8/02/2011
Bangkok Post
Thailand has countered a diplomatic initiative by Cambodia by sending a protest note to the United Nations Security Council accusing Phnom Penh of provoking the border conflict that led to clashes between their troops over the past four days.
The protest note signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva followed a request from Cambodia to the UNSC on Sunday asking the world organisation to bring an end to Thailand's "invasion of Cambodia".
Thai and Cambodian soldiers have exchanged artillery fire across the border near Preah Vihear temple every day since Friday, with each accusing the other of starting the hostilities.
The fourth day of cross-border shelling erupted yesterday morning after fierce fighting on Sunday night, despite a ceasefire being agreed to by field commanders from the two countries on Saturday.
At least five people - three Cambodians and two Thais - have been confirmed killed and scores of others wounded in the skirmishes which caused damage to the world heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed in his letter to the UNSC on Sunday that Thai soldiers had launched a full-scale offensive against Cambodian soldiers despite the truce agreement following clashes on Friday and Saturday.
He called on the world body to intervene by sending peacekeepers to act as a buffer between the two countries' forces.
The secretary to the foreign affairs minister, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, yesterday said it was Cambodian soldiers who started the conflict by firing on a Thai military post on Friday.
"The Thai government feels that Cambodia wants the international community to intervene in the case because Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent his letter to the UNSC while the fighting is still under way," Mr Chavanond said.
Thailand insists the border dispute is a bilateral issue that can best be solved by the two countries sitting down to negotiations.
Mr Chavanond and acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn stressed this position at a news conference held yesterday to call on Cambodia to join Thailand in settling the border dispute through existing bilateral mechanisms.
Thailand informed the UNSC of the two countries' intention to hold a Joint Boundary Committee meeting this month to discuss the border conflict, Mr Chavanond said. The last JBC meeting took place in 2009.
Thailand and Cambodia were encouraged yesterday to avoid the use of force to settle the border dispute.
A statement issued by the spokesman for the UN secretary-general said Ban Ki-moon was "deeply concerned" by the fighting and urged both sides "to exercise maximum restraint".
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who represents his country as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, visited Cambodia yesterday in a bid to help mediate a peaceful solution to the conflict. He is scheduled to visit Thailand today.
China also called on Thailand and Cambodia to remain calm amid the escalating border clashes.
"Both Cambodia and Thailand are China's friendly neighbours," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement issued yesterday.
"China hopes that the two sides will exercise calmness and restraint, resolve disputes through consultation, and prevent the situation from escalating."
Singapore expressed "deep concern" over the deadly border battles.
"We urge Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their differences through negotiations," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"This is important both for their long-term relationship, as well as in the broader interests of Asean."
6 comments:
Abishit vegie thai pm the mother fucker. You are sneaky and sleezy etc. You are pushing your luck. Your turn will be there soon in your ass. Your abhorable act can't be given. I will join army if you are stubborn and don't accept the truth if Khmer border history. Thai army has hurt me since as a refugee there and I never forget for 30 years. I am waiting for it.
Ah Shit Avichea, your fucking Oxcart University degree is fucking worth a toilet paper. Go wipe your ass and bloody hands with it, you murderer.
OK, I am sending protest note to all Khmers around the world, inside and oversea, to ban all thai products and all made-in-thailand products. This should be effective now till the end of Thailand.
i see signs of siem starting to get embarrassed and humiliated for their thug-like intention on cambodia and so forth! i truly believe when push comes to shove, siem cannot win with the international law, etc..., you know!
Abbishit, Ah PAD Thais, they are bully and brainless thugs. When Cambodia a much smaller country asked UN for help, these lawless Thai thugs get panicky. The World can see who is right or wrong.
The Siem leaders always play the blame game and they blame on Cambodia, they blame on the World Court, and they blame on UNESCO but they never blame themselves for being a fucken thief for trying to steal other country property! The root cause of the conflict is the Siem leaders choose to be a fucken thief and they choose to violating international law and their use of illegal military force on Cambodia as if Cambodian people owed these Siem thieves something from the past life!
To solve the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict once for all and the Siem leaders must choose not to be a fucken thief!
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