Original report from Phnom Penh
24 March 2010
Local rights groups and the opposition on Wednesday encouraged Prime Minister Hun Sen to meet with his Thai counterpart over ongoing border and diplomatic disputes when the two attend a regional meeting in Thailand.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Hun Sen and other leaders with meet at the first Mekong River Commission summit early next month.
Diplomatic relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh have progressively soured, following the appointment last year of ousted Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Hun Sen.
No bilateral meetings are scheduled between the two neighbors, who are also engaged in a military standoff over disputed border territory.
The Mekong River summit, to be held in April, “is a very good opportunity for [Hun Sen and Abhisit] to hold bilateral talks for the solution of the border dispute, the diplomatic row and the verbal war,” said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc.
Talks could also solve “small problems,” such as the incidents of shooting deaths allegedly perpetrated by Thai border forces against illegal Cambodian immigrants, he said.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said bilateral talks must be held to solve border tensions and to avoid paying more money from national coffers for the military build-up.
“Cambodia needs to use its potential in foreign policy to defend Cambodian territory and boost its economic activity,” he said.
Meanwhile, A senior military leader on Wednesday said Cambodia has enough troops and arms on the border to defend the frontier against a Thai incursion, as a military standoff over disputed land near Preah Vihear temple continues.
Troops on both sides have amassed on the border since July 2008.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Hun Sen and other leaders with meet at the first Mekong River Commission summit early next month.
Diplomatic relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh have progressively soured, following the appointment last year of ousted Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Hun Sen.
No bilateral meetings are scheduled between the two neighbors, who are also engaged in a military standoff over disputed border territory.
The Mekong River summit, to be held in April, “is a very good opportunity for [Hun Sen and Abhisit] to hold bilateral talks for the solution of the border dispute, the diplomatic row and the verbal war,” said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc.
Talks could also solve “small problems,” such as the incidents of shooting deaths allegedly perpetrated by Thai border forces against illegal Cambodian immigrants, he said.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said bilateral talks must be held to solve border tensions and to avoid paying more money from national coffers for the military build-up.
“Cambodia needs to use its potential in foreign policy to defend Cambodian territory and boost its economic activity,” he said.
Meanwhile, A senior military leader on Wednesday said Cambodia has enough troops and arms on the border to defend the frontier against a Thai incursion, as a military standoff over disputed land near Preah Vihear temple continues.
Troops on both sides have amassed on the border since July 2008.
2 comments:
just don't demand 'bilateral" development of cambodia's preah vihear temple of whatever. before any type of bilateral talk, make sure to properly demarcate khmer territory first, then talk bilateral next. otherwise, don't even bother bilateral talk with cambodia, ok!
Thai King didn't like it since the international said No to him and 46 years later Thai king still hope for second chance for Preah Vihear. After preah vihear was listed as world heritage to all human kind, thai king got so mad and become more greedy than ever. He set up riot with PAD to the border between khmer thai and keep sending troop to invading on Cambodia. Thai king need to get use to the word NO and enough from khmer and international community. Thai King need to get reality check because he is living in dream world. the world that is not exist in real life. The judge on preah vihear's case in 1962 is still alive and he went to visit and help Cambodia, recently he told the reporters that Thai people tried to stop him from giving out information about preah vihear and they are willing to give $ 50000 every month. PEOPLE CAN U SEE HOW THAILAND ARE? they tried to get rid of Thaksin and Samak by saying those people caused corruption in thailand But at the same thai king and PAD party corrupt international community, khmer people, khmer's land and the world as a whole. Thank god the judge rejected their offer and it make the world see clearly how tricky and crying wolf thai people are. they keep invading temple to temple on khmer's land , well i curse you thai king and ur family to sink and never rise.
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