Only 10 soldiers on each side will remain inside a pagoda at the heart of the dispute near Preah Vihear temple, a military commander said. (Photo: AP)By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
14 August 2008
Cambodia and Thailand are set to withdraw the mass of their troops near Preah Vihear temple over the weekend, a top Cambodian military commander said Thursday.
The withdrawal follows a meeting between high-ranking military commanders on both sides in Surin province Wednesday.
"The redeployment of the armed forces that both countries have agreed to will be complete before the meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Hua Hin, Thailand," Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, said Gen. Neang Phat, secretary of state for the Ministry of Defense, who is head of Cambodia's Preah Vihear negotiating task force.
The reconfiguration of the maximum number of troops possible would take place on either Saturday or Sunday, he said, declining to give the exact number of soldiers that would remain at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda and its surrounding areas.
The pagoda has been at the center of the crisis since Thai troops occupied it on July 15, leading to a build-up of thousands of soldiers on both sides and the deployment of artillery and other armed vehicles.
Both sides will keep 10 soldiers each inside the pagoda and 45 personnel in a 1-kilometer perimeter around the pagoda, the Bangkok Post reported Thursday, citing a Thai official present at Wednesday's meeting.
Both sides agreed during the meeting that soldiers who stay in the temple area will not be equipped with heavy arms, and trenches in the area would be refilled, Neang Phat said.
Neither side will establish camps inside the pagoda, but they will be allowed to stay in tents nearby, Neang Phat said.
The commanders will meet again following the bilateral discussions between foreign ministers, he said.
Thai soldiers must allow Cambodian soldiers and civilians to reach Ta Moan Thom temple, from Thursday, he added.
The withdrawal follows a meeting between high-ranking military commanders on both sides in Surin province Wednesday.
"The redeployment of the armed forces that both countries have agreed to will be complete before the meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Hua Hin, Thailand," Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, said Gen. Neang Phat, secretary of state for the Ministry of Defense, who is head of Cambodia's Preah Vihear negotiating task force.
The reconfiguration of the maximum number of troops possible would take place on either Saturday or Sunday, he said, declining to give the exact number of soldiers that would remain at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda and its surrounding areas.
The pagoda has been at the center of the crisis since Thai troops occupied it on July 15, leading to a build-up of thousands of soldiers on both sides and the deployment of artillery and other armed vehicles.
Both sides will keep 10 soldiers each inside the pagoda and 45 personnel in a 1-kilometer perimeter around the pagoda, the Bangkok Post reported Thursday, citing a Thai official present at Wednesday's meeting.
Both sides agreed during the meeting that soldiers who stay in the temple area will not be equipped with heavy arms, and trenches in the area would be refilled, Neang Phat said.
Neither side will establish camps inside the pagoda, but they will be allowed to stay in tents nearby, Neang Phat said.
The commanders will meet again following the bilateral discussions between foreign ministers, he said.
Thai soldiers must allow Cambodian soldiers and civilians to reach Ta Moan Thom temple, from Thursday, he added.
4 comments:
Do you believe it ????
Withdraw???
Khgnom soum orkun bang bang deil niyeay khmer. bang bang arch chei knea tam chet pouk thai and vietname ort youl tei.
cheiyo khmer!!!!!!
General Dy.
I agreed with General Dy. But please "poster" try to post more improving commment for us to learn not just blame from one to another. Your idea really can improve our knowledge. And please try to use khmer when you want to blame cos thai and youn will be happy when they heard we are breaking.
Khgnom Khmer
Khmer farmer: Now that the former prime minister of Thailand, Thasin, left the country, it appears that the territorial disputes of the two temples will be ameliorated, of course, unsurprisingly, part of the Hun Sen's adiministration's surreptitous accord between the two nations.
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