Cambodia to withdraw part of its troops from border areas with Thailand

November 08 2009
Xinhua

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday announced that Cambodia has decided to withdraw part of its troops from the border areas with Thailand.

Hun Sen made the announcement at a press conference held at the Phnom Penh International Airport where he arrived from the first Mekong-Japan Summit held from Nov. 6 to 7 in Tokyo, Japan.

Relations between Cambodia and Thailand were strained in the past week when Cambodia named former ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

Thailand recalled its ambassador on Thursday to protest against the Cambodian decision, and Cambodia also recalled its ambassador.

Cambodia cuts troops at temple [... Thai senators to reject JBC minutes on Monday]

Mon, Aug 31, 2009
The Nation/Asia News Network

Cambodia has cut back its military presence at Preah Vihear Temple - a trigger point in the past year - while Thailand's Parliament is expected to allow the two countries to move ahead with boundary demarcation in the overlapping area.

"We have pulled out 50 per cent of the troops from Preah Vihear Temple," Chhum Socheat, spokesman for Cambodia's National Defence Ministry, said yesterday.

"This shows that the situation at the border is really getting better, and that both countries have a mutual understanding of peace," he said.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the controversial Hindu temple since last year when Thailand opposed Phnom Penh's move to inscribe the Khmer sanctuary on Unesco's list of world heritage sites.

After the UN World Heritage Committee granted the coveted status in July 2008, both countries boosted their military forces in the area, with clashes following twice in October and April, leaving seven soldiers of both sides dead.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week said Thailand had just 30 soldiers stationed on the border, meaning Cambodia could stand some troops down and send them back to their provincial bases.

"We still have enough troops remaining to protect our territory," said General Chea Dara, deputy commander of Cambodia's armed forces.

If Thailand "shows a softer manner" they could cut the numbers further. "However, if anything happened, our troop mobility would be very swift," he said.

The Thai government in June re-ignited the row over the temple when it asked Unesco to reconsider its decision to list the temple located in Cambodia.

However, Unesco did not take the Thai request into consideration. The foreign ministries of the two neighbours maintained peaceful means to resolve the dispute through the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

The JBC met last November, February and April to set a framework on boundary demarcation and provisional arrangements for the disputed area near Preah Vihear.

The results of the three meetings need approval from Parliament so further discussions on the details can be held.

Parliament is set to meet today to consider the minutes submitted by the Foreign Ministry, after the motion was postponed from last week since the Lower House was busy with the marathon debate on the budget bill.

Some senators, however, said they would reject the JBC minutes and demanded the government take a tough position to evict a Cambodian community from the contested area that they considered was under Thai sovereignty.

Cambodia reduces troops levels on Thai border

Sun, 30 Aug 2009
Australia Network News

Cambodia's Defence Ministry says it has reduced the number of troops deployed around an ancient border temple that has been the scene of several clashes with Thai troops.

The two countries dispute the frontier around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia since the ruins were granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.

The Cambodian statement says it's reduced troops numbers in the region by 50 percent showing that the situation at the border is improving.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said last week that Thailand had just 30 soldiers on the border, meaning that Cambodia could send some of its troops back to their provincial bases.

Cambodia halves border troops

Aug 30, 2009
AFP

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA has halved the number of troops around an ancient border temple that has been the scene of bloody clashes with Thailand, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

There have been several skirmishes between the two countries on the disputed frontier around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia since the ruins were granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.

'We have pulled out 50 per cent of the troops from Preah Vihear temple,' said Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence.

'This shows that the situation at the border is really getting better, and that both countries have a mutual understanding of peace,' he added.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week said Thailand had just 30 soldiers on the border, meaning that Cambodia could stand some troops down and send them back to their provincial bases.

'We still have enough troops remaining to protect our territory,' said General Chea Dara, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

He said if Thailand 'shows a softer manner' they could cut the numbers further. 'However, if anything happened, our troop mobility would be very swift,' he told AFP.

Thailand in June reignited the row over the temple when it asked world heritage body UNESCO to reconsider its decision to formally list the temple in Cambodia.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over the land around the Preah Vihear temple for decades. Although the World Court ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia, the most accessible entrance to the ancient Khmer temple with its crumbling stone staircases and elegant carvings is in northeastern Thailand.

The last gunbattle in the temple area in April left three people dead while clashes there in 2008 killed another four people. The border between the two countries has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Thai extremists protest against the pullout of Thai troops

Saturday, August 29, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Source from Bangkok reported that on 28 August 2009, in front of the Thai government building, about 60 Thai extremists led by Tolsitsumvong called on the Abhisit’s administration to cancel all the temporary agreements with Cambodia, and they also oppose the pullout of Thai troops from Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda located near the Preah Vihear temple. This demand was made because they believe that if Thai troops leave this area, Thailand will lose 4.6 square-kilometers of land due to the return of Cambodian people and troops to live back in this area. This handful of Thai extremists also opposed every agreements that were concluded in the past, and they are waiting for the Thai Parliament to ratify it (their disagreement) only. Cambodian observers believe that this is a crazy action, and that this is not the Thai people’s stance, but it was only that of these mindless people who are blind to history. This condemnable action takes place when the border situation in Preah Vihear temple has improved, but these extremists are fueling nationalism instead.

A number of Thai frontline troops are pulling back

Friday, August 28, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

General Yim Pim, the Cambodian commander of Brigade No. 8 stationed along the Preah Vihear temple border frontline, said that the border situation has improved significantly, and even a number of Thai troops have also pulled back. He said that the progress of the bilateral troop reduction is a good sign for peace along the border. Troops welcome Hun Xen’s search for peaceful resolution in the armed confrontation between the two countries. Yim Pim added that, in the past, Cambodian troops who travel somewhere must be on constant alert and they have to have their weapons in hand at all time, but now, patrolling soldiers can do so without their weapons, unlike what it used to be.

Cambodia pulls back troops from disputed border

Thursday, August 27, 2009
ABC Radio Australia

Cambodia has begun withdrawing some of its troop from its disputed border with Thailand, a move which is likely to ease tensions over the Preah Vihear temple.

Reuters reports the deputy commander in chief of Cambodia's armed forces, General Chea Dara as saying the move is a show of the country's "positive position".

Thailand says it had no plans to follow suit.

The Preah Vihear temple, a 900 year old Hindu Khmer temple, has been a source of tension between the two countries for decades.

The Cambodia and Thailand have been embroiled in a series of standoffs over the temple in the past year, resulting in border skirmishes that claimed the lives of seven troops.

Thailand is challenging a United Nations decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodia's sole jurisdiction.

It wants joint development and supervision of the temple, which could one day become a lucrative tourist site.

Military representatives from both sides agreed on Monday to exercise restraint at the border.

The Cambodian pull-back is due to end on Sunday.

Cambodia pulls back troops from disputed temple

PHNOM PENH, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Cambodia began a partial withdrawal of troops from its disputed border with Thailand on Thursday, a move likely to ease tensions between the two over a 900-year-old Hindu Khmer temple.

"This shows the positive position of Cambodia, that we want to live in peace, and is something the two nations will benefit from," said General Chea Dara, deputy commander in chief of Cambodia's armed forces.

"At the same time, we still have enough troops to defend our own territory," he told Reuters by telephone from the border.

The regional commander on the Thai side of the border said there were no plans to follow suit.

"There will be no withdrawal from this side," Major-General Chawalit Chunprasan told Reuters.

The Preah Vihear temple, which is perched on an escarpment that forms a natural border between the two Southeast Asian neighbours, has for decades been a source of tension and nationalist fervour.

The two countries have been embroiled in a series of standoffs over the temple in the past year, resulting in border skirmishes that claimed the lives of seven troops.

Thailand is challenging a United Nations decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodia's sole jurisdiction.

Cambodia was awarded Preah Vihear in a 1962 international court ruling, but the court did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins.

Thailand wants joint development and supervision of the temple, which could one day become a lucrative tourist site.

The two countries are also in dispute over parts of the Gulf of Thailand, where oil and gas deposits have been found.

Military representatives from both sides agreed on Monday to exercise restraint at the border. The Cambodian pull-back is due to end on Sunday.

(Reporting by Ek Madra in Phnom Penh and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok; Editing by Martin Petty)

Cambodia withdraws tanks from frontier with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has withdrawn several tanks from the frontier with Thailand, the local media reported Thursday

"The withdrawal of the military tanks was ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen last Sunday and those tanks have to go back to their strongholds," Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces quoted by the Khmer language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea as saying.

"We want to see border with full security, safety, good development without arm confrontation with neighboring countries," he added.

"We withdrew our tanks starting on August 26," he said, adding that "those tanks moved back to their headquarters but if the situation is changed, we still enable to mobilize as quickly as possible to the border."

Cambodian and Thai troops have confronted with heavy weapons at the border particularly at areas near 11th century khmer Preah Viheat temple since July 15, 2008 and it caused casualties on both sides when armed clashes occurred.

After negotiations including top level meeting of Prime Ministers, Foreign ministers and commanders at regions, they agreed to reduce troops and withdrew subsequently to pave the way for the joint border committees from both sides to measure the land at the areas and plant the border markers.

Troops Begin Partial Border Withdrawal

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 August 2009

Cambodian soldiers and armored personnel carriers began a step-by-step withdrawal from border positions near Preah Vihear temple on Wednesday, as part of a drawdown deal with Thailand.

The partial withdrawal follows an announcement by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday and a meeting between top military commanders on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Chea Dara, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told VOA Khmer “a number of soldiers” had withdrawn from the front line near Preah Vihear temple, which has been at the center of a military standoff since July 2008.

At least seven soldiers from both sides have been killed in skirmishes following the build-up, which began after Preah Vihear temple was listed as a World Heritage Site, prompting protests in Thailand and Thai occupation of land claimed by both sides near the temple.

“We began to pull our soldiers back to their previous bases, following the order of Prime Minister Hun Sen,” Chea Dara said.

The withdrawal included soldiers from Intervention Brigade 11, soldiers from Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces and Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit, he said.

The withdrawal was to reduce tensions from the standoff, said Chhum Socheath, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

“It is a sign of stability in the border area,” he said. “It demonstrates a better situation and cooperation between the soldiers of the two countries along the border.

Thailand, Cambodia to reduce border military presence

BANGKOK, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Thailand and Cambodia will on Friday begin reducing troop levels along the disputed border area, Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said.

The move should help ease the tension along the sensitive frontier, Suthep on Friday was quoted by the website of the Bangkok Post as saying.

Suthep and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed during talks last weekend that the border dispute should be settled by peaceful means.

The area around Preah Vihear Temple, which was inscribed as a World Heritage Site on July 7 last year, has been the scene of a tense standoff between the Cambodian and Thai armed forces. The Cambodian government insists Thai troops have deployed on Cambodian soil, while Thailand says its troops are only in the disputed zone.

In mid-June, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit said that the government would ask UNESCO to review last year's decision to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site during a meeting this week in Spain.

On Cambodian side, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that his country was ready for any situation which might follow the reinforcement of troops on the Thai side of the border.

Tensions have escalated at the Thai-Cambodian border, with Thailand's Second Army Area commander Lt General Wiboonsak Neeparn recently rotated troops at Preah Vihear so that they are fresh and ready for a possible attack from Cambodia.

Cambodia has already boosted its presence in the border area.

The Thai deputy prime minister will leave for Phnom Penh on Saturday for another meeting with Hun Sen.

Thailand, Cambodia to discuss troop reductions at border

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) -- Thailand and Cambodia will discuss troop reductions at their common border as neither side wishes to use force in settling the ongoing territorial dispute, Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said on Tuesday.

Gen. Anupong told journalists that both the Thai and Cambodian governments agreed that it would be futile to use force in settling the border dispute.

He said Thai troops deployed near the ancient Preah Vihear temple would be “reduced to an appropriate level” in accordance with the government’s policy.

Discussions with Cambodia will have to be made in detail regarding the number of soldiers to be cut, including the timing of the reduction, he said.

The exact timeframe has not yet been fixed as the reduction is up to the satisfaction level of both sides, he added.

Tensions along the two countries’ border, especially near Preah Vihear temple, have risen after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Oganization (UNESCO) granted the historic temple World Heritage Site status in July 2008.

Thailand and Cambodia reduce troops

Monday, January 26, 2009
The Press Association

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed in principle to scale back troops on their disputed border following a deadly military confrontation near an ancient temple last year.

Foreign ministers from both countries met in the Cambodian capital to restart stalled talks and set a schedule for future meetings on demarcating the frontier near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple to avoid future armed clashes.

"The priority and the urgent issue is to demarcate the area near Preah Vihear temple and the scale down of troops," Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said.

In October, troops exchanged fire, leaving two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 from both sides wounded. A Thai soldier died later from wounds sustained during the clash.

The countries' Joint Border Commission will meet on February 2 to discuss border demarcation, followed by a meeting of defence ministers on February 6.

"Defence ministers will discuss reducing the number of troops at the border," said Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

The fighting in October was the latest flare-up in a decades-old dispute over a stretch of jungle near the Preah Vihear temple. The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

The two countries share a 500-mile land border, much of which has never been clearly demarcated because the countries refer to different maps.

Talks were delayed by Thailand's internal political crisis, which eased in December with the arrival of new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.