Thai, Cambodian PMs to discuss border issues in Belgium

BANGKOK, Oct 3 (MCOT online news) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would confer with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the two countries' border problem on the sidelines of the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting being held in Belgium this week.

It is possible that more talks on the issue, especially on actions of concerned government units of each country, will be discussed after the informal talks of the two leaders in New York late last month, Mr Abhisit said.

Some projects such as those involving education and cultural exchanges between the two countries have made considerable progress, he said.

The border problem with soldiers of both countries facing each other on the border may be discussed further, Mr Abhisit said.

Asked whether he would ask Mr Hun Sen for a troop withdrawal to ease tensions when they meet at the upcoming meeting, Mr Abhisit said the Cambodian government fully realises that existing bilateral mechanisms agreed by the two countries must be approved by the Thai parliament.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2000 to establish a Joint Boundary Commission to demarcate overlapping parts of their boundary, but the framework for border demarcation has not been approved by the Thai parliament as required by the constitution.

The two neighbouring nations have been locked in a military standoff on their disputed border since July 2008, when the historic Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, although its main entrance lies in Thailand. The exact boundary through the surrounding grounds remains in dispute, with occasional full-scale military skirmishes claiming a number of lives.

Realising that the border problem has been continuing too long, Mr Abhisit said "there are several problems which hinder a final agreement as processes must be approved by each country."

Thai, Cambodia PMs to Discuss Border Issues in ASEM

2010-10-03
Xinhua

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would consult with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the two countries' border dispute on the sidelines of the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels, on 5-6 October.

After the latest talks of the two leaders in New York late last month, more discussions on the border issue especially on actions of concerned government agencies of each country are possible, Abhisit said.

The Thai News Agency quoted Abhisit as saying that the border problem with soldiers of both countries facing each other on the border may be discussed further.

Thailand and Cambodia have an age-old dispute over the area along their border and over the 900-year-old Hindu Preah Vihear Temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled the temple belongs to Cambodia although its main entrance lies in Thailand.

Tensions flared up again as the UNESCO named Preah Vihear a World Heritage in 2008 and once again as Cambodia appointed Thailand's ousted ex-PM Thaksin as its economic adviser in November 2009. Armed clashes resulting in casualties on both sides have occurred occasionally in the area since then.

Thailand protested against Cambodia by recalling its ambassador soon after Thaksin's appointment, and then Cambodia followed suit. The two countries' diplomatic relations did not resume to normal until Aug. 25 of this year, when they reinstated the ambassadors to each other, following Thaksin's resignation.

Hor Namhong: Political turmoils in Thailand could affect border talks

By Keo Nimol
Radio Free Asia
28th November, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

Mr. Hor Namhong (pictured), Cambodia’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister, said on 28th of November that the current political turmoils in Thailand could affect border talks and the demarcation works to be carried out in December.

Speaking on his arrival at the airport from the 5th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Summit, Mr. Hor Namhong said: “I can say that it is true that the complicated situations in Thailand could have a negative influence on the border talks between Cambodia and Thailand in order to resolve the border demarcations. You may remember that, in the recent meeting in Siem Reap we have narrowed our differences and have moved forward. In December both Cambodian and Thai Technical Team will go to survey the borders near Preah Vihear for the purpose of demarcating the borders and for de-mining. And in January there will be talks of the Khmer-Thai Joint Boundary Commission and the two foreign ministers, but due to the present political situation we don’t know if the Thai parliament can be convened or not.”

Mr. Hor Namhong said that the Thai laws require that all agreements regarding territorial matters must be approved by the parliament.

Mr. Hor Namhong said: “So the parliament cannot be convened. And according to article 190 of the Thai constitution, all the agreements regarding territorial matters must be approved by parliament. And after that, if there are any additional agreements, the matters must be returned for the approval of the parliament. So, it (the current political turmoil) definitely has a negative impact on the border talks.”

Mr. Hor Namhong said that at the moment no one knows how much the political situation in Thailand has improved.

Cambodia and Thailand started the border negotiations after Thai troops invaded the Preah Vihear areas on the 15th of July, 2008 which led to military confrontations and, in some areas, have led to border clashes between the Khmer-Thai armies. At the same time, numerous border talks have not led to any troop withdrawal that could return the situation to normalcy of the pre-15th July, 2008 status quo.

Those talks have sometimes met with obstacles because the Thai side has sometimes cancelled the meetings due to political turmoils in Thailand.//

CAMBODIA: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

Friday, 25 July 2008
Op-Ed by Chanda Chhay

There are many ways to deal with a thug. But, there is only one proper way to deal with a misbehaving, neighboring nation. That is to stand firm and be fair with it, and, if necessary, deprive it of what it wanted most.

It is as clear as daylight that the 4.6 square kilometer of so-called disputed land around the Khmer Temple of Preah Vihear was not what Thailand wanted. What it really wanted is a guaranteed access to Prasat Preah Vihear—the main attraction and an economic lifeline for the arid Si Saket province of Thailand. Without Preah Vihear, the surrounding areas would be just like any other part of the Dangrek Mountain ranges—rocks and trees.

The flagrant incursion of Thai armed forces onto the sacred ground of Preah Vihear has been going on long enough. The Thai government should know better by now that it could only defy words of condemnation or warning, but it could not defy international norms and laws. By the same token, the Cambodian government should know that the muddled head Thai leaders wanted to turn every legal and internationally-recognized document pertaining to the sovereignty of Cambodia upside down and subject Cambodia to the whim of their myopic thoughts.

So, what is Cambodia to do in order to deal with the situation? One very simple and effective solution to this problem is to publicly announce to the international community and to Thailand, in particular, that the access to Preah Vihear from Thailand is no longer open due to the difficulty in preventing illegal trespassing and thefts to the temple’s artifacts, which is now a World Heritage site. As proprietor of the temple, Cambodia has an obligation and a right to safeguard it. If Thailand, as a good neighbor, wanted to offer assistance and collaboration in protecting this World Heritage site, it MUST recognize and respect the treaties of 1904 and 1907 regarding the common border of Cambodia and Thailand. Period!

Preah Vihear is not a political football to be kicked around and see who will win or lose. It has suffered neglect and abuses by humans long enough. It is now time for us to restore and preserve it for posterity. This current crisis is perhaps the best opportunity for us to look beyond the tourist dollars and to give Preah Vihear what it deserves most: Restoration and research on the site, so that humankind could have a better understanding of its history and functionality.

Chanda Chhay
Washington, DC (USA)

NKorea, Thai-Cambodia flare-up dominate Asian security talks

By Jason Gutierrez

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Foreign ministers from Asia and key world powers opened security talks here Thursday amid a simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and progress on North Korean denuclearisation.

The meeting of the 27-nation ASEAN Security Forum -- featuring Southeast Asian countries as well as the United States, Russia and the European Union -- came after an unprecedented meeting here Wednesday between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her North Korean counterpart.

Asia's top security forum was held against the backdrop of the devastating Myanmar cyclone and Chinese earthquake in May, as well as a bitter territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

At a meeting here Wednesday of top diplomats trying to disarm North Korea, Rice pressed North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun to take new steps on denuclearisation but hailed the "good spirit" at the six-nation talks.

Rice shook hands twice with her "axis of evil" counterpart Pak at their first meeting, saying the negotiating partners "believe we've made progress" but urging Pyongyang to agree to a verification protocol on disarmament.

Foreign ministers from their six-party counterparts China, South Korea, Russia and Japan were also present at the informal meeting, the highest-level gathering of the group since the nuclear dialogue began in 2003.

"I don't think the North Koreans left with any illusions about the fact that the ball is in their court, and that everybody believes that they have got to respond and respond positively on verification," Rice said Thursday.

North Korea staged its first nuclear test in 2006 but in February the following year the hermit state agreed to drop its weapons programme in exchange for massive energy aid.

Pyongyang is expected to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) here later Thursday.

On the Thai-Cambodia border, hundreds of troops are facing off over a small patch of land near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, in one of the most dangerous flare-ups of regional tensions in decades.

More than 500 Thai troops and at least 1,000 Cambodian soldiers have been deployed near Preah Vihear but Cambodian officials said Wednesday that thousands more Thais were taking up positions at other spots along the border.

Phnom Penh has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to prevent armed conflict after an ASEAN ministerial meeting failed to broker a deal here earlier this week.

France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said council members held a preliminary discussion late Wednesday but that the issue would be revisited Thursday as some delegations had no instructions on how to proceed.

"We are worried about the situation," he told reporters. "We think the council should meet as fast as possible."

Thailand insists the two sides should settle the matter without an outside mediator.

Disaster response was another major focus of the meeting in the wake of Cyclone Nargis which struck military-ruled Myanmar and the earthquake in southwest China in May, leaving a total of more than 200,000 people dead or missing.

ASEAN was criticised for failing to pressure member state Myanmar to open its borders to foreign relief workers in the immediate aftermath of the storm, but won over many of its critics by eventually leading a joint international aid effort.

Preah Vihear temple part of Thailand: "Moronic" opinion from a reader of the Bangkok Post

Wednesday January 30, 2008
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
Bangkok
Bangkok Post Postbag

As a Khmer architecture junkie, I find Dr Reiff's rationale somewhat presumptive in maintaining that since the Preah Vihear temple has Hindu elements, it therefore should belong to Cambodia (Postbag, Jan 29).

There are many temples along the royal road from Angkor Wat to Phimai (such as Surin, Prachin Buri and Buri Ram) that have Hindu elements and Khmer style of architecture, and yet, indisputably they belong to the modern Siam (Thailand).

Phnom Rung in Buri Ram, another potential World Heritage site with plenty of Khmer art, is definitely not claimable by Cambodia.

The judgement of the Court of Justice in The Hague on the territory of Preah Vihear temple was only a legalistic interpretation and, with due respect to the court, all the Thai governments since the ruling date have accepted the decision.

However, it is an indisputable fact that natural access to the Preah Vihear temple has to be made through Thai territory and hence physically it is difficult for visitors not to view the temple as being within Thai territory.

In theory, the temple may belong to Cambodia, but in practice, the temple is part of Thailand.

So it is rather ludicrous for Cambodia to ask the UN to recognise the temple as a World Heritage site without Thailand's participation.

Thailand quick to withdraw allegation that Cambodia had "made up" history to claim Preah Vihear

BORDER DISPUTE
Govt quick to withdraw allegation

Defence spokesman's claim that Cambodia marked boundary unilaterally denied

January 26, 2008
The Nation (Thailand)

"if [Cambodia and Thailand] failed to settle boundary disputes, Unesco might reject the listing proposal [for Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site]" - Adul Vichianchareon, Thailand's National World Heritage Committee chairman

The Defence Ministry yesterday rushed to retract statements made by a spokesman that Cambodia had "made up" history in a bid to claim the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear for Phnom Penh's unilateral benefit.

Top brass were urgently calling counterparts across the border yesterday to clarify statements made on Thursday by ministry spokesman Lt-General Pichsanu Puchakarn.

Preah Vihear is a sensitive issue between Thailand and Cambodia. It heated up early last year, when Thailand blocked Phnom Penh's attempt to list it as a United Nations World Heritage site. Bangkok asserted Cambodian listing documentation claimed land in "overlapping areas".

The International Court of Justice ruled in June 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but access to the site is mainly via Thailand. Phnom Penh has recognised some overlapping areas, according an official at the Thai Foreign Ministry.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) agreed at a meeting in New Zealand in June last year to consider the heritage listing. It suggested Thailand and Cambodia jointly develop the site and agree on boundaries before a decision.

Both countries concurred.

The matter was at the heart of discussions between Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram and his counterpart Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh in December.

Cambodia praised Thailand for its offer of technical assistance in the restoration and maintenance of the ancient site.

The military statement on Thursday was a surprise. Pichsanu said Cambodia had created a new boundary in order to claim sovereignty of the entire area and was campaigning for international support for this.

He condemned Cambodia and demanded diplomats lodge an official protest with Phnom Penh.

Yesterday the ministry changed its tune. Supreme Command civil-affairs chief Lt-General Plangkul Klahan and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the previous day's statement was incorrect.

Anti-Thai sentiment is quick to emerge in Cambodia. Rioters set fire to the embassy in Phnom Penh in January 2003.

Tharit said yesterday Thailand and Cambodia had agreed in 2000 to a joint boundary committee. No changes in the environment of the area will be made before boundary demarcation. "Both countries continue dialogue to find the best solution to listing the area as a World Heritage site," he said.

Thailand's National World Heritage Committee chairman, Adul Vichianchareon, said that if they failed to settle boundary disputes, Unesco might reject the listing proposal.

Political Cartoon: Siem Joke of Phra Viharn

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Cambodian historian Michel Tranet couldn’t believe Thailand opposes the listing Preah Viear as World Heritage Site

Cambodian Historian Michel Tranet (Photo: RFA)

Saturday, January 26, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Cambodian Historian Michel Tranet said that he cannot believe yet the report about whether Thailand opposes or not the listing of Preah Vihear Temple on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Michel Tranet said: “What do they (Thailand) actually mean? If this is true (that Thailand opposes Preah Vihear’s listing), then it is a shame for Thailand.” He said: “Preah Vihear Temple is on the Cambodian territory, and it was recognized by the world. Cambodia has the right to list it as a World Heritage Site.”

Michel Tranet does not believe that Thailand could think in this manner. He compares Thailand’s opposition of the listing of Preah Vihear in the World Heritage Site to an unfeasible feat, just like the demand to return the Khmer province of Surin (in Thailand), and the demand to return Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) back to Cambodia are unfeasible.

He also talked about the necessity of Cambodia and Thailand to live in brotherhood and they must cooperate with each other. He said that we can cooperate with each other if Thailand wants to develop Preah Vihear, but under Cambodia’s supervision, in that case “we welcome it.” Cambodia’s goal is to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site, and this action was welcomed and supported by the world, and in particular by a number of major countries in the world.

In mid-January, 8 counties and 8 National and International organizations met to discuss the results of research on the conservation development and the renovation of Preah Vihear Temple. This is a precursor to the upcoming proclamation of the inclusion of Preah Vihear in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, during the 32nd UNESCO plenary session meeting in 2008.

Nevertheless, the latest news published by Thailand’s The Nation newspaper on 25 January, indicated that after the publication of the spokesman of Thailand’s Defense Ministry, this spokesman and the spokesman of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs came out to confirm that the previous declaration (made on 24 January) was a mistake and an error that could lead to the deterioration of the good relationships between the two countries.

The two Thai spokesmen said that army officials from Cambodia and Thailand spoke to each others over the phone and came to an understanding on this issue already.

Tharit Charungvat, spokesman for Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicated that the listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site will take place normally, and that Thailand will not lose any territory from this listing. He claimed that the incident which took place does not affect the relationships between Cambodia and Thailand.

Thailand plays a dangerous game with fire

Cambodian visitors posing near a sign leading to Preah Vihear Temple (Photo: www.khemaracorner.com/blog.php?id=94)

Thailand downplays row over Preah Vihear

Saturday January 26, 2008
WASSANA NANUAM THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

In a bid to downplay conflicts surrounding the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Thailand had decided not to protest against Cam-bodia's unilateral move to have the ancient temple ruins listed as a World Heritage site. The minister said it was a misunderstanding on the part of defence spokesman Pichasanu Putchakarn and his statement was personal, not the resolution of the Defence Council.

''It is not a resolution of the Defence Council. It was just an internal meeting of agencies concerned to assess the situation. It was not intended to be announced and the information [given by the defence spokesman] was incorrect and included personal views,'' Gen Boonrawd said yesterday.

He was referring to a statement by Lt-Gen Pichasanu that Thailand was risking the loss of the disputed areas should Cambodia get the ancient temple listed as a World Heritage site without Thai participation, and that the government should protest and condemn the neighbouring country for the move.

Gen Boonrawd also tried to tone down the defence spokesman's remark that Cambodia attached a ''false'' map to claim the disputed areas with its World Heritage application. That referred to the use of a ''different'' map to claim the disputed areas, the defence minister explained.

Lt-Gen Pichasanu said the Defence Council had not reached a resolution, but it had held a discussion to prepare to take the right position.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Cambodia's Preah Vihear move had nothing to do with the feared loss of Thai territory.

''Whether Preah Vihear will be listed as a heritage site or not is a matter for the World Heritage Committee (WHC). It will not involve the loss of Thai territory,'' he said.

Thailand has discovered that the information or map that the Cambodian side has proposed to the WHC includes the areas in dispute. Thailand has protested as the border demarcation is not concluded and Thailand's rights to the areas in question have been recognised, he said.

The spokesman said a Thai representative who joined an international committee's trip to Cambodia on Jan 11-12 had already complained about the territorial issue with the Cambodian authorities.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Bahn said he already received an explanation from Lt-Gen Niphat Thonglek, the Thai border affairs director-general, that the matter was a misunderstanding.

Gen Tea Bahn said although Cambodia was building a walkway to Preah Vihear on its soil, the construction would not affect Thai territory.

''There is a joint committee working on border demarcation. But its work is quite sluggish,'' he said.

Hor Namhong: Thai comments over Preah Vihear Temple "stupid"

Thai Comments Over Temple ‘Stupid,’ FM Says

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 January 2008

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong condemned as “stupid” comments made by a Thai official Friday over a disputed border temple in the north.

Preah Vihear temple, known to the Thais as Khao Phra Viharn, has become controversial in the unmarked border area, claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia.

Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Pichasanu Putchakarn told the Bangkok Post Friday that Cambodia’s recent unilateral request seeking UN World Heritage Site status for the temple could upset relations between the two neighbors.

“Thailand has to think of its national interests. We may protest to the Cambodian government through diplomatic channels and try to explain to other countries that Thailand has tried to cooperate with Cambodia in requesting the World Heritage listing of the sanctuary together,” Pichasanu told the Post.

“That general is stupid, as he does not know anything,” Hor Namhong said Friday, referring to Pichasanu. “Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia. That we want to put it into Unesco’s World Heritage is our right.”

Cambodia had shown a willingness to negotiate with Thailand “several times,” Hor Namhong said. “More Thai experts than the international ones showed up in the negotiation. That is a stupid claim.”

Cambodia and Thailand both have troops stationed at the border near the temple, Pichasanu said.

“If Thailand still objects to Preah Vihear being listed as a World Heritgage Site, that is fine. We’ll still keep going,” said government spokesman Khieu Kanharith. “We have warned Thailand that if it blocks the entry to Preah Vihear from Thailand again, we will block it forever. Then it is Thailand that will totally suffer from the loss.”

Surayud: Preah Vihear must benefit both Thailand and Cambodia -sic!-

The Hague International Court of Justice which handed the ownership of Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia (Photo: NorodomSihanouk.info)

The lawyers defending Cambodia at The Hague International Court of Justice in 1962 (Photo: NorodomSihanouk.info)

Thai PM counsels mutuality as Preah Vihear World Heritage option

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) – Any Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Viharn in Thai) border declaration must benefit both countries, Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont asserted Friday, reiterating Bangkok's commitment to mutuality in the matter.

Bangkok said that Phnom Penh's plan for a United Nations-related World Heritage listing of the ancient Khmer ruins along the Thai-Cambodian border would not affect Thai sovereignty over disputed areas there.

The matter is deeply emotional for both countries. The ancient temple was built over one thousand years ago on a majestic cliff top adjacent to what is now Thailand's Sisaket province.

Gen. Surayud said he had once told his Cambodian counterpart Somdej Hun Sen that a solution to the dispute must lead to a win-win situation for both sides.

The Thai prime minister said his government would not insist that Preah Vihear is partly owned by Thailand, but should the mountain be declared a UNESCO world heritage site, the move must benefit both countries.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungwat told a press conference Friday that Cambodia has tried to list the temple as a World Heritage site since 2005, but Thailand had affirmed sovereignty over part of the area to UNESCO and Phnom Penh.

Thai foreign ministry and defense officials are deciding what Bangkok will do as the next step.

Gen. Surayud said the Preah Vihear issue must be resolved because it is a chronic issue between the two neighbours.

"The issue is under negotiation. The Foreign Ministry has liaised for the negotiation with Phnom Penh all along. We have to discuss the matter carefully because it is a sensitive issue," he said.

The two countries have established a joint committee to settle the boundary demarcation dispute relating to some border areas around the ancient temple, said Mr. Tharit, adding that both parties had agreed to find measures to settle the dispute soon.

The World Court in June 1962 judged that Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand and Cambodia have not yet settled a demarcation agreement on land around the ruins. The temple is approached from the Thai border district of Kantharalak in Si Sa Ket province.

The problem arose again Thursday when Lt-Gen. Pichasanu Putchakarn, spokesman of Thai Defense Ministry, hinted that Cambodia had ignored the Thai government's suggestion that both countries jointly propose the historical site to UNESCO, saying Thailand may lose its land yet to be demarcated if Cambodia did it alone.

But Gen. Pichasanu Friday clarified his statements, saying that his earlier remarks were partly his personal opinion and not that of the Thai Defense Council.

Senior Thai Army officers who spoke with ranking Khmer officers Friday said the situation has returned to normal. "The Cambodian officials may have misunderstand after learning about (Thursday's) report," Gen. Pichasanu said.

Thai soldier shot and killed one Cambodian citizen, wounded another along the border

Friday, December 14, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Black-clad Thai border guards in Thai Sisaket province bordering Cambodia Oddar Meanchey province opened fire on 6 Cambodian citizens who were collecting lianas, rattans, and woods in a border zone where the borderline is not well defined yet, near Chroak village, Trapeang Prey commune, Anlong Veng district, Oddar meanchey province. The shooting killed one Cambodian and injured another. The Rasmei Kampuchea reported that the border guard police indicated that the firing by the Thai black-clad soldiers took place at 03:00 PM on 12 December. The Cambodian police indicated that the name of the Cambodian citizen killed in the shooting is 30-year-old Yim Phat, and the man injured during in the shooting also is 23-year-old Khem Sokhen. The other 4 villagers fled safely from the shooting. On 14 December, the Cambodian side will meet its Thai counterpart to demand an explanation for this violent attack perpetrated on Cambodian citizens.

Khmer-Thai Border Disputes in Anlong Veng

Radio Free Asia, 8th November 2007
By Sav Yuth
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

Khmer border guards in the Dangrek Ranges who are guarding the Chorm Sa-Ngarm border pass in Anlong Veng, Banteay Meanchey province which borders Phu-Sing district in Thailand's Sisaket province have reported that the black-clad Thai soldiers had sent a letter to them asking them to stop the construction of a concrete fence on the Khmer side of the border. Those border guards have also claimed that recently those black-clad soldiers had crossed into Cambodian side of the border to prevent Khmer soldiers from constructing a border outpost.

Vice-chairman of the Khmer Border Committee in charge of relations with the Thai Border Committee, Major Touch Var, has said on Thursday morning of the 8th of November that the Thai Border Committee had sent a letter on the 6th of November asking the Khmer land owner to stop building a 60 metres concrete fence on his land which is located on the Cambodian side of the border.

And ten days before heavily armed Thai black-clad soldiers had crossed into the Cambodian side of the border to stop the Khmer soldiers from constructing a border outpost by claiming that the area is sitting on the border line which has not been clearly demarcated yet.

Major Touch Var has said that:" They have sent a letter to us two days ago requesting us to suspend the construction of a concrete fence on the eastern side of the casino which is located parallel to the demining site which was also prohibited by the Thai side. Earlier we have converted our border outpost from a tent building to a building with a corrugated iron roof but the Thai side have prevented us from doing so".

A Cambodian border officer who spoke on condition of anonimity has reacted with accusations that those Thai soldiers had intended to cause a border crisis by violating the maps agreed by both the Cambodian and Thai border committees.

This same anonimous officer said that:" The Cambodian and Thai border committees have agreed to use the 1907 maps with the 1,200 scales. Everyday the Thai has been using the 150 scales American maps which are produced/drawn once every 5 years which we did not agree with, even if they say that their land is deep inside Anlong Veng we couldn't careless".

However, this Thursday Radio Free Asia is unable to seek any comment from the Thai Border Committee or from any officials of the Thai embassy in Cambodia.

Mr. Var Kim Hong, chairman of the Cambodian Border Committee has commented that he has not yet received any information about this issue and therefore he is unable to comment about it. Mr. Var said that:" I cannot confirm about this issue because I have not yet received any information regarding this issue".

The Khmer border guards have said that in the last 3 months the border disputations had occured 4 times, with the Thai black-clad soldiers crossing into the Cambodian side to stop the deminer Halo Trust from clearing land mines in that area.

On 10th of October the Thai soldiers have crossed the border to prevent the building of a petrol station and 10 days ago the Thai black-clad soldiers have crossed the border to prevent the Khmer side from constructing a border outpost in the areas which the Khmer border guards claimed that the areas are located on the Khmer side of the border.

Disappearance of a number of border markers in Oddar Meanchey [-Var Kim Hong: "There's nothing to be surprised of"]

29 July 2007
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

An official from the Oddar Meanchey province expressed his concerns on the disappearance of a number of border markers along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Following a visit at the location of these markers in the province, it was observed that a number of them have disappeared.

Phon Nol, the cabinet chief of the Oddar Meanchey provincial office, said on Sunday 29 July that following a visit to the border markers located in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province by the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee, it was observed that stone markers delimiting the border between the two countries which were installed during the France-Thailand convention in 1907 have disappeared and could not be found.

Phon Nol said: “There are 26 border markers, we could not find a border marker, for the other 25 markers, we are just starting to look for them, we don’t know about these yet. We want to see the border markers which were installed jointly in 1907 which must be at the same location, and both sides respect them.”

However, the committee for border resolution claimed that the disappearance of border makers is nothing to be alarmed at.

Var Kim Hong, the chairman of the government committee for border resolution, said on Sunday morning that the disappearance of the markers delimiting the Cambodia-Thailand border is nothing to be surprised of, sometimes, they were not installed properly. What is important is for the Cambodian border committee to find the exact location back and install a new border marker there.

Var Kim Hong said: “We went to install border markers, we looked for the old markers installed by the joint France-Siam committee from the 20th century. They disappeared, that’s nothing, there’s nothing to be surprised of, that’s why we went to look for them, sometimes they are lost, sometimes they are found. Sometimes, they cannot be used either because the installation location was wrong, we must search for the correct location. Our mission, the duty to find them (is under the charge) the joint Cambodia-Thailand committee.”

On Sunday, Thai embassy officials in Cambodia could not be contacted on this issue.

Var Kim Hong added that: “Nevertheless, the problem of delimitation of border markers with neighboring countries is not an easy issue when it comes to discussion on the setting of the location again. The joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is currently cooperating to push for detailed and correct installation of border markers again this year, starting from region No. 27, 26, and 23 in Oddar Meanchey province.”

The government of Cambodia indicated that in the past several years, the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is initiating the search for old border markers as well as installing new ones successively. These activities start from the Poipet region (border marker No. 49) until the Phnom Dangrek region in Oddar Meanchey province.