The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodia reasserted its claim Tuesday over ancient border temples that also are claimed by Thailand ahead of talks next week on lingering territorial disputes.
The foreign ministers of the two countries are to meet Monday in Thailand to try to defuse military standoffs along their shared border - first near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple and then at the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple.
Ta Moan Thom is several hundred miles (kilometers) west of Preah Vihear, where Cambodian and Thai soldiers have been facing off for four weeks in a dispute over 1.8 square miles (4.6 square kilometers) of nearby land.
The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that Ta Moan Thom "is clearly situated in the Cambodian territory."
It said a nearby temple, Ta Moan Toch, which has been occupied by Thai troops also belongs to Cambodia.
Thailand has also laid claims to both temples.
Late last month, Cambodian officials said Thai soldiers had occupied the site and prevented Cambodian troops from entering. Thai military officials countered that their troops had been in the area for years.
Last week, the standoff there appeared to have eased, with both sides pulling back their soldiers.
But Thai troops have reoccupied the area since then, Maj. Ho Bunthy, a Cambodian army commander in the area, said Tuesday.
He said about 50 Cambodian soldiers have now positioned themselves in close proximity to about 120 Thai troops who are stationed on the temple grounds and in a camp nearby.
"The Thai troops are guarding a gate to the temple, and Cambodian soldiers are standing just outside the gate," he said in a telephone interview.
The two countries share about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of land border, which has not been fully demarcated.
The dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple escalated last month after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have it named a World Heritage Site. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had backed the bid, sparking demonstrations by anti-government protesters who claimed the temple's new status would undermine Thailand's claim to the surrounding area.
The dispute has continued despite two rounds of talks since last month, with the countries referring to two different maps.
Cambodia uses a French colonial map demarcating the border, which Thailand says favors Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.
The foreign ministers of the two countries are to meet Monday in Thailand to try to defuse military standoffs along their shared border - first near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple and then at the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple.
Ta Moan Thom is several hundred miles (kilometers) west of Preah Vihear, where Cambodian and Thai soldiers have been facing off for four weeks in a dispute over 1.8 square miles (4.6 square kilometers) of nearby land.
The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that Ta Moan Thom "is clearly situated in the Cambodian territory."
It said a nearby temple, Ta Moan Toch, which has been occupied by Thai troops also belongs to Cambodia.
Thailand has also laid claims to both temples.
Late last month, Cambodian officials said Thai soldiers had occupied the site and prevented Cambodian troops from entering. Thai military officials countered that their troops had been in the area for years.
Last week, the standoff there appeared to have eased, with both sides pulling back their soldiers.
But Thai troops have reoccupied the area since then, Maj. Ho Bunthy, a Cambodian army commander in the area, said Tuesday.
He said about 50 Cambodian soldiers have now positioned themselves in close proximity to about 120 Thai troops who are stationed on the temple grounds and in a camp nearby.
"The Thai troops are guarding a gate to the temple, and Cambodian soldiers are standing just outside the gate," he said in a telephone interview.
The two countries share about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of land border, which has not been fully demarcated.
The dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple escalated last month after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have it named a World Heritage Site. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had backed the bid, sparking demonstrations by anti-government protesters who claimed the temple's new status would undermine Thailand's claim to the surrounding area.
The dispute has continued despite two rounds of talks since last month, with the countries referring to two different maps.
Cambodia uses a French colonial map demarcating the border, which Thailand says favors Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.
5 comments:
Ah Hun you should stop playing with Preah Vihear.
The day you have the permission from your boss Youn to go to the UN then you can bark.
We kinda tire of your game.
Ah Hun Sen is the Yuon and Siam servants. He share the eastern border approx. 30km x 800km long inside Cambodia with Yuon.
Now he wants to share with his Siam about the same as yuon.
We call Hun Sen's Government to step down, and replace SRP whom the most capable Leadership to guide the Cambodia.
Hun Sen'ship about to sink into the Tunle 4 face.
SRP demand Hun Sen's government to step down, and replace SRP to deal with yuon and Siam.
Oh..my god!!
These guys can not help but barking at their own leader, potraiting their won fellow Khmer. But at the end of their comments, they admited that they are puppets of SRP.
Why don't you just say "If you Hun Sen still in politics, people will vote for you, not SRP" Please, give our SRP some seats, so that we can survive.."
Be rather brave to accept your won weakness than to accuse others with no grounds. Because if you still keep behaving like this, SRP will never gain any much popularity. And if you still use the same language, sing the same song, "Hun Sen ah yong Youn and Siam"..there's no way you can win, mate..!! We,21st century Cambodian people, are not stupid anymore. But we are much more mature in polictics than you thought we are.
PS: I'm not being favoured of any side but I think you SRP should stop using this unsuccessful strategy.
Rabbit,
The Monarsh Univeristy
5:23 Can he deal with what you said. What is the proof. he is going to transport army from American to face with Youn and Siem. How many American soldiers to face with 4 millions Youn and about 1 millions Siem soldiers. Will armecian help him with free of charge.
Can you explaint.
I am a student. I want to learn more. I need a real proof.
5:23, American lost face in southeast asia since they ran away from its own allies. There is no one in the world would trust american any more. on the otherhand, Vietnam is the most powerful forces in the region with full experience fighting force who ranking number 7th in the world.
just say no, to american in southeast asia.
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