we are afraid. Once night falls we never leave our homes," Kitipup said.
Many Buddhists and Muslims in southern Thailand say it is a tragedy that they, who once lived side by side in peace, now live in fear. Both sides worry now that trust and tolerance have broken down, this conflict could spiral out of control.
Courtesy VOA.
Thai is going down!
Everyone in Thailand will rebel or uprise to get their own independent.
So Khmer in Thailand needs to wake up, don't Thai's slave too long!!
If there is any justice in this world, the thai need to be punished. For being the aggressor, for no character, and for being a slime of nature.
The listing of the ancient temple is do, done and aggreed, signed.
Now the trouble-maker is still causing trouble.
The monkeys who climbed the 600 meters cliff to invade Issan Province must be thrown over the cliff back to Cambodia.
My brother and sister around the world:
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand. If we can be together on this matter, we will partly win this war... The Siam will turn to fight each other once they start to lose their individual benefits... that is their behavior...
Let's use this strategy to help fight this war with our soldiers along Khmer Thai border.
To my brother and sisters around the world:
One way to face this problem is to take care of our troop and our people who are standing along the border.
There is group that come together to do funds raising to help to build a hospital near the dispute area... this hospital will be for our khmer people, monks and our heros (soldiers) who represent us near the dispute area. if you all are interested in contributing to this acitivities,please contact me at khmerfundsforpreashvihear@gmail.com
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