Friday, October 03, 2008

Thai Army chief confident border dispute will end

Friday, October 03, 2008
TNA

Newly-appointed military commander Songkitti Jaggabatara said Friday he is confident that the ongoing Thailand-border dispute could be resolved amicably.

Gen Songkitti, who has assumed his new post as supreme commander on Wednesday, said the dispute between the two neighbours is being solved at the bilateral committee level and there should not be any problem if all perform their defined duties.

To date there has been no violence along the border, he said.

The two countries, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), remain engaged in a dispute over at least three ancient temples. The disputes stem from poor demarcation as Cambodia uses a colonial-era French map to demarcate the border, which Thailand says favours Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen Kanit Sapitak, First Army Region commander responsible for security affairs in the country's central region, told journalists that the differences between the two countries does not pose any problem between the military, civil servants and residents living near the border.

Currently, Cambodian nationals still cross into Thailand illegally to seek jobs, according to Lt-Gen Kanit, adding that a new economic zone has been set up inside Cambodia aimed at encouraging Thai and and other foreign investors to invest in that country which could improve employment there.

Lt-Gen Kanit will soon visit the Cambodian border at Aranyaprathet district to follow-up 4th Thai-Khmer general border committee meeting which ended recently with the parties agreeing to beautify scenery and improve the environment at the border.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hope that the bilateral dicusing will going on success.

But i think thai like the dog they never forget thier bad action. in the front quote as saying good but at the back they order thier army to fight cambodian army as recently at Preh Vehea Temple as wounded 1 Khmer solier.

From Khmer Love Khmer.