Cambodia's ruling party hopes new Thai gov't to build close co-operation on temple issue

July 22, 2011
Xinhua

Ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) expressed high hope that the upcoming new Thai government would create close cooperation with Cambodia to solve the temple issue, according to a communique released on Thursday afternoon by the party's 36th annual congress.

"The CPP is optimistic that the new government of Thailand to be formed from the result of the July 3's elections will closely cooperate with Cambodia in solving the issues basing on friendly neighboring spirit," said the statement.

The would-be new Thai government will be formed by the Pheu Thai Party, which won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3. Yingluck Shinawatra, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin's sister, will become the country's first female Prime Minister.

The CPP's two-day congress also expressed support for the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 that ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple and urged the two countries to allow ASEAN observers to have access to the provisional demilitarized zone.

"We hope that these measures will be brought into action the soonest possible," it added.

The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square km (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.