Friday, October 17, 2008
ABC Radio Australia
The Thai opposition Democrat Party says the cross border conflict is a direct result of the UN's granting Cambodia sole recognition over the temple site, whose main access route lies on the Thai side of the border. And Thai Foreign Ministry officials are very concerned over the recent discovery of new land mines - now banned by both countries - being uncovered inside Thai territory near the disputed area.
Presenter: Ron Corben
Speakers: Virachn Plasai is the director general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij
CORBEN: Thai foreign ministry officials in a briefing to foreign diplomats Thursday raised the accusation of Cambodian troops laying landmines inside Thai territory. While some areas of the Thai Cambodian border are still to be demined - from the Cambodian war of the 1970s into the 1990s, the mines found after the injury to two unarmed Thai rangers were new.
The mines, Russian made PMN-2 anti-personnel mines used in wars from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, were laid in an area already cleared when the unarmed Thai rangers entered the region on October 6 - three days after a fire fight with Cambodian troops that left injured on both sides. Two Thai rangers survived but lost the lower part of their legs to the mines.
Virachn Plasai is the director general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Virachn says the chief concern from all the recent developments was the discovery of laid landmines, in contravention of the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning landmines.
VIRACHN: What we find of grave concern is the discovery of these landmines newly planted, newly planted. So we believe that this is a grave threat for the international community as a whole because we believe that we had banned them; now they're back and used in a way that is quite expert and clever with a view to killing. So we think it's a grave concern we should alert the international community to work together in order to find who did it and take whatever measures we have to.
CORBEN: What do you see diplomatically as the next step for both countries?
VIRACHN: The next step for both countries is to let the steam out by having meetings of the military through the mechanisms on the Thai side - which is the regional border committee - on their side - the task force - that will help tremendously.
CORBEN: Going forward now is there an expectation that diplomatically things can return to normal?
VIRACHN: Oh yes I very much hope so. And I think, I personally believe it will return to normal. The only thing that worries me really is these mines - the land mines worry me most because it's something that is unthinkable that could happen in the year 2008. For the boundary question ... if our Cambodian friends are ready to be patient .. just let the democratic internal process take its course -- in due time we'll be able to sit down and negotiate meaningfully with them.
Thailand's opposition Democrat Party earlier this year led a fierce attack in parliament against the government of former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej after the Cabinet agreed to allow Cambodia to make a sole application to the United Nations Education and Scientific Organization for the temple to be recognized as a world heritage site. The then foreign minister was then forced to resign after a Thai court found he had failed to present the agreement before parliament.
Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij says part of the blame for this week's fighting lies with the Thai government itself
KORN: The whole incident is entirely unnecessary and it really emanates from the attempt by the Cambodian side to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site and we as a party had previously forewarned the World heritage Organization UNESCO.. That their participating in the proposal by Cambodia could actually lead to exactly what's happening. Once the temple site was accepted as a World heritage site with preconditions on the removal of military forces from the site it was always going lead to this because now Cambodia needs for the Thai military to withdraw and have it done by February otherwise the approval lapses.
Presenter: Ron Corben
Speakers: Virachn Plasai is the director general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij
CORBEN: Thai foreign ministry officials in a briefing to foreign diplomats Thursday raised the accusation of Cambodian troops laying landmines inside Thai territory. While some areas of the Thai Cambodian border are still to be demined - from the Cambodian war of the 1970s into the 1990s, the mines found after the injury to two unarmed Thai rangers were new.
The mines, Russian made PMN-2 anti-personnel mines used in wars from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, were laid in an area already cleared when the unarmed Thai rangers entered the region on October 6 - three days after a fire fight with Cambodian troops that left injured on both sides. Two Thai rangers survived but lost the lower part of their legs to the mines.
Virachn Plasai is the director general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Virachn says the chief concern from all the recent developments was the discovery of laid landmines, in contravention of the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning landmines.
VIRACHN: What we find of grave concern is the discovery of these landmines newly planted, newly planted. So we believe that this is a grave threat for the international community as a whole because we believe that we had banned them; now they're back and used in a way that is quite expert and clever with a view to killing. So we think it's a grave concern we should alert the international community to work together in order to find who did it and take whatever measures we have to.
CORBEN: What do you see diplomatically as the next step for both countries?
VIRACHN: The next step for both countries is to let the steam out by having meetings of the military through the mechanisms on the Thai side - which is the regional border committee - on their side - the task force - that will help tremendously.
CORBEN: Going forward now is there an expectation that diplomatically things can return to normal?
VIRACHN: Oh yes I very much hope so. And I think, I personally believe it will return to normal. The only thing that worries me really is these mines - the land mines worry me most because it's something that is unthinkable that could happen in the year 2008. For the boundary question ... if our Cambodian friends are ready to be patient .. just let the democratic internal process take its course -- in due time we'll be able to sit down and negotiate meaningfully with them.
Thailand's opposition Democrat Party earlier this year led a fierce attack in parliament against the government of former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej after the Cabinet agreed to allow Cambodia to make a sole application to the United Nations Education and Scientific Organization for the temple to be recognized as a world heritage site. The then foreign minister was then forced to resign after a Thai court found he had failed to present the agreement before parliament.
Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Korn Chatikavanij says part of the blame for this week's fighting lies with the Thai government itself
KORN: The whole incident is entirely unnecessary and it really emanates from the attempt by the Cambodian side to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site and we as a party had previously forewarned the World heritage Organization UNESCO.. That their participating in the proposal by Cambodia could actually lead to exactly what's happening. Once the temple site was accepted as a World heritage site with preconditions on the removal of military forces from the site it was always going lead to this because now Cambodia needs for the Thai military to withdraw and have it done by February otherwise the approval lapses.
10 comments:
What the hell that has some thing to do with Cambodia registered The Prah Vihear temple as the world heritage site? Thai do not get a piece of cake? Thai still have a good dream to get Preah Vihear? Keep your dream on it was too late to think about that.Sok Kong is Vie nam Vietnam is Hun Sen 's MASTER Hun is the slave ,when Sok KOng Viet smell the GREEN you think Hun Sen will leave a piece of that precious resort to some bodies else?
DON BE JEALOUS LET YOUN TAKE CARE THE JOB FOR YOU
The International Court decided Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia - Cambodia should be able to list whatever rightfully, culturally, historically, and legally her national treasures and heritage with UNESCO as she so chose to do.
The Siam government earlier agreed to not oppose the UNESCO listing. Only until lately that the extreme PAD stirred crazy the illegal claim to "co-own/devlop" what rightfully/legally belongs to Cambodia.
Unashamedly, using their superior war toys, the Siams gentleman-robbers with their faking smiles have tried to intimidate and bully to gain the Cambodian territory.
This clearly shows that the Siams are greedy, untrustworthy, uncivilized who on one side try to be accepted by the world as an advanced society, but in reality, they are still drawn to their true historical nature - stealer/robber.
How do siams justify in squeezing the already shrunk Cambodian territory? Why do they pick on a smaller, weaker neighbor?
Oh! Poor Thai Opposition leaders, Siam people and Thai Government, Do not trie hard to changes your Political crisis, your country in turmoil, your crazy masjesty the short lives king Bhumibul to a Beautiful and Peaceful country of Cambodia.
Ask your King Bhumibul and your army leader Anupong go to hell soon
How Demshit Somchai worry about the landmine in Cambodia territory. It's not your bussiness, it's Cambodia. The mines kill only the enemies who step on illegaly into our territory. Those mines are remained from the KR planing for their protection during 1980s.
The world and the international communuties are making efforts to support for demining for all areas in Cambodia.
Cambodia does not need any sigle support for demiding in our country. A Somchai! A Idiet-Thais!You and Thais are Tricky, are hypocrite!
hmm,landmines were laid recently??what the fuck!!they were laid by those khmer rouge during the war in cambodian territory!!Try not to lie the world,dog!!If cambodian soldiers dare to take one step into thai territory,those thai soldiers will never excuse them at all!!I know for sure ur Thai character!I know ur thai mind.
Now Thai government try to bring the mine anti-personal case to make news. I think Cambodian government has to response properly about this. Even the international community would not totally believe the Thai claim but more or less it will affect the Cambodian Soldiers reputation that they try to be honest since the beginning of the conflict. I personally appreciate Khmer Soldiers that treat their enemies well and always the first to give true story to the world.
According to RFA this morning... there is report in Los Angeless Time about Khmer soldier captured a Thai soldier who try to implement new mine in the border.
To all the clown clad thai along the border read my lip. dont ever ever dreaming to invade my khmer land. today khmer are way better than your monkey today. you fucking greedy and shameless at the same time.
The day the PAD takes over thailand, the people of thailand will experience an all out war "dead or a live" battle of the century.
The fuck up nation of thai will regret that they provoke the smaller nation "Cambodia" to defend their little territory.
Khmer people fight the war with their heart and soul to defend their territory and the future of their children, the thai solidiers fight a war with an attempt to steal and intimidate their smaller neighbor.
Good luck fuck up Siam. Your dream of co-developing/restoring/managing preah vihear will always remain as your wet dream. So don't get too excited, you will only wet your pants.
Thais talk bolshit!
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