The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian and Thai military officials said soldiers were on alert and ready to defend themselves as war rhetoric heated up Wednesday between the neighbors in a tense border dispute.
Both sides said they were ready to respond militarily if attacked, a day after Cambodia issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull back its troops from disputed border territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"We remain on alert and have readied our forces adequately to protect our territory," said Cambodia's Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Neang Phat. He declined to say how many Cambodian troops had been deployed in the area.
As of late Tuesday, troops on both sides of the border were only about 100 yards (meters) apart, said Gen. Viboonsak Neepan, the Thai Army commander for the region.
"We have sent more troops to be stationed near the area but only enough to resist (an attack). We will not attack first," Viboonsak said.
The dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is over the land around the Preah Vihear temple, long claimed by both countries but awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962. Sovereignty over some of the land around the temple 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. Cambodia deployed about 800 troops to the border, and Thailand sent some 400 soldiers.
Both sides pulled back most of their troops in late August, but it is not clear how many remain in the area and at other spots along the disputed border.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sparked concerns Tuesday that an armed conflict was imminent. He accused Thai troops of having advanced into Cambodia's territory, saying Cambodian soldiers had "waved them back and said, 'If you want to die, keep coming.'"
"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said in a speech in the capital, Phnom Penh. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock."
Despite the heated rhetoric - including a description by Cambodia's prime minister of the contested land as "a life-and-death battle zone" - fighting did not break out, although the two countries disagreed on who backed down.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim later said all Thai troops had retreated about 90 minutes ahead of the deadline and were back inside their camp about half a mile (0.80 kilometers) from the contested territory.
"The tense situation has now eased," Yim Pim told The Associated Press.
However, Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd later denied that any troops had been pulled back and the Foreign Ministry issued a toughly worded statement that said, "If Cambodia does resort to the use of force ... Thailand will have to exercise its right to self-defense."
Thailand's prime minister and military officials said their country's troops had been on their own territory all along.
"If there is a problem, we will use peaceful means with an emphasis on negotiations," said Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. "We will not be an invader." Somchai is also under intense political pressure at home from anti-government protesters seeking his resignation.
Both sides said they were ready to respond militarily if attacked, a day after Cambodia issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull back its troops from disputed border territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"We remain on alert and have readied our forces adequately to protect our territory," said Cambodia's Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Neang Phat. He declined to say how many Cambodian troops had been deployed in the area.
As of late Tuesday, troops on both sides of the border were only about 100 yards (meters) apart, said Gen. Viboonsak Neepan, the Thai Army commander for the region.
"We have sent more troops to be stationed near the area but only enough to resist (an attack). We will not attack first," Viboonsak said.
The dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is over the land around the Preah Vihear temple, long claimed by both countries but awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962. Sovereignty over some of the land around the temple 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. Cambodia deployed about 800 troops to the border, and Thailand sent some 400 soldiers.
Both sides pulled back most of their troops in late August, but it is not clear how many remain in the area and at other spots along the disputed border.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sparked concerns Tuesday that an armed conflict was imminent. He accused Thai troops of having advanced into Cambodia's territory, saying Cambodian soldiers had "waved them back and said, 'If you want to die, keep coming.'"
"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said in a speech in the capital, Phnom Penh. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock."
Despite the heated rhetoric - including a description by Cambodia's prime minister of the contested land as "a life-and-death battle zone" - fighting did not break out, although the two countries disagreed on who backed down.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim later said all Thai troops had retreated about 90 minutes ahead of the deadline and were back inside their camp about half a mile (0.80 kilometers) from the contested territory.
"The tense situation has now eased," Yim Pim told The Associated Press.
However, Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd later denied that any troops had been pulled back and the Foreign Ministry issued a toughly worded statement that said, "If Cambodia does resort to the use of force ... Thailand will have to exercise its right to self-defense."
Thailand's prime minister and military officials said their country's troops had been on their own territory all along.
"If there is a problem, we will use peaceful means with an emphasis on negotiations," said Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. "We will not be an invader." Somchai is also under intense political pressure at home from anti-government protesters seeking his resignation.
10 comments:
Thailand, Bangkok: The Cambodia's careless and reckless prime minister Hun Sen -- if he dare --should give his orders to fire the FIRST shot, and then wait and see what will happen to his troops and the "no-man's land".
Gen.
Shoot and kill every thai solidier set their foot on khmer soil. Please teach the thais some respects that Cambodia soil are for Cambodian and not the thai thieves.
Somebody on the Cambodia side should accidently launch a rocker launcher into Siam troops and start a real war. Kill as many Siam as possible while their government is not stable.
Thailand, Bangkok: No comparsion there, because the enormity and complexity of the situation is much different (this time)than the previous conflict as you have ineloquently alluded (Laos '89)-- because if we're provoked, we can certainly tell you this: there will be no doubts that a full-scale armed conflict will lead to the destruction of Cambodia (perhaps, if you will, a SECOND "killing fields" for Cambodia. You may MARK my word!
Lt. Gen.
Thai is a invader. Most of Thai provinces are Cambodia province. If you visit those province, the people who live there can speak khmer very fluent. Those province such as Sorin, Sisaket, Nokor reach sima and more.....
Yeah, he wld if you cowards are still on our land. The Khmer Rouge fighters and Khmer Rouge themselves can't wait to rip u guys apart.
duck you Thai people. You are sucked. You invaded Lao, Burma and Cambodia. You are truely invader.Even in the south part of Thailand today does not belong to Thailand , they took it from Malayu people and those people are Muslim and at the moment they fighting for their independent. Thailand should give those land back to their owner. You know there are more than 10 provinces robbed by Thai (Siamese) from Cambodia. Please stop robbing others country land. Please . .
Lt. Gen, my ass, don't u have better things to do than to waste your time arguing with us? Don't u have to go steal more land? Just remember that the KNOWLEDGE of the terrains is very important..in fighting a war. Look at the Vietnam war for an example. The America are better equipped in every aspects...but they still lost. Khmer soldiers are used to the gorilla warfares. They've weathered it all. So stop boasting your superiority. Let's just do it and see what will happen. Your enemies are all around....everyone wants a piece of you guys.
1:19
A total destruction of Cambodia is really what Cambodian people been waiting for, but do the Siam have the guts? The people of Cambodia been waiting for a new government, a government free from Hanoi; however, I don't think the Siam have the guts to do so. Hanoi will not allow the Siam to turn Cambodia into another killing field.
Keep dreaming Siam (robber)
Brother Vietnamese, our houses are just about to burn, we need you to put out the fire. Remember what you told us before leaving Cambodia: If the house is burned, let you know. "... Now you know...!" Oh! All the uniforms are ready. Let's put out that fire.
Brother Chinese, give us that arsenal transportation, preferably via your B-737 or Airbus-320 or 340. Our airport welcomes your forthcoming shipments.
On behalf of Cambodian people and government, we thank you our Vietnamese and Chinese brothers for their assistance in a time of crisis.
Again, we thank you very much.
Cambodian Gen.
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