Abhisit won't cut troops

Cambodian troops sit on trucks in Siem Reap, about 320 kilometers (199 miles) north Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, before Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, pays a two-day private visit to Angkor Wat, the country's most popular tourist destination. The troops have been withdrawn from Preah Vihear temple near the Cambodia-Thai border, government official said. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Khmer pullout from temple 'a tactical ploy'

14/11/2009
Bangkok Post

Thailand will not dance to Cambodia's tune by withdrawing troops from the disputed Preah Vihear temple area, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday more pressure would be put on Cambodia next week.

Cambodia's removal of troops from the area was just a tactical ploy, he said. Phnom Penh wanted to give the appearance there were no problems relating to its plans to develop the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.

"It is their plan and we are not going in that direction," Mr Abhisit said, after a meeting with Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the withdrawal of the 911 special forces unit from its post at the temple. The pullout ceremony was held in Siem Reap yesterday where Hun Sen and fomer Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met with 60 Puea Thai Party MPs and other Thaksin supporters.

The troop withdrawal came amid increasing tensions between the two neighbours which have escalated since Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser to his government and also his personal adviser. The ensuing diplomatic spat worsened on Thursday when Cambodia expelled a senior Thai envoy, which caused Mr Kasit to cut short his visit to Singapore.

Mr Abhisit said the government was reviewing projects with Cambodia and some of them might be put forward to the cabinet for consideration next week.

He said the government was not distracted by the diplomatic spat with Cambodia and its diplomatic response was in line with proper procedure.

"There is nothing special about this because we have more important things to do," he said.

Mr Abhisit said the government would take appropriate diplomatic measures against Cambodia.

"We will not take action in haste. The steps we are to take must guarantee results," he said.

The government is reviewing a 1.4 billion baht soft loan for a road project linking Surin province to Siem Reap.

He said Cambodia's actions were intentionally provocative.

"Partly this is because they [Hun Sen and Thaksin] need each other," he said.

Mr Abhisit said the Thai-Cambodian rift was not serious enough to close the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Mr Abhisit scoffed at Thaksin's remarks that the government was promoting a false sense of patriotism.

"We have not. The sentiment is stirred by Thaksin's actions which are found unacceptable and against the nation's interests," he said.

Thaksin told Puea Thai MPs who visited him in Siem Reap last night the withdrawal of Cambodian troops was down to his friendship with Hun Sen.

Hun Sen told the MPs that he was devastated by Thaksin's fate.

"He is a great asset to Thailand but he has no place to stay. He doesn't even have a passport from his own country," he was quoted as saying.

Hun Sen also said "Cambodia would not interfere in Thailand's internal affairs and the appointment of Thaksin would foster 'unprecedented' relationship between the two countries."

Relations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers deployed in the disputed area seem to have remained undisturbed by the diplomatic flare-up.

Sgt Maj 1st Class Jongrak Taenhom, who is among 10 Thai soldiers deployed near Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri, said there was no tension between Thai and Cambodian soldiers.

"We eat together. We talk. There is no strain or tension. And now they have pulled out, so there is nothing to be tense about," he said.