PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Thai troops retreated from a disputed border area Tuesday, easing tensions after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum that the troops withdraw or face unspecified consequences.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim said all Thai troops in the area had retreated to their camp about half a mile from the contested territory some 90 minutes before the noon deadline set by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"The tense situation has now eased," Yim Pim told The Associated Press.
A Thai army spokesman could not be immediately reached to confirm the withdrawal.
Earlier Tuesday, Hun Sen had warned Thailand to pull back 84 troops from the area by noon. He accused the troops of crossing into Cambodian territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which has been a source of enmity between the two countries for decades.
"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said during a speech at an economic conference in the capital, Phnom Penh. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock." Noon in Cambodia is 1 a.m. EDT.
"At any cost, we will not allow Thai troops to invade this area. I would like to be clear about this," Hun Sen said. He added that he had ordered Cambodia's army chiefs to "take full responsibility over this area. It is a life-and-death battle zone."
Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said earlier in the day he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence."
"We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters as he headed into Tuesday's weekly Cabinet meeting.
Both countries have long claimed Preah Vihear, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962. Sovereignty over some of the land around the temple, however, has not been clearly resolved.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Both sides deployed troops to the border and at several points came close to armed clashes.
Two Thai soldiers lost legs earlier this month after stepping on land mines, three days after a brief gunfight broke out between soldiers from the two sides. One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded. Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.
Hun Sen met Monday with Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, but the meeting appeared to end without a resolution.
He said Monday, "We told them that if they do not stop (trespassing), armed clashes will break out."
There has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area since, and talks have been held several times to resolve the conflicting claims, but without much progress.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim said all Thai troops in the area had retreated to their camp about half a mile from the contested territory some 90 minutes before the noon deadline set by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"The tense situation has now eased," Yim Pim told The Associated Press.
A Thai army spokesman could not be immediately reached to confirm the withdrawal.
Earlier Tuesday, Hun Sen had warned Thailand to pull back 84 troops from the area by noon. He accused the troops of crossing into Cambodian territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which has been a source of enmity between the two countries for decades.
"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said during a speech at an economic conference in the capital, Phnom Penh. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock." Noon in Cambodia is 1 a.m. EDT.
"At any cost, we will not allow Thai troops to invade this area. I would like to be clear about this," Hun Sen said. He added that he had ordered Cambodia's army chiefs to "take full responsibility over this area. It is a life-and-death battle zone."
Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said earlier in the day he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence."
"We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters as he headed into Tuesday's weekly Cabinet meeting.
Both countries have long claimed Preah Vihear, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962. Sovereignty over some of the land around the temple, however, has not been clearly resolved.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Both sides deployed troops to the border and at several points came close to armed clashes.
Two Thai soldiers lost legs earlier this month after stepping on land mines, three days after a brief gunfight broke out between soldiers from the two sides. One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded. Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.
Hun Sen met Monday with Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, but the meeting appeared to end without a resolution.
He said Monday, "We told them that if they do not stop (trespassing), armed clashes will break out."
There has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area since, and talks have been held several times to resolve the conflicting claims, but without much progress.
14 comments:
The general lied to save Hun Sen's face. In reality, the Thai troops still remain in the SAME position. The general is bluffing for Hun Sen -- again, this is an effort to save the PM's face.
Ah Chea, you're such a liar. Perhaps you would have liked addition stars on your shoulders (as a Major Gen.)by lying to the public to save Hun Sen's face.
Ah Yim, you're a good liar, too.
Ah Hun Sen lied to his people again. The Thai troops did not retreat.
The generals lied to save Ah Sen's face.
It is time for your prime minister to stop bluffing. We NEVER retreat from our land; how can it be your land, if the land is already on our side. Also, if you and I are claiming the same land, how can that be an "invasion?" Your PM must be sick in his head. Tell you PM to cease lying to his people. We NEVER withdraw our troops.
Again, your PM is bluffing to save his face. What a coward!
Show the proof, picture where thai soldier left otherwise the general are lying.
Please come and visit
your favorite destination
"Thailand." Also, while you're in Thailand, we suggest that you get our professional tour guides, and don't forget to ask him/her to point out our military might, so you know why we're superior and you're inferior.
Enjoy your visit!
Bring it on Nanchao citizen 1:02PM! Between Cambodia and Vietname we have a combined 3.5 million standing army and roughly 35 years worth of combat experience fighting against the Japanese, French, and American--all of which we emerged as winners. For the Siem invaders,irregard of their strength and technological superiority, we will fight to the death to defend our motherland. Watch out for the formula below. We will use it to reclaim the land that we had lost since 12th century. Even it becomes so uninhabitable.
An RCAF General, E=MC^2
These stupid and naive generals would think they would attack Thai when the deadline (timeline)expired? Your cheap generals must be out of their minds, and your crazy and retarded PM, of course, has a mind of his own. We have always thought that you people are crazy to have forced and voted for this idiot to ruin your country yet another five years.
Please tell your PM to stop bluffing. Yes, your cheap generals have done an excellent job of lying for their boss in an effort to save his face
Khmer soldiers already said it. We use our AK to start the fighting but soon we will be supplied with all the same equipment that Thai soldiers have after we finished killing them and take over their equipment.
I can kinda see that happening. The Thai soldiers have all the equipment but they have no real experience and once they start abandoning their posts and equipment. It'll all be ours. Cool!
Very resource efficient thinking, Khmer soldiers :)
Source from Phnom Penh (AP) said Thai wthdrew their troops out but Bangkok Post said Thai troops is still there.
Source from Phnom Penh is diff. from Bangkok.
Tell your PM to give up his power and stop listening to his master (Vietnamese), and give a REAL Khmern this position (premiership)-- not a Vietnamese-installed government. Oh, tell your PM to stop threatening and intimidating your people and neighboring nation.
BTW, your PM listens too much to the Vietnamese.
Your fucking PM is bluffing.
We have told you in the past that your PM does not have the ball to go against us.
Also, your cheap generals are lying for their boss to save his fucking face.
Tell your PM stop lying to the Khmern people.
We stand our position; we will NOT move back NOT AN INCH.
Tell your PM stop bluffing!
We never withdraw! We stand our position and protect OUR LAND at any costs!
Ultimatum my ass!
Your PM has no balls to pull the trigger. It's too bad that he cheated and already won the election, otherwise he'll pull the trigger (or publicity stunt), but this time "he won't."
Should I call your PM Mr. "Bluffer?"
Your fucking thai King is stupid and your queen is a whore.
Also your mother is a whore.
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