BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday supported Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen's move to downplay a border clash, calling it the result of a misunderstanding that could be resolved through amicable talks.
Thai authorities said two of their soldiers were killed and nine wounded on Friday in a clash around the Preah Vihear temple, the worst fighting since a military stand-off near the area last year.
Cambodia said it suffered no casualties after the troops of the two sides exchanged rifle and rocket fire.
Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old Hindu temple known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on an escarpment that forms the natural border between the two countries and has been a source of tension for generations.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday the clash would not escalate into a more serious conflict.
"I regard the fighting yesterday as an incident, not a war. I don't want to see these incidents repeated or fighting expand to other areas," Hun Sen said.
Tension over the fresh clash eased through sustained dialogue between Thai and Cambodian officials, Abhisit said on a weekly television programme.
He said the latest incident started with a Thai soldier stepping on a landmine in a disputed area over which both countries claimed sovereignty.
"Many border areas have problems arising from a dispute over counter claims by both countries," Abhisit said.
"There have been bilateral government talks over these problems, including contacts between me and Prime Mininister Hun Sen that have created mutual understanding that they should be resolved through negotiations," he said.
The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.
A joint border committee set up to demarcate the jungle-clad border area after last year's clashes, which killed one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers, will meet again on Monday for three days of talks.
Both sides have talked about developing the site, some 600 km (370 miles) east of Bangkok and only a decade ago controlled by remnants of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrilla army, into a tourist destination.
(Reporting by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Thai authorities said two of their soldiers were killed and nine wounded on Friday in a clash around the Preah Vihear temple, the worst fighting since a military stand-off near the area last year.
Cambodia said it suffered no casualties after the troops of the two sides exchanged rifle and rocket fire.
Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old Hindu temple known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on an escarpment that forms the natural border between the two countries and has been a source of tension for generations.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday the clash would not escalate into a more serious conflict.
"I regard the fighting yesterday as an incident, not a war. I don't want to see these incidents repeated or fighting expand to other areas," Hun Sen said.
Tension over the fresh clash eased through sustained dialogue between Thai and Cambodian officials, Abhisit said on a weekly television programme.
He said the latest incident started with a Thai soldier stepping on a landmine in a disputed area over which both countries claimed sovereignty.
"Many border areas have problems arising from a dispute over counter claims by both countries," Abhisit said.
"There have been bilateral government talks over these problems, including contacts between me and Prime Mininister Hun Sen that have created mutual understanding that they should be resolved through negotiations," he said.
The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.
A joint border committee set up to demarcate the jungle-clad border area after last year's clashes, which killed one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers, will meet again on Monday for three days of talks.
Both sides have talked about developing the site, some 600 km (370 miles) east of Bangkok and only a decade ago controlled by remnants of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrilla army, into a tourist destination.
(Reporting by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
8 comments:
It is not misunderstanding which cause the fighting/clashes. It is siam's intrusion/encroachment. Siam looks down on khmer. It is normal for the owner to use self defense.
It is time to bring this issue to the International level, negotiation would not work, it has taken too long with no fruitfull so far, and we khmer don't want this to drag more longer. We need peace to build our country. The action that siam shelled into the temple is an act of violation world heritage site.
Agree! thai never stop intrude that's why alway happend and started from thai side, because they never kept their words! the lunch meeting does not meant anything, the problem will occur again soon...
Thai wanted to talks and be peace with each other, but thai never stop encroaching...
They just are greedy for khmer land. I feel so sick to see that lunch meeting. Shoot them as soon as they step in, don't compromise. It is right to shoot them for our self-defence. Beware that they use to shoot us dead thousand of innocent khmers. Don't be soft with them. They never keep their words.
Abhisit, get your top military commanders together, trin them again to be more intelligent and stop having the damn "misunderstanding" stupid excuse!!! Are these troops and their commanders really that retarded???? Why they keep stepping on mines and "sccidentally" shoot their automatic rifles??? You got your god damned rescuers and helicopters to get your wounded like very quicly that demonstrated your stupid tricks. It indicated that you guys are intending seriously to encraoch. Get out, and leave Cambodia peaceful.
All of thai talks are bullshit! they never take it serious, if khmer fallasleep, they will strike! just kept fire at them, as soon as they step inside an inch of our lands, we must learns from them too...
The problems with us is that in the past we alway playing too soft and kissing their ass too much, now they kind da back down alittle bit! after we shot their ass real bad...remembered my khmer army, we have a right to defend our territory! So, don't be hesitated to all them THAI BALCK CLAD MOTHER FUCKER!!
correctin = SHOOT!
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