[Thai] PM: Talks with Cambodia only way to end border tension

2/07/2009
Bangkok Post.com

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the Thai-Cambodia border conflict can be solved only through talks and not by force of arms.

"A war would lead to further damage and no one will win," Mr Abhisit said.

"Both countries are members of Asean, and they have to cooperated on many issues including transport, tourism and economic growth."

Thailand and Cambodia each had the same objective -- to solve the border row peacefully.

But troop deployments in the disputed border area was a sensitive issue which would take time to resolve, he said.

Asked about Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen's aggressive stance on the border issue, Mr Abhisit insisted it would not affect operational levels.

"Operational levels of both countries speak to each other," he said. "They all want to ease tension. But both sides have to be careful because a talk could put one side at a disadvantage."

On Wednesday, Hun Sen was quoted in Phnom Penh as waning Thailand against violating Cambodian airspace, saying that he was afraid he would ''not be able to control the shooting if the soldiers on the ground lose patience".

Mr Abhisit also said that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will again visit Cambodia this weekend to attend the opening of a road that Thai has helped build.

Mr Suthep, who visited Hun Sen for informal talks in Phnom Penh on Saturday, said he will leave the issue of troop reductions along the border with the army.

The government woud continue to speak with the Cambodian government to reduce tension.

"Thai people fighting amongst themselves is bad enough. Let's not make the matter worse by fighting other countries," Mr Suthep said.

"I'm confident that no damange will occur and that the border tension will be reduced."

On the development of Thailand's opposition on the unilateral listing of Preah Vihear temple, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti on Thursday insisted he was able to give Thailand about one year to raise its concerns over the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)'s listing of the ancient temple as a world heritage site.

Mr Suwit admitted Preah Vihear has been listed as a world heritage site as Pongpol Adireksarn, former chairman of the Thai World Heritage Committee, said. But the listing has yet to be completed with a plan, including a map of buffer zones around the site, for safeguarding and developing the temple, which is to be submitted to WHC by Cambodia.

Because of Thailand's opposition to the listing, coupled with Cambodia's inability to submit the plan by February this year, the WHC decided to give Cambodia until next February to do so. This has given Thailand an opportunity to raise concerns over its border dispute with Cambodia, said Mr Suwit.

Mr Suwit said Unesco has been told the two countries have not been able to settle their border dispute. "We need to explore ways of settling the dispute to end the Thai-Cambodian conflict over the listing of Preah Vihear," he added.

Asked whether Thailand would try to seek a bilateral listing of the temple, Mr Suwit said this could be done only after the dispute border has been clearly demarcated.