BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's military chief on Monday asked Cambodia to withdraw its soldiers from around a second Khmer ruin along their joint border, raising fears of a fresh territorial dispute.
General Boonsrang Niumpradit, head of Thailand's armed forces, told AFP that he had asked his Border Affairs Department to pass on the message to Cambodian Defence Minster Tea Banh.
"We ask Cambodia to move their soldiers, who are near the Ta Muen Thom temple," he said. "I have not received the response yet."
The ruins of Ta Muen Thom, known as Ta Moan Thom in Cambodia, lie 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of the more well-known Preah Vihear temple, where more than 1,000 Thai and Cambodian troops have been stationed since a border dispute erupted last month.
Speaking to AFP in Phnom Penh, Tea Banh said Cambodian soldiers and civilians were usually allowed to enter the Ta Muen Thom ruin for religious ceremonies, but over the weekend Thai soldiers blocked their path.
"They did not allow our troops to go. That's why the problem happened," he said. "Now we want the troops to stay wherever they are for a while."
Tea Banh, confirming the Cambodian troops were, as usual, still stationed nearby, said the two sides were "working on this issue."
Ta Muen Thom sits on one of many disputed areas along the border. Thai troops have been stationed there since 1998, officials from both countries say, but both sides lay claim to the land on which the Khmer ruin sits.
Boonsrang said a small group of Cambodian soldiers advanced either on Sunday or Monday towards the temple, which sits on the border between northern Cambodia and northeastern Thailand.
He denied that Thailand had increased the number of troops stationed at Ta Muen Thom, and he declined to comment on ownership of the ruin.
"I don't want to answer other questions, otherwise it will escalate," he told AFP.
Relations between the neighbours flared up last month after Preah Vihear, which belongs to Cambodia, was awarded world heritage status by the United Nations, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the prized ruin.
On July 15, Cambodia arrested three Thai protesters for illegally crossing the border to try and reach the temple, sparking the deployment of troops from both sides on a tiny patch of disputed land near Preah Vihear.
During talks last week, Cambodia and Thailand both said they were willing to stand down the soldiers, but neither have shown signs of making the first move.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Monday that his side was committed to avoiding the "explosion of gunfire" along the frontier.
"The situation along the border has not yet reached emergency state," he told reporters.
General Boonsrang Niumpradit, head of Thailand's armed forces, told AFP that he had asked his Border Affairs Department to pass on the message to Cambodian Defence Minster Tea Banh.
"We ask Cambodia to move their soldiers, who are near the Ta Muen Thom temple," he said. "I have not received the response yet."
The ruins of Ta Muen Thom, known as Ta Moan Thom in Cambodia, lie 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of the more well-known Preah Vihear temple, where more than 1,000 Thai and Cambodian troops have been stationed since a border dispute erupted last month.
Speaking to AFP in Phnom Penh, Tea Banh said Cambodian soldiers and civilians were usually allowed to enter the Ta Muen Thom ruin for religious ceremonies, but over the weekend Thai soldiers blocked their path.
"They did not allow our troops to go. That's why the problem happened," he said. "Now we want the troops to stay wherever they are for a while."
Tea Banh, confirming the Cambodian troops were, as usual, still stationed nearby, said the two sides were "working on this issue."
Ta Muen Thom sits on one of many disputed areas along the border. Thai troops have been stationed there since 1998, officials from both countries say, but both sides lay claim to the land on which the Khmer ruin sits.
Boonsrang said a small group of Cambodian soldiers advanced either on Sunday or Monday towards the temple, which sits on the border between northern Cambodia and northeastern Thailand.
He denied that Thailand had increased the number of troops stationed at Ta Muen Thom, and he declined to comment on ownership of the ruin.
"I don't want to answer other questions, otherwise it will escalate," he told AFP.
Relations between the neighbours flared up last month after Preah Vihear, which belongs to Cambodia, was awarded world heritage status by the United Nations, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the prized ruin.
On July 15, Cambodia arrested three Thai protesters for illegally crossing the border to try and reach the temple, sparking the deployment of troops from both sides on a tiny patch of disputed land near Preah Vihear.
During talks last week, Cambodia and Thailand both said they were willing to stand down the soldiers, but neither have shown signs of making the first move.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Monday that his side was committed to avoiding the "explosion of gunfire" along the frontier.
"The situation along the border has not yet reached emergency state," he told reporters.
25 comments:
Please foods, materials to this tenple also. Do not let our troops alone as they try to defend our beloved Cambodia. Share them what we have and we can.
Cambodia is doing the right thing to seek help from the United Nations (UN). It is not in the interest of Thailand to have the UN intervene in the affair of Preah Vihear, because she knows that Cambodia has more legitimacy and historical claim of Preah Vihear and its surrounding area than Thailand does. The UN will have to consider and abide by the 1962 judgment made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the recent recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that included Preah Vihear in the World Heritage List. If the UN were to side with Cambodia, then they would probably ask Thailand to withdraw from the disputed area.
Thailand is playing hardball because she knows Cambodia is no match with her militarily. Cambodia has no choice but to ask the UN for help. With the UN help Thailand will not dare to encroach further into Cambodia territory. If war were to erupt, Thailand would be condemned by the world and she will lose face. Additionally, the Muslims are now waiting for the right opportunity to stir troubles again in the southern region of Thailand if this latter decides to go to war with Cambodia. Thailand cannot afford to have war with Cambodia. Thailand may win in the short term but she will lose in the long run. Thailand fears the UN because among the five permanent members, Cambodia can count on France, China, and Russia to side with her. As to the US and the UK positions, nothing can be certain but if these two countries interpret the laws and historical facts properly, they should come to the conclusion that Thailand has no claim and basis over Preah Vihear and its surrounding area that she had ceded to Cambodia during the French-Siamese 1907 treaty.
The UN cannot ignore the ICJ judgment that recognized Preah Vihear belonging to Cambodia, because to do otherwise would bring chaos to the international rule of laws. There is no doubt, both based on the court of laws and historical facts, that the Temple of Preah Vihear is a Khmer heritage and belonging to Cambodia.
so the siamese come into my home and ask me to get out, hahh? what world are we living in? animals kingdom? it's time to behead the siamese invaders. these animals don't deserve to live. who would want to waste time & talk to animals?
Thailand is so proud to let the world know that they have been violated Khmer sovereignty years, and why stop now. With the Ta Moan Thom, it is ok for them to take because they have been sending their troop to station there. Hey just send the troop in and claim it is your land. If Thai is much admire Khmer temple, why don't you just build one, may be two if you have enough money to spare. Khmer has no problem to let you copy our temple. But, NO YOU DON'T TAKE OUR TEMPLE, OUR LAND. You stole our culture, our language, our writing, No YOU DON'T TAKE OUR TEMPLE!
The fucken Thaicong can claim all they want but the international map of Cambodia which date back to 1904 will verify every square inch of Cambodian land whether the fucken Thaicong speak the truth or not!
AH HUN SEN has a lot of question to answer to Cambodian people especially regarding the border issue! Why AH HUN SEN allowed the fucken so called "White Zone" or "Buffer zone" or "No Man land" on the side of Cambodian border but not at the border base on International Map? Why is it that all the fucken measurement of the “White Zone" or "Buffer zone" or "No Man land" always ends up in Cambodian territory? Why can AH HUN SEN government validate the international map of Cambodia in the face of the Thaicong aggression?
All you stupid fuck Cambodian officials need to use Cambodian international map and stop being a reactionary fool to any of the fucken Thaicong shenanigan! Now go do the right thing!
3 Stars General.A to 1 star Gen.B :
-The situation in the border need you to go to the border at prasat Tamoan.
Gen.B :-Boss, I never have been in battle field, you know that.This is an envelop for you.
Gen.A : Well, let me see if I can have some other gen. to do the job.
Gen.B : Thank you Sir!
My beloved 10:11PM!
Your statement is magnificently powerful and corect, but unfortunately and ironically speaking the Siam's mentality is unashamedly and greedily thinking that if the UN internationally interpret the lawfully historical fact which obviously and simply clearifying that Preah Vihear is properly a Khmer heritage and belonging to Cambodia and her people, how come the UN doesn't also lawfully interfere with Youn?
Siam's soldiers must be withdrew from, not only Preah Vihear, but also Ta Moun temple, we Khmer don't have to withdraw our soldiers, 'cause this is evidently and logically our house!
3 Stars General.A to 1 star Gen.B :
-The situation in the border need you to go to the border at prasat Tamoan.
Gen.B :-Boss, I never have been in battle field, you know that.This is an envelop for you.
Gen.A : Well, let me see if I can have some other gen. to do the job.
Gen.B : Thank you Sir!
The Siam is wasting their time in claiming Khmer Phrea Vihear temple and Prasat Ta Moan Thom and it is about time that they claim Angkor Wat too! Hun Sen is a chicken shit for allowing the Siam to claim Khmer Phrea Vihear temple and now Prasat Ta Moan Thom and what is next for the Saim to claim? AH HUN SEN has opened the door and accepted the Siam naked aggression! And the door will be opened wider and wider until the Siam can claim Angkor Wat as their!
Too much precious time and diplomacy had been wasted and too much inertia on the part of Hun Sen for refusing to face the reality of the Siam aggression!
One unfortunate thing lead to another is all because of Hun Sen leadership for failing to control the situation! Hun Sen is hopeless and he is failing Cambodian people miserably!
The Siam can claim their mother and father and their great-great- grand parent from Nanchao if they want to!
This is only a second steps from Thai and how about Huan Nam? No Khmer troops protect on the east side because Huan Nam already take a good care for HUn Sen right? What is UN mean to your people? Which way is better to solve the problem of your country? Do you know which way your leader wanted to pick? and why? My dear neightbour I felt so bad for you but you could do better if you are together with a good leader.
Good luck.
Your GOOD neightbour.
what else is new in regards to thailand stealing of khmer land and ancient relics. what lame excuses are they going to have this time? i think it's about time cambodia stop isolating our border regions because keeping the border areas isolated for too long, this kind of dispute will happen. i hope cambodia can learn from the past as we cannot afford to lose anymore of our beloved land, the land of the khmer people. god bless cambodia.
Well see! So the Siam thinks that the Viet got all of Cambodia under AH HUN SEN leadership! But remember AH HUN SEN doesn't live forever and the change will take place!
By the way, the Viet are sitting on the time bomb! There are 10 million Khmer Krom people who are demanding their right like the Malay Muslim in Southern Thailand! So far it is the Khmer Krom people who had been peaceful and weaponless in their demand but who can predict the future because even a beautiful rose have many thorns to protect itself!
The Thai government simply declares war on khmer people. If the government khmer did nothing against the invasion of Thailand, the whole territory khmer risk of extinction in the near future.
Paradoxically, the funniest thing involving with territorial dispute with the neighboring nations is that when incursion occurs, for instance -- with Thailand -- we have heard plenty of barks from the useless generals from the regime of terror (Hun Sen’s administration); however, if intrusion or incursion occurs with our neighboring Vietnam, we never heard or dare to say anything about it.
God bless Cambodia! And God will put a curse upon Thailand and Vietnam!
Khmer farmer
My beloved brother, Khmer farmer!
I am totally agreeing with you, to remain in power, Hun SenVarman must avoid the increasing hatred of his people, because increasingly being hated, however, will be eventually caused his downfall by continually confiscating of poor and innocent Khmers' properties and letting Siam and Youn to simply take more land from Khmers!
Like the old Khmer folks saying,
"Get in water, Da Croc.
Get up on land, Da Tiger!"
Prasat Ta Muen Thom - a tug of war between Cambodia & Thailand
If you're not aware, one of my biggest passions is visiting ancient Khmer temples, dotted around the Cambodian countryside. However, there are a series of Khmer temples in northeast Thailand that I have yet to visit so I was particularly interested in a report from Radio Free Asia's correspondent Kim Pov Sottan yesterday - the full report is in the Comments section - which highlighted the issue surrounding the 12th century Angkorean temple of Prasat Ta Muen Thom - which is in fact three ruined structures all with the same name - in a location that seems to be on the very border between Cambodia and Thailand. If you speak to the Khmers in the locality, they'll tell you that the temple is Cambodian and that the Thai's have stolen it in the last few years, whilst the Thai's have assumed responsibility for the temple and built a paved road for easy access for visitors. The report from RFA suggested that even the Thai military commmander for the area claims that the temple is in a 'white zone' which is technically a disputed, no-man's land. Cambodia has experienced border disputes with Thailand and Vietnam over many years and the long drawn-out process to resolve them and agree on the exact position of the border markers is frustratingly slow. Cambodia has a history of disputing temple ownership with Thailand, with Preah Vihear being the most publicized but Prasat Ta Muen Thom is important in it's own right and if both countries are claiming ownership, somehow the deadlock needs to be broken. At the moment, Thailand is in possession and Cambodians are left to peer over the fence at this reminder of their glorious past
FROM , ONE BRAVE KHMER SOLDIER:
DEAR , GEN TEA BANH OR( BANH TEA )we all infantry want to know how many generals you got , and how many wife and kids they have , so it easy for us to figure out to help when war is start .... we all concern that you migth have more generals then soldiers.
please let us know ..
one brave soldier with flip flop shore.
How in the world is the Siem to set the term for us the negotiate. Every Khmer solder has the duty to protect their homeland until death. Hun Sen needs to set a deadline for the Thai troops to withdraw or else just go to war. I'm sick of the Siem pushing us around! I'm sure every Khmer out there is just sick and tired as I am. My experience living in the refugee camp made me realize how ruthless and cruel they are.
I bet the Thai don't know how to play poker.
We (Cambodian) got all the good cards. You name it such as straight flush, one of a kind and etc..
We will go all in when the UNESCO ready to list this temple Prasat Ta Moan Thom.
Haha!!! We got em all!!!!
We Khun Thais understand very well the spirit of your leaders who need only money and Power within kampuchea, he is strong man in Campuchea but weak with khun thais and Khun viet.....
we claim Preah viharn, ta man and others untill we return all to thais belongings and help the strong man in Power for half more century.... we again return Siam Rap, Badambang Posat..to our territory too...and use your leaders to be Priministers in this country forever under Thais Colony...
We Khun Thais learned a lot about the tactics, bad tricks of kampuchean administration applied with campuchean people to take over lands/land grabing and other properties.. so we used this trick/tactics to gain from Campuchia too... and we will win surely and Campuchea Army chief and leaders do not dare to fight with thais,,,,, please be sure sure we guarantee.. remember ...
Campuchea has no opportunity to protect territory they just fight within their country in Power Contest..
You see when just start of StandOff Cam-army has no equipment weapon and food to support army just Collecting from people, this is not sustainable...
And why Army Chief and high Rank officials are very Rich...
Campuchea is a most corrupted country so that we thais can buy any thing including its territory.....
Wichai rungrat
Krung Thep Mohanokorn
1.21 AM
You mean Khmer fear of both Viet and Siem but dare not to do
said or complain anything to Viet?
I also think so.
remember these Khmer are experieces fighter//
Khab Khun Kab 12:11pm Khmer are expierienced Fighters But experience only with YOUR FELLOW KHAM/Khmers....With Thais is far differenmt..
And it is not just experiences in war But YOU NEED GOOD LEADERS/with capability nationalisdtic... TO LEAD YOU TO FIGHT .. OTHERWISE YOU WOULD ATTACK KHMERS AND KILL 3 MORE MILLIONS KHMERS AS KR TIME..
You need economic capability....your leader just loan money from foreigners... how can you fight against khun thais...?"
Wichai Rung Rat
Krung thep Mohanokorn
From Prah Viharn to Tamoan...to Siamrap, badambong , Nom Penh will belong to Krung Thep Mohanorkorn...
we will Offer Khmers PM to be PM forever, offer some millions dollars.....
Kampuchia will be under Siam+Viet Co-Colonisation
Wichai rungrat
Sokumvit V/krunmg thep mohanokorn
Thai, also well-known as Siam which is means Thief. Now I see that your name (Thai-Siam) is really true. You tried to take everything from Cambodia, there is no way you can do that. Lister all Thai thieves,you such have a thick face that say Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temples are yours. They are is always Cambodia's and never yours. On history and on the map are Cambodia's. You were just the chinese thieves that were china abandoned and kicked you out from their country, then you came to Cambodia and asked the Chey Voronmoant ViI king to stay. Because the King was generous let you stay on Cambodia. You started taking everything from Cambodia. You are crocodiles which that never grateful to any body who helped you. You will have your day. Ta Moan and Preah Vihear temples are always Cambodia's. The Google Earth was right. Hey, thick face siam thieves is time for you to withdraw your soldiers.
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