No Troop Withdrawal Despite Observers' Presence [-Another Thai ploy?]

BANGKOK, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Thai troops stationed at the Thai-Cambodian border will not be withdrawn despite the presence of observers from Indonesia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said troops would remain along the border, in protecting the country's sovereignty.

"Their (observers) presence is to make sure there is no clash in the area and they will know which side is responsible for the new clash if it happens," he told reporters here Wednesday.

He said details on when the observers would begin their task were being worked out and their duration would depend on the situation at the border.

The Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta Tuesday agreed to dispatch observers from Indonesia, the current Asean Chair, as requested by Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

The mandate of the observers is to assist and support the parties in respecting their commitment to avoid further armed clashes between them, by observing and reporting accurately, as well as impartially, on complaints of violations and submitting their findings to each party, through Indonesia.

The observers will not be placed in the disputed 4.6 sq km area but would be on both sides of the affected areas on the border.

The border dispute involved both nations' claims the area surrounding the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu Temple as the area yet to be demarcated, including the access route to the temple.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple was located in Cambodia, and it was listed as a world heritage site by Unesco in 2008.

The recent clashes occurred between Feb 4 and Feb 16 at the disputed area with both sides exchanging heavy weapons, including bombs, rockets and tanks, leaving 10 deaths reported on both sides.

Prior to this, three clashes were reported - July 15, 2008, October 2008 and April 3, 2009 - since the inscription of the temple on the world heritage list on July 8, 2008.

During the seven-day ceasefire recently, both nations reinforced their forces near the border with additional troops and heavy weapons.

Bangkok dispatched an additional 20,000 troops and dozens of tanks to the border while news reports from Phnom Penh also indicated the mobilisation of a similar size of additional troops.

At the height of the tension, Phnom Penh had requested the United Nations to send peacekeepers to the disputed area, following the recent clashes but it was turned down by the world body.

Both parties brought up the recent clashes to the United Nations Security Council on Feb 14, but the Security Council urged them to establish a permanent ceasefire, resolve the situation peacefully and through dialogue with Asean support.