The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Tension at a second border temple that is claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia has eased after troops of the two countries pulled back from the site, Cambodian officials said Wednesday.
Agreement for a troop withdrawal from the grounds of the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple was reached during a meeting between officials from the two countries late Tuesday, said Maj. Ho Bunthy, a Cambodian army commander in the area.
The sanctuary is located several hundred miles (kilometers) west of Preah Vihear temple, where Cambodian and Thai soldiers have been locked in a standoff for three weeks in a dispute over nearby territory.
Thailand sent troops to the border area after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the temple complex named a World Heritage Site. Some Thai officials say the temple's new status will jeopardize their country's claims to land adjacent to the site.
About 800 troops from Cambodia and 400 from Thailand remain in the Preah Vihear area despite a tentative agreement reached by foreign ministers last week to redeploy them in an effort to ease tensions.
Officials met to mediate the latest dispute in the Cambodian border town of O'Smach in Oddar Meanchey province, about 290 miles (460 kilometers) northwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, Ho Bunthy said.
"Now the situation has eased at the temple. There is no more armed confrontation" between the two sides' soldiers, said Cambodian Maj. Sim Sokha, a deputy commander of an army border unit in the area.
He said the 70 Thai and 50 Cambodian soldiers, who faced off at the temple, are now back in their respective camps about 330 yards (300 meters) from the temple.
He said the temple is now opened to tourists from both countries.
The dispute surrounding Ta Moan Thom started when Cambodian officials said some 70 Thai soldiers started occupying the temple site last week and prevented Cambodian troops from entering. Thai military officials countered that their troops had been in the area for years.
Thai army commander Gen. Anupong Paojinda said said Tuesday the temple is within "Thai territory."
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, however, said the temple "is clearly under our sovereignty, and we have to demand it back."
Ta Moan Thom temple was built in the 13th century as a rest house along a road linking the ancient city of Angkor with what is currently northeastern Thailand, said Chuch Phoeun of the Cambodian Ministry of Culture.
Agreement for a troop withdrawal from the grounds of the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple was reached during a meeting between officials from the two countries late Tuesday, said Maj. Ho Bunthy, a Cambodian army commander in the area.
The sanctuary is located several hundred miles (kilometers) west of Preah Vihear temple, where Cambodian and Thai soldiers have been locked in a standoff for three weeks in a dispute over nearby territory.
Thailand sent troops to the border area after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the temple complex named a World Heritage Site. Some Thai officials say the temple's new status will jeopardize their country's claims to land adjacent to the site.
About 800 troops from Cambodia and 400 from Thailand remain in the Preah Vihear area despite a tentative agreement reached by foreign ministers last week to redeploy them in an effort to ease tensions.
Officials met to mediate the latest dispute in the Cambodian border town of O'Smach in Oddar Meanchey province, about 290 miles (460 kilometers) northwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, Ho Bunthy said.
"Now the situation has eased at the temple. There is no more armed confrontation" between the two sides' soldiers, said Cambodian Maj. Sim Sokha, a deputy commander of an army border unit in the area.
He said the 70 Thai and 50 Cambodian soldiers, who faced off at the temple, are now back in their respective camps about 330 yards (300 meters) from the temple.
He said the temple is now opened to tourists from both countries.
The dispute surrounding Ta Moan Thom started when Cambodian officials said some 70 Thai soldiers started occupying the temple site last week and prevented Cambodian troops from entering. Thai military officials countered that their troops had been in the area for years.
Thai army commander Gen. Anupong Paojinda said said Tuesday the temple is within "Thai territory."
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, however, said the temple "is clearly under our sovereignty, and we have to demand it back."
Ta Moan Thom temple was built in the 13th century as a rest house along a road linking the ancient city of Angkor with what is currently northeastern Thailand, said Chuch Phoeun of the Cambodian Ministry of Culture.
7 comments:
I don't think this is a real move as long as both sides still claim it to be theirs.
Khmers should also develop the surrounding area of those Temples as well like building roads and other physical infrastrutures so that it can be another tourists spot and it can drive people to live nearby those areas. Unfortunately, I heard it is almost accessible from Cambodia side.
sorry, plz disregard my last sentence, it should be "almost inaccessible from Cambodia side"
SWOT Analyse
win-thai
Stength:
we are stronger because most of military support is from individual's private property-means we are rich no need government budget.
Siams use govt budget to supply army.
Human resources- a lot of Generals-Phd. Excellencies- Co-ministers/Primeministers/ a lot of Kings/Samdachs..Oknhas
Budget: unlimited- collecting from people/monks/poors
Military strength- qualified/ mostly ghost soldiers (invisible)-many Generals
Margic Spell/Black margic: very effective- one thai army died may be due AIDS
Financial resources: land/govt. , any stateowned properties buildings/ heritage natural resources can be sold quickly to buy weapons without any parliamentary Approval ...
Power- handed only one strong man/ every thing can be decided fast...
Political Parties: no need to oppose any govermental decision
Infrastructure-very poor- makes rhais army difficult to move into Cam-territory
Economy: Low- Thais have nothing to eat when invade into Cam....
Weakness:N/A
Oppoertuny- unknown
Treat: uncountable/unknown
Conclusdion- Cam wins Siams unconditionally
Excellency Dr. Bandit Oknha Achar Knoy- Phd. in multi-disciplinary Subjects: Poli/Multi-econom. Laws /From Chea Chamreourn Unviersity PPenh/Campuchia
1:52 pm,
Shut the hell up Achar Chmoy! You posted the same thing on every article.
Prah viharn, Prasat Tamuan, Cham sagnam and Koh Kong Halek etc.. de jure and de facto belong to thailand because more percent of thais people have chance to visit the sites, and all modern infrastructure/raod are well connected from Thailand and mostly are constructed and developed by Thailand.
Kham do nothing with those prasats...letf them lonelyspare for long time.
Chatchai
To 10:51AM
Who is telling you Thaicong mother fucker to do anything on Cambodian soil and don't you Thaicong mother fucker know anything better to do thing not being told because Cambodian can build all modern infrastructure/road from Cambodia too to attract tourists!
This is the heart of the fucken Thaicong-Cambodian conflict and the fucken Thaicong think that they know too much more than Cambodian and they like to go ahead do thing to violate Cambodian sovereignty to gain economic over Cambodia and then they try to claim their righteousness!
Fuck you Thaicong mother fucker and if you are not asked to do anything and you Thaicong mother fucker need to stay on your side of the border and no thank for your shitty infrastructure and road! Your fucken Thaicong roads are no more than a new Thaicong borderline in disguise aiming to steal Cambodian land!
It is the nature of the Thaicong to lie, to cheat, and to steal!
Prah viharn, Prasat Tamuan, Cham sagnam and Koh Kong Halek etc.. de jure and de facto belong to thailand because more percent of thais people have chance to visit the sites, and all modern infrastructure/raod are well connected from Thailand and mostly are constructed and developed by Thailand.
Kham do nothing with those prasats...letf them lonelyspare for long time.
Chatchai
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