Cambodia Protests Further Thai Incursions

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 September 2008

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The Cambodia government sent a request to Thailand’s foreign ministry Monday officially requesting it halt incursions into the Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

In a letter sent from the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, officials said the Cambodian government “strongly urges the Thai side to stop sending Thai soldiers into [Ta Krabey], pending demarcation work of the Joint Boundary Commission on Demarcation of Land Boundary.”

Maj. Seng Sophal, deputy chief of the Thmar Doun district police post, near Ta Krabey, said Wednesday around 10 armed Thai soldiers were guarding the temple, and a Thai helicopter had circled the temple five times on Monday.

The Ta Krabey temple is part of the Ta Moan temple complex, which has become a second point of contention in an ongoing military standoff that started with Preah Vihear temple in July.

“Although we heard that the Thai side is sending its soldiers into the temple, the Cambodian government’s stance is that this needs to be negotiated by bilateral talks,” Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.

A Thai Embassy official in Phnom Penh declined to comment on the letter, saying he had not seen the request. The Thai government has gone through two foreign ministers since the standoff began.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Sin Bunthoeun said Wednesday Cambodia and Thailand will plan bilateral talks on the disputed areas after the formation of Cambodia’s government.

Cambodian lawmakers swore in to the new government in a ceremony Wednesday.

Blatant theft of Ta Krabey temple (aka Ta Kwai) by Thailand

Official protest handed to Cambodia

Wednesday September 17, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

Thailand yesterday denied a Cambodian accusation its troops had moved closer to Ta Kwai temple, saying that was unneeded as the ruins were inside Thai territory.

Bangkok also hit back at Phnom Penh, protesting through Cambodian ambassador Ung Sean that Cambodian troops had violated Thailand's sovereignty.

The Foreign Ministry said on its website that the temple, called Ta Krabey in Cambodia, is located in Phanom Dong Rek district of Surin province. It is 13km east of Ta Muen temple in the same district and 150km west of Preah Vihear.

The ministry's was responding to Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith, who claimed on Monday that Thai troops had moved into the area.

Instead, the ministry said, Phnom Penh sent ''a Cambodian armed unit'' into Ta Kwai on Saturday and it withdrew only after repeated calls by Thai authorities.

The ministry yesterday lodged an official protest with Cambodia.

Foreign affairs permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul handed the ambassador a letter saying: ''These acts constituted a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand,'' and urged the Cambodian government not to do it again.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to closely cooperate with Cambodia to end the border demarcation disputes.