U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, right, and U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley meet with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, unseen, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Cambodia asked the United States on Tuesday to cancel US$339 million in debt that dates back to loans from the 1970s, or consider converting most of it into development aid for the impoverished country. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 February 2010
The US is concerned about an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and is seeking a quick, peaceful solution to tensions between the two countries, a US State Department official said Tuesday.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, who is the US ambassador to Asean, told reporters he planned next to stop in Thailand to encourage resolution to a 19-month military standoff that has left at least eight soldiers dead and dampened tourism and trade between both countries.
“We are good friends with both Cambodian and Thailand, and like most countries we’re concerned about the tension between the two countries,” Marciel told reporters in Phnom Penh, following three days of talks with leaders. “What we have said is that we hope that both governments, both leaders, will do what they can to try to reduce tensions to begin with and then to work to try to find a peaceful and rapid solution to this problem.”
Marciel’s visit coincided with a four-day trip by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the northern border region, where he encouraged soldiers to continue vigilance against a Thai “invasion.”
In the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng Tuesday, Hun Sen told soldiers he was considering filing an official complaint to the International Court of Justice at the Hague against Thai encroachment in Cambodia.
Cambodia and Thailand have failed on multiple occasions to bilaterally diffuse the border standoff, which began in July 2008 after Preah Vihear temple was given Unesco World Heritage status under Cambodian ownership.
Bangkok officially disputes a small strip of land near the border temple, while protesters have called for the 11th-Century temple to be handed over to Thailand. The temple has meanwhile become a source of national pride for Cambodians.
The dispute has added to Thailand’s political instability, which saw massive protests in 2008 and the ouster of a democratically elected regime.
Compounding the problem is an ongoing diplomatic row between the two neighbors over the appointment of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Hun Sen.
Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, is wanted on corruption charges in Thailand, and his appointment and subsequent appearances in Phnom Penh have rankled Bangkok.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, who is the US ambassador to Asean, told reporters he planned next to stop in Thailand to encourage resolution to a 19-month military standoff that has left at least eight soldiers dead and dampened tourism and trade between both countries.
“We are good friends with both Cambodian and Thailand, and like most countries we’re concerned about the tension between the two countries,” Marciel told reporters in Phnom Penh, following three days of talks with leaders. “What we have said is that we hope that both governments, both leaders, will do what they can to try to reduce tensions to begin with and then to work to try to find a peaceful and rapid solution to this problem.”
Marciel’s visit coincided with a four-day trip by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the northern border region, where he encouraged soldiers to continue vigilance against a Thai “invasion.”
In the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng Tuesday, Hun Sen told soldiers he was considering filing an official complaint to the International Court of Justice at the Hague against Thai encroachment in Cambodia.
Cambodia and Thailand have failed on multiple occasions to bilaterally diffuse the border standoff, which began in July 2008 after Preah Vihear temple was given Unesco World Heritage status under Cambodian ownership.
Bangkok officially disputes a small strip of land near the border temple, while protesters have called for the 11th-Century temple to be handed over to Thailand. The temple has meanwhile become a source of national pride for Cambodians.
The dispute has added to Thailand’s political instability, which saw massive protests in 2008 and the ouster of a democratically elected regime.
Compounding the problem is an ongoing diplomatic row between the two neighbors over the appointment of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Hun Sen.
Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, is wanted on corruption charges in Thailand, and his appointment and subsequent appearances in Phnom Penh have rankled Bangkok.
12 comments:
Cambodia should bring Ah Abbishit to The World Court if he still has ill intension of taking Preah Vihear. They think that they're superior nation in the region and well-known about international laws?
What an insane bandit!
When Cambodia resumes the case at world court, I dare the robber would never want to show up to fight the case rather they will rest the case without a fight.
The United States means nothing in this case. They should encourage Cambodia to revive the case with world court to end Thai invasion. They also stand there see more lives lost in fire fight. They've seen dead end talks between the two countries and still urge more talks for a resolution? Damn!
That means nobody is on your side, you guys only know how to "FUck this, fuck that" and claim shit out of everybody. Now I understand why US departed and left your country and never wanted to come back again. Cambodians never know how to work, only demands for money and left all the shit for people to clean up. Bad to be dark Khamen 555
US departed and left due to defeated by the Vietcongs and left their allies behind and killed during the Pol Pot.
Where is the justification in this case, World Super Power?
It is so easy to solve the Khmer-Thai border issue: Thai move all their armed soldiers out of Khmer land, temples such as Ta Moune Thom, Ta Moune Toch, Preah Vihear area etc...Then Khmer may forive Thai!
God helps those who help themselves!
How can we help ourselves when you have somebody like ah HUN SEN that depends on ah YUON ah Chen and the world etc...etc...Can you tell us please?
6:37 AM,
Only if life was perfect!
I would order shoot to kill the bandits who illegally trespassed Cambodian territory if warning failed.
Hanoi is DICTATING HUN SEN to make WAR with Thailand to cover up Hanoi's encraochment at Khmer eastern borders.
This is the THRUTH.
The Super Power countries, U.S, Russia and Chine have to COMPROMISE each other and make a PRE$SURE ON HANOI to stop Vietnamisation and occupation of Cambodia.
Hani's greedy is the Main CAUSE of this CONFLICT.
The Siem start their naked aggression on Cambodia and they must end it! Stop blaming Cambodia who is the victim! Tell me of any law in the world that require a victim to talk to a perpetrator? Cambodia to talk with Thailand? It will never going to happen until the Siem move their fucken troop from Cambodian territories!
Yeahh concern so much about the western region of Cambodia, but how about the eastern Cambodia?
Hi Dumbass 5:43 AM. Today the whiners like Hun Sen in power are from peasant Khmer Rouge installed by Yuon Communist and people surrounding them are Yuon spies, such as Hor Nam Hong, Mrs You Ah and many more.
Why do you blame real Cambodians who cannot do anything?
And your dumbass still don't know who're behind that chaos in Cambodia? The US support Yuon behind for its own interest against China in ASEAN, because Yuon have more people and more weapons they got from Soviet now Russia than others. The problems in Cambodia today linked back to the past hundred years, not recently and not during Yuon created Khmer Rouge either. Because of ASEAN, now China too wants to use Yuon by putting pressure on Yuon Hanoi like forcing Yuon to give up land to China or otherwise. Now Yuon have to work with China to survive.
This is the big Problem for a weak small country like Cambodia how she can survive if the two superpowers US and China use Yuon for its own interest; then Yuon can take all the advantages keep its expansionism alive; and it will be soon taking Thailand.
Fr. Ponchaud made the statements in his interview that the KRT is hypocritical, and he is right, because China and US supported Khmer Rouge, then now US set up the trial after they agreed with Yuon to install Khmer Rouge in power and after they killed Pot Pot from testifying.
KRT is the way to fool the victims' families, what a hypocritical?
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born i sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nation."
There are nothing last forever...Even in HEAVEN have laws.
Remember do not cry unto me when the disasters emerge. Because the laws of nature.
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