BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia put on a joint brave face on Friday saying they were confident this month's border clashes were behind them.
A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained on Oct. 15 in a 40-minute firefight near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.
The leaders and foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian countries met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit which is focused on the global economic crisis.
"We are not just neighbours, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat told reporters after the meeting between Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
"His Excellency Hun Sen said the incident that already happened is not the kind that both countries want. It happened instantly. That was uncontrollable at the time. But when things come to this point, the two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontation any longer."
The two sides said they would resort to "all existing mechanisms to solve the problem on the border".
The confrontation was the most serious border clash in years but tensions have now eased and both sides have already said they do not expect any escalation.
The hilltop Preah Vihear temple has stirred nationalist passions in both countries for generations. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since, but it failed to determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Valerie Lee)
A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained on Oct. 15 in a 40-minute firefight near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.
The leaders and foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian countries met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit which is focused on the global economic crisis.
"We are not just neighbours, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat told reporters after the meeting between Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
"His Excellency Hun Sen said the incident that already happened is not the kind that both countries want. It happened instantly. That was uncontrollable at the time. But when things come to this point, the two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontation any longer."
The two sides said they would resort to "all existing mechanisms to solve the problem on the border".
The confrontation was the most serious border clash in years but tensions have now eased and both sides have already said they do not expect any escalation.
The hilltop Preah Vihear temple has stirred nationalist passions in both countries for generations. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since, but it failed to determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Valerie Lee)
4 comments:
This is Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat's version of the story. The real one may be different.
How could our Prime Minister say, as The Thai Foreign Minister has quoted hime as saying, "the incident that already happened is not the kind that both countries want. It happened instantly. That was uncontrollable at the time."
It is very difficult to believe that the "ultimatum" our Prime Minister gave to Thailand on 14 October to withdraw troops from Veal Intry within 24 hours; his order to our army chiefs to "take full responsibility over this area"; his declaration that "it is a life-and-death battle zone"; and the armed clashes that followed on 15 October were just
"uncontrolable at the time".
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
I know Thai only reported one death on their side. What is the real number?
Thai brain have a worry short retention capacity from 10-15 min., it's a commodore 64 chip.
The international community knows that Thailand is a nation of lie and deceit... never reported the truth because they cannot handle the truth. In reference to this...looks at what they have been teaching their people on the history. Every single facts about their history is turning upside down. Distorting the information for several several to hers people. We can really blame the people because they were feeding with shit data and that's why they're so screwed up now. Look at their current government...how many country in the world would have new Prime Minister changed every month. What a retard nation. Thailand is really, really, and really screwed nation.
I need to get out of Thailand. Not a good place to stay, live, play,visit or whatever...
Khmer Surin
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