BANGKOK, April 4 (Bernama) -- The proposed parallel meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) in Bogor, Indonesia on Thursday, will not materialise.
Instead, only the JBC will proceed as planned for two days, beginning that day.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said today the GBC could not take place as defence ministries of both countries were still negotiating the proposed meeting.
According to local news reports, Thai Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon insisted the JBC should be held first, followed by the GBC.
Prawit was also reported having said he did not want the presence of a third party in the bilateral meeting on the Thai-Cambodia border security issues.
The Thai defence minister also did not want the GBC to be held in a third country as he felt that it should be held either in Thailand or Cambodia.
The Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta on Feb 22, among others, agreed that bilateral meeting between Thailand and Cambodia be held in a third country and observers from Indonesia, the current chair of Asean, would be embedded with troops from both countries at the border.
The border dispute involved both nations claiming an area of 4.6sq km, surrounding the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu Temple, as the area has yet to be demarcated, including access routes 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.
Four clashes were reported at the border - July 15, 2008, a week after the inscription of the temple on the world heritage site on July 8, 2008, October 2008, April 3, 2009 and the latest on Feb 4, this year.
At the height of the recent border tension, both nations referred their case to the United Nations Security Council while Asean extended its hand in facilitating efforts to reduce tension.
"I hope the forthcoming JBC meeting will further enhance our bilateral relationship. In fact, situation at the border has calmed down and people across the border have restored normal activities," said Abhisit.
Asked about the deployment of the observers, Abhisit replied: "The question of the (disputed) territory has to be addressed first."
1 comment:
There is no such thing as disputed territory! This is Thailand invasion of Cambodia! Until Thailand withdraw their military from Cambodian territory then talk can begin! Otherwise the mediator is still needed to smooth out Siem troop movement out of Cambodian territory!
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