Cheang Sokha and Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Thousands of Yellow Shirt protesters in Bangkok have called for the Thai government to take a stronger stance against Cambodia, though military officials said today that a stand-off along the countries’ contentious border had been averted.
Some 3,000 police officers have been deployed in the Thai capital to control the estimated 5,000 activists who took to the streets of central Bangkok on Tuesday, threatening to occupy the prime minister’s office as they did for three months during unrest in 2008.
Cambodian officials near Preah Vihear temple said about 40 Thai troops had traveled to the nearby border area this morning, though they withdrew after talks between commanders of the respective forces.
Following the meeting, Cambodian troops agreed to remove a sign placed near the temple on Tuesday that declared the area Cambodian territory.
“Now we have no more confrontation and both sides have returned to their camps,” said Om Phirum, heritage police chief of the Preah Vihear National Authority.
“The withdrawal of the Thai troops came after Cambodia agreed to take away the sign.”
The offending sign, which read “Here! is Cambodia”, had replaced a similar sign placed last month that accused Thai troops of invading Cambodian territory.
Thai military commanders and Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva had publicly complained about the message.
Thai military deputy spokesman Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak acknowledged that the protesters in Bangkok had increased the tension surrounding the border issue, though he said Thai and Cambodian troops “are in contact at all levels” and will not let the situation spill over into violence.
Recent military exercises conducted by Thai troops in the area, he added, were routine procedure and were unrelated to relations with Cambodia.
“We try not to do anything provocative, and we still believe everything can be settled with talks,” Veerachon said.
The oft-strained relations between Thailand and Cambodia were upgraded last year following the resignation of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a bitter rival of the Abhisit administration, from his position as economics adviser to the Cambodian government.
Tensions returned last month, however, following the arrest of a Thai parliamentarian and six other Thai nationals for allegedly trespassing on Cambodian territory.
Five of the Thais, including ruling party MP Panich Vikitsreth, were released last week on suspended sentences, though two others are being held on espionage charges and are set to be tried next week.
Panthep Puapongpan, a spokesman for the Yellow Shirts, said those protesting in Bangkok were angered by the arrests and other alleged Cambodian provocations along the border.
“We don’t want [to] invade their territory, but we want to protect our land,” he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP AND JAMES O’TOOLE
14 comments:
Very painful, very sad to destroy our nations, we, Cambodian government Hun Sen is very weaken government let Thai ordered to destroy the sign. Sadly, I don’t know what else to say. The soldier very upset to get order by the government to remove the sign.
I will not vote for Hun Sen.
As Khmer I have no word to say about this destroying, the Khmer soldiers on the spot did this only the order from "Upper" (it neans Angka like in Pol Pot period).
This Govt serve only for foreigners not for Khmer nation:
1) What Thai said they will obay and destroyed, in order to get good reation with Thai.
2) What the Viet (their Boss) annex Khmer border they stay calm and threat Khmer nationalists to bring them to prison.
3) BUT WITH OWN KHMER PEOPLE, THEY ARE BRUTAL AGAINST THEM WHEN SOMEONE CRITIZED THIS GOVT. AND THEY SELL ALL OF KHMER PROPERTY TO FOREIGNER. IST THIS GOVT SERVE FOR KHMERS INTEREST ????
Watch out for PAD current movement. Since 2008, PAD intense movements have been correlated with Thai army’s movement along the Cambodian boarder. I still remember that, during those days, Thai Government said one thing, but Thai army did different thing. They intruded Cambodian land unexpectedly and successfully marked those Cambodian lands as disputed area. Now PAD starts another round of protest in Bangkok. Their agenda aim at boarder dispute with Cambodia. It is not a good sign at all. The responsibility is rest on Cambodian Government to be viligent to avoid more Cambodian land becoming other disputed areas. It's time to unite.
Why? Because YUON can have a piece of that pie so Thai wants that fair share too.
If Hun Sen be tough on all fronts, the Thai ambition wouldn't happened.
Look at on the east border with YOUN at KP. Cham province for example. They (Youn) had planned the border mark right near the house of Monkey Heng Samrin and Hun Sen government done nothing to stop them. So Thai is now really wants that 4.6km2.
Mark my words, Hun Sen must request to UN or use the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement to bring them to UN Court again. If not this thing will not solve anything.
Khmer Poipet,
KHMAI vs. KHMER!
the Hun Sen's government and clan are always under the testicles of Viets and Siems. the Hun Sen's government & clan are the most incompetent of south-east Asia. they are not doing.
But they are very strong, hard with the Khmer people, beaten, tortured, humiliated etc...
This is a good news for Hun Sen who speaks tough against Thai but carries jelly stick.
Avoid tension and fighting???
Why you're idot and shortsight mind set up these signs on the first place. Whose ideas this is??
cambodia is weak and worthless, this is why Thai/Viet alway pick on cambodia, both of them, they've seen oppt. to wipe out khmer? They did this since 12th,13th century! Now 21st century Khmer still has weak Govts still..? You can't even do thing in your own home? You have to listening or obey someone else...telling you what to do? or can't do? This is fuck up man..!!
Agree with some of you guy comments! Why we bother puttin Up that sign in the first place? If we affraid of them and have to listen to them, and why bother...???
it's siem's trick to have ignorant khmer put up sign then break it down again, to show they can dictate to cambodia any time! it's siem pad thugs trick, didn't you know that? the lands still belongs to cambodia in according to the icj verdict, that's hasn't changed a bit, although siem pad thugs want to change that the illegal way by invasion and stealing from cambodia, you know! please studies our history, so you won't sound so ignorant, ok!
Khmer soldirs are weak, they allow Thai soldier slip inside Sambok khmom area, this is the same thing happen back in Oct.15,2008. Khmer soldier weren't pay attention, they allowed Ta chi, Yeay Chi slip in and screwed up everything...Our leaders are weak!!
យ៉ាងម៉េចទៅហើយ កម្ពុជាព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ អច្ឆរិយៈ ដែលពិធីករនៅភ្នំពេញ កំពង់តែឆ្កួតវង្វេង
ចំតិតស្រែកនោះ?
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve alot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder cambodian K5,1997events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder cambodians? Why? and Why?
If you are so good why do about 90%cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionair and millinor? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good Why do you block KI from cambodians?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for ethernity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his belove Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent. The country is getting smaller and shamer by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet.
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
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