[Thai] Govt trying for good ties with Cambodia

30/09/2009
Bangkok Post

The government has been trying to maintain a good relationship with Cambodia and is cautious when making comments about the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday.

"The government does not want to exacerbate the situation, but it must protect the sovereignty of the country at the same time," said Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs.

People from the two countries can live together as usual, but the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) should be more careful in their activities over the border row, he said.

Last week, PAD protesters gathered near the ancient temple to demand the Cambodian government remove its people from the disputed border area.

The government had already asked the Cambodian government about the roads it built to the ancient temple, but the roads can be used by people from both countries, Mr Suthep said.

Mr Suthep said he believed the National Anti-Corruption Commission's ruling against former prime minister Samak Sundaravej and former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was rational.

The anti-graft agency on Tuesday voted 6-3 to bring charges against Mr Samak and Mr Noppadon for neglect of duty under Article 157 of the Criminal Code over their support of the joint communique with Cambodia on the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

Meanwhile, Thai troops have been reinforced at the entrance to Khao Phra Viharn National Park in Si Sa Ket province, and people are not being not allowed on Mo I Daeng Cliff, which overlooks the temple.

On the Cambodian side, there were reported to be many well-armed Cambodian troops near the 11th century temple.

Thailand adds insult to injury: They destroyed a Cambodian market and now they claim it's inside their territory

Thai Foreign Ministry: April clash site is on Thai territory

BANGKOK, May 12 (TNA) – The armed clash between the Thai and Cambodian military on April 3 occurred on Thai soil, according to Tharit Charungvat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman.

The clash site is on Thai territory which was illegally occupied by Cambodian civilians, Mr. Tharit asserted. However, the Thai authorities are lenient for the sake of good relations between the two countries and for humanitarian reasons.

The ministry spokesman made the remarks following media reports that Cambodia asked Thailand to pay more than US$2 million (about Bt74 million) in compensation for damage allegedly caused by heavy weapons the Thai Army used during the border clash on April 3 near the ancient Preah Vihear (Phra Viharn) temple.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry Monday sent a diplomatic note to Thailand, asking for the compensation. It said the gunfire destroyed 264 stands at a market in front of the Preah Vihear temple, affecting 319 Cambodian households.

The Thai foreign ministry will send a letter to Cambodia to reaffirm its stance on the issue, the spokesman said, noting that Thailand had earlier clearly asserted that the area in question belongs to Thailand.

Asked if Thailand would seek compensation from Cambodia for damage on the Thai side, Mr. Tharit said the Ministry’s Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs is looking into how to proceed with the matter.

The disputed area, which surrounds the ancient temple, has long been a source of tension between the two countries.

An international court awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but a 4.6-square km (1.9-square mile) parcel of land surrounding it remains the subject of territorial claims by the two neighbouring countries.