Ambika Ahuja]
The Associated Press
Bangkok
Cambodian and Thai field commanders met Sunday to ease tensions over a disputed border following deadly clashes that the Thai prime minister said he expected would be discussed at next week's Asian summit.
No further clashes have been reported since Friday, when two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 wounded after troops exchanged fire with assault rifles and rocket launchers along Cambodia's northern border near Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand's deputy regional commander Maj. Gen. Tawatchai Samutsakorn said field commanders from both countries talked over lunch about how they could avoid further fighting.
"The tension, which resulted from a misunderstanding, has eased," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during his weekly television broadcast.
Abhisit said the leaders of the neighboring countries planned to discuss the issue during a summit next week in the Thai coastal town of Pattaya, 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Bangkok.
Abhisit's measured tone echoed Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks Saturday in which he downplayed the clashes as a mere "incident" between neighbors that would not erupt into a war.
Tensions flared in July when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.
Brief border clashes last year killed two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai, and both sides have stepped up deployment of soldiers at the border since then.
The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
Hun Sen said Friday's fighting was triggered when Thai soldiers advanced into heavily mined territory claimed by Cambodia and ignored warnings to turn back.
Thai officials denied any intrusion and said they went into the disputed area to clear explosives after a Thai soldier lost his leg when he stepped on a mine Thursday.
Tawatchai said two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded. On Saturday, Tawatchai had said three died but later said the higher death toll was a result of misunderstanding between commanders and soldiers in the field.
Since Friday, Thailand has closed down the road leading to Preah Vihear temple - which is more easily accessed from the Thai side - to ensure the safety of civilians and tourists.
No further clashes have been reported since Friday, when two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 wounded after troops exchanged fire with assault rifles and rocket launchers along Cambodia's northern border near Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand's deputy regional commander Maj. Gen. Tawatchai Samutsakorn said field commanders from both countries talked over lunch about how they could avoid further fighting.
"The tension, which resulted from a misunderstanding, has eased," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during his weekly television broadcast.
Abhisit said the leaders of the neighboring countries planned to discuss the issue during a summit next week in the Thai coastal town of Pattaya, 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Bangkok.
Abhisit's measured tone echoed Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks Saturday in which he downplayed the clashes as a mere "incident" between neighbors that would not erupt into a war.
Tensions flared in July when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.
Brief border clashes last year killed two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai, and both sides have stepped up deployment of soldiers at the border since then.
The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
Hun Sen said Friday's fighting was triggered when Thai soldiers advanced into heavily mined territory claimed by Cambodia and ignored warnings to turn back.
Thai officials denied any intrusion and said they went into the disputed area to clear explosives after a Thai soldier lost his leg when he stepped on a mine Thursday.
Tawatchai said two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded. On Saturday, Tawatchai had said three died but later said the higher death toll was a result of misunderstanding between commanders and soldiers in the field.
Since Friday, Thailand has closed down the road leading to Preah Vihear temple - which is more easily accessed from the Thai side - to ensure the safety of civilians and tourists.
9 comments:
That's what Thai had been said all along! becareful all of my khmer army leaders! how many times already that thai kept saying no more fighting? but whatever thai said, they never kept the words! My message to my khmer army leaders, the more thai promise, the more problems they will giving us! always remembered that...
Just be more cautious! the more thai wanted to talk over, the next problems will occur! always keep in mind...
Thai never leave their soft tricks!
To all khmer army at the front line, be more cautious! Thai going to seek revenge at anytime soon, please be alert at all time!
Siamese is playing more tricks...
Dear Khmer army leaders,
That lunch meeting with thai-commanders are liar and useless! don't listening to them at all...
Watch out! thai will seek revenge back...
Just keep in mind that, everytime thai ask to talk with, the next problems will happend...
Thai always tricky...
The Thais thought PM Hun Sen warning of them not to "walk in and out of Khmer soil" or else they would be shot at, statement made in Sihanoukville on 1-4-09 was no April Fool. So they came again and they got what Hun Sen warned. Till today, some Thai dead bodies not yet retrieved from Khmer soil as they are (1) afraid of landmaines (2) of being shot at again if they re-enter Khmer soil.
Thai army chief's requeest for cease-fire negotiations not yet answered by Khmer govt, why should we hurry? Whatever nice US made tanks they used were of no help since some of them were destroyed during the clash on 3-4-09. Lousy fighters from the Thai black clad Rangers (under high command of whom we all know, their highest institution), these guys have never experienced war for the last century already compared to their immediate neighbors surrounding them...
Send hundreds of fully armed soldiers to Khmer land, again and again, and then call it a 'misunderstanding'. Now,are Thai think that the world are stupid enought to believe that, or Thai are that stupid?!
The siam is not stupid, it is a grabber, invader and thief, as its name well defines. Siam means Theft.
If thai asking to come into that area to retrieve the body, becareful, it may be their tricks to re-occupy the area! please don't let them come in that place no matter what!!
tricky! tricky!
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