By Thanida Tansubhapol and Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered fresh troops to the border with an ultimatum to Thailand: Pull military forces back today or the border will become a "life and death battle zone".
Hun Sen told reporters in Phnom Penh that he had warned Thailand's visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat that without a quick pullout, Thai soldiers could face being fired upon by Cambodian troops in "large-scale armed conflict".
"If they cannot withdraw tonight, they must withdraw tomorrow," said Hun Sen.
"We have tried to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister today that the area is a life-and-death battle zone."
His comments came after talks with Mr Sompong in Phnom Penh.
Mr Sompong also met with his counterpart Hor Namhong in a bid to resolve the dispute over the area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
The Cambodian foreign minister said yesterday's talks failed to end in agreement because his Thai opposite number "could not sign anything".
Hun Sen and Hor Namhong both told reporters that Cambodia could choose to take the border dispute before an international court if it was not resolved soon.
The comments made by the Cambodian prime minister and foreign minister surprised Mr Sompong and Thai officials, who were adamant that the meetings had not been a failure.
Mr Sompong said the tone during the meetings between the two countries had been different as the Cambodian leaders agreed that both sides had to be patient in resolving the border spat.
He said no Thai troop withdrawals would be made from the 4.6 sq km overlapping area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear province of Cambodia until the dispute over ownership is cleared through negotiations in the Joint Boundary Commission that was set up to demarcate the land border.
Thailand reiterated its ownership over the area, Mr Sompong said in Bangkok and rushed to report the talks to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart tomorrow on the border issues and the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers will meet next Tuesday , according to Mr Sompong.
Cambodian Deputy Defence Minister Gen Neang Phat said more Cambodian troops were heading to the area after up to 500 Thai soldiers had tried to cross the border near an ancient Hindu temple that is claimed by both countries.
"We are building up our troops at the border in response to Thailand, but I cannot reveal the number," he told reporters.
Maj-Gen Srey Deok, who oversees the Cambodian military in the disputed area, said: "Thai troops have already entered the area. They are confronting our troops."
But Maj-Gen Kanok denied that more troops had been sent to the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand and Cambodia have 10 soldiers each at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple and 45 around the compound on joint patrol, according to the agreement between the two countries to ease border tension.
The two countries also have back-up troops near the border.
The number of soldiers there remained unchanged, Maj-Gen Kanok said.
Maj-Gen Kanok slammed Cambodia for distorting information and taking advantage of the political crisis in Thailand to launch an offensive move for its own political benefit.
The Suranaree chief, his patience wearing thin, called for a quick solution to the border spat and a clear direction to be provided by the government as it could become an armed conflict if it was left unsettled.
"I want the government to solve this problem and make it clear what to do. If it is left this way, nobody knows what is going to happen," he said.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia first flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded World Heritage status by the World Heritage Committee.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Tensions escalated into a military confrontation in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
The two countries have swapped accusations of violating each other's territory in the dispute.
(with Agency reports)
Hun Sen told reporters in Phnom Penh that he had warned Thailand's visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat that without a quick pullout, Thai soldiers could face being fired upon by Cambodian troops in "large-scale armed conflict".
"If they cannot withdraw tonight, they must withdraw tomorrow," said Hun Sen.
"We have tried to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister today that the area is a life-and-death battle zone."
His comments came after talks with Mr Sompong in Phnom Penh.
Mr Sompong also met with his counterpart Hor Namhong in a bid to resolve the dispute over the area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
The Cambodian foreign minister said yesterday's talks failed to end in agreement because his Thai opposite number "could not sign anything".
Hun Sen and Hor Namhong both told reporters that Cambodia could choose to take the border dispute before an international court if it was not resolved soon.
The comments made by the Cambodian prime minister and foreign minister surprised Mr Sompong and Thai officials, who were adamant that the meetings had not been a failure.
Mr Sompong said the tone during the meetings between the two countries had been different as the Cambodian leaders agreed that both sides had to be patient in resolving the border spat.
He said no Thai troop withdrawals would be made from the 4.6 sq km overlapping area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear province of Cambodia until the dispute over ownership is cleared through negotiations in the Joint Boundary Commission that was set up to demarcate the land border.
Thailand reiterated its ownership over the area, Mr Sompong said in Bangkok and rushed to report the talks to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart tomorrow on the border issues and the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers will meet next Tuesday , according to Mr Sompong.
Cambodian Deputy Defence Minister Gen Neang Phat said more Cambodian troops were heading to the area after up to 500 Thai soldiers had tried to cross the border near an ancient Hindu temple that is claimed by both countries.
"We are building up our troops at the border in response to Thailand, but I cannot reveal the number," he told reporters.
Maj-Gen Srey Deok, who oversees the Cambodian military in the disputed area, said: "Thai troops have already entered the area. They are confronting our troops."
But Maj-Gen Kanok denied that more troops had been sent to the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand and Cambodia have 10 soldiers each at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple and 45 around the compound on joint patrol, according to the agreement between the two countries to ease border tension.
The two countries also have back-up troops near the border.
The number of soldiers there remained unchanged, Maj-Gen Kanok said.
Maj-Gen Kanok slammed Cambodia for distorting information and taking advantage of the political crisis in Thailand to launch an offensive move for its own political benefit.
The Suranaree chief, his patience wearing thin, called for a quick solution to the border spat and a clear direction to be provided by the government as it could become an armed conflict if it was left unsettled.
"I want the government to solve this problem and make it clear what to do. If it is left this way, nobody knows what is going to happen," he said.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia first flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded World Heritage status by the World Heritage Committee.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Tensions escalated into a military confrontation in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
The two countries have swapped accusations of violating each other's territory in the dispute.
(with Agency reports)
21 comments:
It's time for Hun Sen to buy new tanks to defend our borders, in case of invasion by the Thai.
Lets do it!!!!!!!!!!!
Blood for our 4.6Km2!!
Khmer's land must belong to Khmer!
Get out theives!!
Khmer PP,
True, but the real Khmer is in Thailand. They have used the area for centuries before the thai occupation, and they have used the area for centuries during the Thai occupation.
Cambodia must get their arses outta there. Cambodia knows nothing about the area or the temple in the area.
Come on 7:45am!
You know how to write English, but you don't know how to read and search online about the history of your land.
If you search, you will know where you come from.
It's time to teach the igorance Siem (Robbers) a taste of war and the lost of family members to war. Let them feel the pain. God bless Cambodian and her country. Do it for the nation and integrity.
Thais history: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3pL5YB1VrY
I don't like war, but sometime war is the only solution to settle things. Ah siam will know soon about how dirty war can be.....rise up khmer surin this is the time.....so when it starts make your move....khmer is still khmer.
Thai is rich now ,Siem is international Robbers,occupy ,invade Khmer territory land,war with Khmer and take pretty big Khmer territory back about 200 years ago and now want to take some more? It 21 century Thai should not do again!Thai should remember Khmer build Ankor Wat ,Khmer is the owner of the land (Khmer territory)including Thai country now is our Khmer territory!
IT time For Khmer fight back!and take back our territory that belong to Khmer because Thai/Siem is the robber not the owner!
siam will die alot becuase they have no war for centery.
siam soldiers should go back home because some of them who are not siam. you should not die for politic. because those big guy alive and you die for what?????????
your family, your wife, your children are waiting for you.
Thai BK
Stand Up All Friends.
The enenies of Khmers'Enemies (Thais) are all khmers'friends (Malaysia-Muslims, Laos and Burma). We must hit the Thais from all directions.
No War No Peace. Thais never give us peace. So we must attack the Thais for a stable peace in the region.
No more talks with Thais. Talks resulted nothing. Fighting will result something.
To Decho Hun Sen.
"Fighting while Negotiating" "Always do a reverse with Thais" "Payback their tricks"
If you do not fight, the UN Security Council will not take it seriously.
Street Cafe Politics
Hun Sen must do what you've said.
Today, we must show the animals Thai a lesson, we must do like Lao and Burmar, they never talk with this Monster Thai it nonsens to talk to them, so just start shoot the bastart now.
Today is the last chance for Thai, Khmer army must kick them out.
DO IT SO THE UN WILL JUMP IN AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Thai army is nothing they are only the students.
To all my Khmer army we must prepare to protect our land, no matter what just kill those Siam.
Must do nowwwwwwwwwwwww.
I do agree, the UN will not do anything. The Thai keep sending their armed soldiers to Khmer land, and the UN just keep shut their mouth. Unfortunatelly they will do something when some unfortunate soldiers get kill. For Thai soldiers, they have keep their life when they entered Khmer soil, and Khmer have every right to neutralize the armed enemies.
Please all the wise men and women that living around that area ,please share the information how can we supplies food and weapons to our troop?How to keep those supplier roads safe for long periods fighting?
How to keep our soldiers and suppliers safe from that mountains steep?
Any one know more please post your comment ,I appreciate that battle field were pain more my dad and his friends from 1961
Thanks you in advances
Borisothkhmer ca
Khmer Surin, this is time to be fullly Khmer again. So rise up and join us, and let them fucken Thai thieve have a taste of what Khmer is made of.
By the way, let see if Hun Sen"talk the talk and walk the walk"
P.P
Good Job SamDach Tejo Hun Sen!!!
We must fight and fight for our land!! Bad Thais in Khmer land must be killed as we have no choice!! ASEAN UN can't help us, but they are watching and ready to blame Cambodia, not Thai!!
Again SamDach, you are great hero of Cambodia in the 21st century, I and my friends are ready to be your men, if you need us to fight with Thailand!! we will return to Cambodia and be your men as long as you need us, our lives are our country!! We promise if we died we will die happily and become brave ghosts and come back to fight with Thai again!! The spirit of Neak Ta Khlaing Moeurng is helping us, too!!!
We support you 1000000%%%, DamDach!! No one can help Cambodia but you!!!
Koun Khmer
There are so many young high rank officer in both police and military. Now it's time to put them into the real test send them to the battle field to see who has the skill that deserve the rank. good luck.
My advise to ah joe dump din hun sen is to send all the okgnas, land grabbers with their branch new landcruisers to fight with the thai soldier.
Thank You Hun Sen for standing up. Starting to become a real leader now. Thai govn`mt better be scared. They can not even control the situation in the capitol or even the south for so many years. You are DAMN right we are going to take advantage of you current crisis. Just like you have been taking advantage of us for so many years. Pay back is a B*tch.
Don't forget Khmer history.Both Thai & Viet want to take Mekong river as a border line.Thai though that Viet is already took Cambodia as an Indochinese Federation and Cambodia gave a lots of land to Thai mostly Pho Cuk island.So thai want to take adventage to take some land before Viet take over.This history will repeat again & again with no stop.In the last 3 decade when KR won the war over Lon Nol Republican our terratory never have a problem.When Viet won over KR,HS sacrifice a lots land to Viet.When KR took control Preah Vihear Thai never said anything about this border because KR have a strong military.When HS took controle he doesn't care to protect our terratory,so thai want to take adventage of this weakness of HS government.We wait and see how HS deal and learn from this situation.
To Bloody Siam
You should know where you are from and NOW get back to where you are.
In case you forgotten, you Siam was born from the Khmer shit, thives, robber... you have no proud of yourself, you have very dirty past and origin.
You can lie your Siam people BUT you cannot lie the world and the history.
Piss off you Siam
Thailand: forget about the minor clashes and skirmishes on the borders, instead, aim for the heart of the ruling party strong-hold fortress (Tuol Krasaing). Use your precision-GPS-guided missiles to obliterate this compound.
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