Wednesday, February 16, 2011

UN withdraws staff from at least two areas on Thai-Cambodian border

Feb 16, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - The United Nations has moved six staff out of Koh Kong town near Cambodia's southern border with Thailand after both nations reportedly boosted troop numbers in the area.

UN security officials told staff by email that travel to Koh Kong town, capital of the province of the same name and 8 kilometres from the border, was restricted 'until further notice.'

The UN email, seen by the German Press Agency dpa, said up to 70 per cent of the town's population had left due to tensions on the southern border.

The UN has also evacuated staff from areas near the 11th-century temple of Preah Vihear on the northern border, the site of clashes that have killed at least nine people in the past fortnight.


The UN office in Phnom Penh refused to confirm or deny that any staff had been moved. 'It would be inappropriate to comment on staff security at this stage,' said Douglas Broderick, UN resident coordinator.

On Monday at the United Nations Security Council, both countries' foreign ministers blamed the other for the fighting, the worst conflict between the neighbours in years.

Speaking on his return from New York on Wednesday, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong reiterated that Phnom Penh's objective was to resolve the border dispute using third-party mediation.

Cambodia has said the bilateral approach using the two nations' Joint Border Committee, which was set up in 2000, has failed.

Thailand has insisted on a bilateral solution.

Also Wednesday Cambodia's Foreign Ministry released a statement accusing Thailand of violating the ceasefire near Preah Vihear by firing grenades and mortars for several hours overnight.

It said Cambodian troops had 'exercised utmost restraint' in order not to jeopardize talks scheduled for Jakarta on February 22 under the auspices of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Hor Namhong said he would ask the 10-member ASEAN to send observers to monitor the implementation of a recent ceasefire agreement. The clashes have displaced an estimated 25,000 people.

Bangkok has blamed the UN's cultural body UNESCO for exacerbating the dispute with its 2008 decision to list Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site despite objections from Thailand.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but stopped short of determining the border demarcation in an adjacent 4.6-square-kilometre contested area.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...


That is a good news for all Khmers.
If both nation (Cambodia and Thailand) will no clash against each other why UN withdraw its staff just from Koh Kong???
It means the big war between Thai and Cambodia will come soon. That is no

Anonymous said...

did i mention that earlier? every clashes is bigger than other 'til the big one arrive. The underdog completely cornered. It bite back.

Anonymous said...

this is plain and simple thais just wanted that P V temple. Khmer keep shooting. if we win this wars. we will take bankok next! LOL

Anonymous said...

yes you make a right move rainsy, a litlte late but stile positive move. those who curse Hun sen those curse come back to you and to your family, smart peole they never blindly believe 100 prcent in anythings, good that you are out now, guy like you neither too good nor too bad, you are worst zero to anythings. and we are khmer don't have such blind extremise like you. goo to tiolet and dump yourhead in, becouse how that you value yourself tobe shite heads, yourhead full of anger who could live with you you have yourself enemy do not blame Mr rainsy, shit heads KI

Anonymous said...

Barbarian ABHISIT and his group become a crazy pig now,they don't know how to live with peace in this century ,they like the war ,they want to make the war invade cambodia,in this century the people in the world ,they like peace ,they talk about peace ,they want to live with peace ,but the barbarian ABHISIT and his group they like the war ,they are worst than animal ,look at the animal ,they like to live with peace with each other in their own territory ,they never make the war with each other ,ABHISIT and his group they want to put their hand in the fire ,because they want to know how hurt when the fire burn their hand .Our dear thai people living near the border stand up and tell to ABHISIT and his group to stop the war because the war make you hurt ,make you cry and destroy everything that you work hard from empty hand until now ,when you hurt and cry ,ABHISIT and his group laugh ,they sleep well in the beautiful house with air conditioner ,they drink the good wisky with their family,when the war destroy your propertie ABHISIT and his group ,they earn the money from the war,that money it's the money that you paid the tax every year .Stand up and tell to ABHISIT and his group to stop the war ,if they don't stop ,our dear thai people living near the border ,you have to throw the war to their head ,after they will know how the war hurt them .

Anonymous said...

Yes the thai people believe very well the spirit ,I believe rightnow the spirit anger of khmer preah vihear temple built in 9 century will burn ABHISIT and his group,because they want to put their hand in the fire and they want to know how hurt when the fire burn.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure that khmer people don't sleep and let barbarian ABHISIT and their soldiers invade khmer territory easily in this century,we are khmer people ,we like to live with peace with thai neighbor ,because we consider thai people look like brother and sister ,but if barbarian ABHISIT invade khmer territory ,we are the one even we have difference opinion politic ,we will destroy the ennemie invader like the khmer king PREAH BAT ANG ENG destroy the siam invader in SIEM REAP province.