The Thai PM yesterday visited a military hospital in eastern Ubon Ratchathani province. -- PHOTO: REUTERSOct 19, 2008
The Straits Times (Singapore)
KANTHARALAK - THAI Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday he would seek face-to-face talks with Cambodian PM Hun Sen after a border clash near a 900-year-old temple last week.
'I am looking for the right time to talk with him. We should have an opportunity to talk,' he told reporters after visiting Thai troops facing Cambodian forces along the border.
The Thai leader echoed Mr Hun Sen's comments on Friday that outside mediation was not needed to resolve the dispute.
'This is an issue between Thailand and Cambodia. We should not let other countries get involved,' he said.
The Thai PM yesterday visited a military hospital in eastern Ubon Ratchathani province, where one soldier remains critically injured following a gunfight with Cambodian troops on their disputed border on Wednesday.
'I am saddened that soldiers have been wounded so today I visited them,' he told reporters.
Mr Somchai later flew to neighbouring Si Sa Ket province, where the violence erupted near the Preah Vihear temple that left two Cambodian soldiers dead and seven Thai troops injured.
Yesterday, the atmosphere along the border remained calm as field commanders from both sides conducted a joint inspection of their troops, ate lunch together and discussed how to prevent future flare-ups of violence.
Meanwhile, a renewed sense of patriotism is emerging, especially in Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, a restaurant has changed its 'Thai' name, local media reported yesterday.
The Olympic Khmer-Thai, a joint venture between Cambodian and Thai businessmen, added an 'l' to its title - becoming Olympic Khmer-Thlai.
'Thlai' means 'expensive' or 'noble'.
'I am looking for the right time to talk with him. We should have an opportunity to talk,' he told reporters after visiting Thai troops facing Cambodian forces along the border.
The Thai leader echoed Mr Hun Sen's comments on Friday that outside mediation was not needed to resolve the dispute.
'This is an issue between Thailand and Cambodia. We should not let other countries get involved,' he said.
The Thai PM yesterday visited a military hospital in eastern Ubon Ratchathani province, where one soldier remains critically injured following a gunfight with Cambodian troops on their disputed border on Wednesday.
'I am saddened that soldiers have been wounded so today I visited them,' he told reporters.
Mr Somchai later flew to neighbouring Si Sa Ket province, where the violence erupted near the Preah Vihear temple that left two Cambodian soldiers dead and seven Thai troops injured.
Yesterday, the atmosphere along the border remained calm as field commanders from both sides conducted a joint inspection of their troops, ate lunch together and discussed how to prevent future flare-ups of violence.
Meanwhile, a renewed sense of patriotism is emerging, especially in Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, a restaurant has changed its 'Thai' name, local media reported yesterday.
The Olympic Khmer-Thai, a joint venture between Cambodian and Thai businessmen, added an 'l' to its title - becoming Olympic Khmer-Thlai.
'Thlai' means 'expensive' or 'noble'.
6 comments:
what a nice guy ............................................................
NOT
If both of you guys want to solve the dispute thru bilaterial, the thais side should back off from khmer territory with respect to the border line internationally agreed a century ago and the khmer territorial integrity at the Hague including Preah Vihear, that 's it. So, the benefits of trade which favors thai people can be normalised and you have time to solve your internal conflict. You should learn how to live peacefully with neighbor, it is 21st century, not to bully us by grabbing whatever you want like this. Learn how to respect others. We, khmers, have been too nice to let you use the access across our territory to profit your population for the last 8 years. We don't want your land, we protect what we have that's it. Back off, so peace can return to that area to both side. Khmers are generous, patient, but limit to some extend, bear in mind! We will strike back against your agression!
Dun he visit the cerymony of the dead thais'solders?
Yeah...
Thai PM came to the dead Thai's soldiers, but the Bangkok post and the Nation does not want to show the photos, they are so chicken shit.
And do stupid thing by using their own land mines to tell the world that Khmer just layed those, this Thai are shit head, the world knew those Khmer land are full of land mines that was burried more than 20years ago.
Stop do ugly thing shit head Siam, buddha will punish you, like one of your soldier was shot him self to death, and do not say Khmer army shot him.
Maybe Bangkok post or the Nation will tell the Siam people that Khmer shot one Siam army to death.
Buddha bless to all Khmer.
I don't know why Cambodian leaders refused the third party mediation. The Thai leaders had been conducting a very abusive foreign policy toward Cambodia for years and why would Cambodian leaders still want to hang on the Thai abusive relationship? Are Cambodian leaders being condition to accept the Thai abusive foreign policy?
The relationship between the Thai leaders and Cambodian leaders are no different from the relationship between the husband and the wife! In this case, the wife get beat up mentality and physically and she refuse to go to authority(third party) to get some help because she still think that her husband is still a very good husband because of the her undying blind love for him! At the end of the day, she will look at herself in the mirror and see her broken nose, broken lip, and broken arm, and missing teeth, and swollen purple eye, and torn ears... So by the time, the authority find out what is right and what is wrong and she end up dead!
Cambodian leaders must accept third party mediation now! In the world there are higher institutions such as the United Nations, the world court, and foreign embassy which can help smooth out international social order which help planet Earth to be a beautiful place to live!
Cambodian people and Cambodian leaders can't allow themselves to be abused by the Thai politic any longer otherwise more arm confrontation to come!
Somchai is trying to balance the Thai hypocrisy and their desire to invade the neighbor's land. A tough job indeed.
It's all about timing.
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