 |
| MEMENTO OF VIOLENCE: A novice at Wat Siriwarawat in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district strikes a ‘‘mortar shell bell’’next to the temple’s traditional brass bell. |
'ALL IS WELL' AS TROOPS SIGN CEASEFIRE
20/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
Thai and Cambodian troops signed a ceasefire agreement effective from noon yesterday.
"All is well," said Second Army commander Thawatchai Samutsakhon after the agreement was sealed at a restaurant at the Chong Sa-ngam Pass border crossing in Si Sa Ket province.
The ceasefire is a breakthrough in the raging border conflict following clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops in a disputed area near Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district earlier this month.
However, it is unclear if the ceasefire will be permanent. A previous truce had been called on Feb 5 but violence flared up again the next day.
An army source said Lt Gen Thawatchai was part of the ceasefire-signing delegation led by Army chief-of-staff Daopong Rattanasuwan, who represented the Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.
The delegation also included armed forces specialist Nipat Thonglek and Suranaree Taskforce commander Chavalit Choonprasarn.
The Cambodian side was led by deputy army commander Hun Manet, the son of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The ceasefire was inked after more than two hours of meetings, which ended at 12.30pm yesterday.
The ceasefire took effect yesterday and the agreement contains seven other binding points.
The other points are; no more troops are to be deployed in the conflict zones and the existing troops stationed there must not move; no heavy armaments and artillery in the conflict areas may be moved; neither side may attack the other using heavy weaponry; no building or structure of any kind may be constructed inside the disputed 4.6 square kilometre border zone; no more military bunkers are to be built; no more road construction is allowed; and the senior military officers of both countries are to communicate via a dedicated mobile phone hotline in discussing border issues.
The arrangements over troops and weapons under the ceasefire agreement are pending future border negotiations at government level or until the next Asean ministerial meeting on Tuesday, which will be attended by all 10 member nations' foreign ministers.
"What the soldiers must do now is observe the ceasefire," said the source.
"The longer-term problems are for the respective governments to solve."
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart, Teah Banh, will meet at the Thai-Camobodian General Border Committee session in the middle of the year.
Lt Gen Hun Manet's involvement has raised Thailand's confidence that the ceasefire will be respected. But Thai security authorities have not ruled out a breach of the ceasefire as Cambodian troops do not always obey orders, the source said.
The source added both sides were in agreement that neither country benefits from the prolonged fighting.
The ceasefire meeting yesterday highlighted concerns over the precarious state of border security on Phu Makhua mountain in Si Sa Ket, which was the hotspot in the recent troop clashes.
The source said that during the meeting yesterday, Lt Gen Hun Manet asked why the Thai government has allowed certain media outlets to attack Cambodia over the border violence.
The outlets were understood to be controlled by the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has been highly critical of Cambodia in recent months.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday Unesco was sending a special envoy to hear both countries' take on the border dispute.
However, the envoy will not travel to the Preah Vihear temple due to "diplomatic sensitivity".
The envoy is expected to arrive in Thailand next week, Mr Abhisit said after a telephone conversation with Unesco director-general Irina Bokova yesterday.
He said the director-general felt the contentious management of the area around Preah Vihear temple, declared a world heritage site by Unesco, should not proceed until the border dispute is resolved.
9 comments:
Thailand cannot sign a border truce and then invade the neighbor just hours after the signing. The Khmer must be vigilent at all time. High alert, please.
Thailand signed with the military just to ease prior Cambodia raising the matter to Asian or an attempt to save Thailand face or just want to how the world that Thailand and Cambodia can solve the problem bilaterally. Remember this sign is of no use. Don't fall into thief Thai trick. They will say that bilaterally already sign so no need Asian to observe or intervene
Just be alert with
Thai.Khmer have had
known Thai behavior
pretty well.
Khmer people have had been neglected
attitude.
Vietnam,Khmer People
have had known well
also,but being alert
crocodile;this race
have had eaten three kingdoms of Champa,Khmer Krom,
Lao,and...ghost kingdom of BANANA.
It means that the state is CAMBODIA,
but Khmer TERRITORY
IS VIETNAM.
KHMER IS NO LONGER
KHMER.
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Khmer leaders they only care about their families,relatives and their power and money. They don't care about the whole nation or Cambodia country at all. They rather lost lands than lost their power and money!
I beleved this sign agreement meant anything, unless third party like UN/ASEAN are involve and be witness, otherwise SIAMESE will use dirty trick on Cambodia again...watch! They alway sign with hands and erase within Foot!
correction- believed
Another crappy b.s bangkok post. they always post something like in the next hour.
Thai will definitely use this signing agreement as a pretex to keep Asian out
And claim bilateral is already done
Post a Comment