Thailand, Cambodia agree to withdraw troops on border

Yutthasak: Hopeful talks will succeed

Yutthasak says soldiers to be replaced by police

17/11/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Thailand has agreed in informal talks with Cambodia that both sides will withdraw their troops from the overlapping border near the Preah Vihear temple site after the General Border Committee meeting in December.

The talks on the replacement of troops in the 17.3 square kilometre area along the border, marked as the demilitarised zone, is among five issues the two countries will finalise at the next soldier-to-soldier meeting of the GBC, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said.

He was referring to recent negotiations with Cambodian Defence Minster Tea Banh.

"We've talked about the five issues and informally agreed to approve them all at the meeting," Gen Yutthasak said.

Cambodian troops leave border area [so do the Thai troops]

'Misunderstanding' led to Saturday battle

19/04/2010
Bangkok Post

Cambodian troops have withdrawn from a disputed border areas along the border at Surin after exchanging fire with Thai soldiers on Saturday.

Suranaree Task Force commander Chavalit Choonprasarn yesterday negotiated a truce with Joom Sa-Rai, deputy chief of Region 4 Border Affairs Bureau.

The two sides agreed to pull back their troops from the disputed area near Surin's Kap Choeng district where the skirmishes took place.

Col Joom assured Maj Gen Chavalit that no Cambodian troops would trespass on Thai territory.

Maj Gen Chavalit also said that an effort would be made to prevent future clashes, an army source said.

Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged heavy fire for almost an hour from 8am on Saturday, 8km east of Chong Chom checkpoint. They also exchanged fire for 15 minutes from about 9.30am.

No casualties were reported.

A Thai ranger who had been reported missing after the incident was found by the Suranaree Task Force. He lost his way in dense forest during the clash.

Shooting broke out after Thai troops patrolling the border found Cambodian soldiers had built a village for Cambodians in a disputed area.

Thai troops earlier claimed their Cambodian counterparts opened fire on them when Thai officials ordered them to stop building the houses.

Cambodian authorities earlier said their troops were patrolling the border when they came under fire from Thai troops.

Maj Gen Chavalit said Saturday's clash was due to a misunderstanding and the atmosphere along the border was expected to improve after the two sides ironed out their differences.

Cambodian and Thai troops were again patrolling the border yesterday, he said.

Senior local officials on both sides will meet for a meal soon to discuss areas of disagreement.

Meanwhile, business at the Chong Chom border market returned to normal yesterday after tourists and vendors from the two countries returned.

Relations between Cambodia and Thailand took a turn for the worse in November last year when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra his economic adviser and refused to extradite him to Thailand to serve his prison sentence.

Gen Chavalit: Cambodia urges troop withdrawal to end border standoff

Gen Chavalit added that Mr Hun Sen also dismissed media reports that Cambodia has granted a French company a concession to explore oil and gas deposits in overlapping zones claimed by both countries in the Gulf of Thailand as groundless.

"The prime minister said the concession cannot be granted without mutual consent by the two countries, " said Gen Chavalit. "Mr Hun Sen told me that he had informed Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban regarding the issue."

BANGKOK, Oct 21 (TNA) - Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, a key member of Thailand’s opposition Puea Thai Party, on Wednesday said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen advised that the two neighbouring countries should withdraw their troops from the disputed area to avoid confrontation and find a joint solution through border talks.

Gen Chavalit made the remarks as he returned from Phnom Penh after a one-day visit at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, whom he described as his "old friend".

The former Thai prime minister said he had discussed the border dispute with Mr Hun Sen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh who is also defence minister.

"Mr Hun Sen told me that he didn't want to see any violence or armed conflict," said Gen Chavalit, "He advised the two countries to withdraw their troops from the disputed areas to avoid confrontation and find solutions through the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee (JBC)."

Gen Tea Banh also stated that Cambodia was ready to hold talks with the Thai government, and affirmed that his country will not resort to any violence in an attempt to solve the border conflict, according to Gen Chavalit.

The border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia flared up when former Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama signed a joint communique backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by Thailand’s parliament with the question of sovereignty over the surrounding 4.8 square kilometres land having never been clearly resolved.

Gen Chavalit added that Mr Hun Sen also dismissed media reports that Cambodia has granted a French company a concession to explore oil and gas deposits in overlapping zones claimed by both countries in the Gulf of Thailand as groundless.

"The prime minister said the concession cannot be granted without mutual consent by the two countries, " said Gen Chavalit. "Mr Hun Sen told me that he had informed Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban regarding the issue."

Speaking to reporters on his return, Gen Chavalit described his Cambodian visit as worthwhile and felt impressed that Mr Hun Sen expressed his concern for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family. The Cambodian leader, he said, also offered accommodation for Mr Thaksin whenever he would like to drop by and stay in the neighbouring country.

Mr Hun Sen also suggested that amnesty for all parties concerned is a solution to break the current stalemate in Thai politics and that should be a good start for all parties to solve the problem for their own country, Gen Chavalit said.

Thai Troops Withdraw from Disputed Area in Cambodia

By Ron Corben
Voice of America
Bangkok
14 October 2008

Click here to listen to Corben report

Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have again flared after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen accused Thai troops of entering his country. The confrontation follows talks between the foreign ministers of both countries over the land surrounding an ancient temple. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the Thai government says it will defend its territory if Cambodia uses force.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thai troops had entered his country and on Tuesday issued an ultimatum for them to leave or risk conflict.

The once dormant dispute over 900-year-old Preah Vihear turned tense earlier this year after Thailand granted Cambodia the right to have the temple recognized as a United Nations World Heritage site. The temple sits on Cambodia's side of the border, but the main access route to it is in Thailand.

A public outcry in Thailand caused both governments to send troops to the area.

On Monday, the two countries' foreign ministers met to resolve the dispute over the border area, but the talks were inconclusive.

The Thai Foreign Ministry warned that if Cambodia resorted to force, Thailand would exercise its right to self defense. But the ministry also called for issue to be settled peacefully.

The Thai military and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat met Tuesday to discuss the matter. Mr. Somchai proposed a joint committee to oversee any troop withdrawal.

Shortly before Cambodia's noon deadline for the Thai troops to move, the Cambodian army chief said all were back in Thai territory.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, says the two governments need to resume talks to avoid violence.

"The Thai military, it's quite clear they're not going to move back from the claimed territory. If the Cambodians want them to move out from these areas they may have to use force," said Panitan.

The countries have long disputed the ownership of the temple and the border. In 1962, the International Court of Justice granted sovereignty to Cambodia, but adjacent land remained under Thai control.

The dispute puts further pressure on the Thai prime minister. For weeks, opposition groups have occupied the main government office building, demanding the ouster of Mr. Somchai and new elections.

Thais pull back to avoid war with Cambodia

October 15, 2008
Staff writer
The Herald Sun (Australia)

CAMBODIA and Thailand have pulled back from the edge of war after threats to turn a disputed border area into a "life-and-death battle zone".

Cambodian military officials said yesterday afternoon that Thai troops had withdrawn from the area, hours after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum.

Hun Sen had earlier set a noon deadline for Thailand to remove about 80 soldiers he said had encroached on to a small patch of land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia warned Thailand it faced "a large-scale armed conflict" if the troops did not leave. "We try to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister . . . the area is a life-and-death battle zone," Hun Sen said.

Thai Premier Somchai Wongsawat yesterday called a meeting of military leaders.

Tensions between the neighbours flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded world heritage status by the UN, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Thai troops pull out from Veal Entry

14 Oct 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

Hun Sen, who launched an ultimatum to Thai troops to leave the area today before noon, said that the control of this territory abutting Preah Vihear temple as an “issue of life and death.”

Thai troops pulled out at 10:20 AM from Veal Entry (Eagle Field), a zone located between the mountain and the disputed pagoda, a military source indicated at noon time today, following Hun Sen’s ultimatum launched yesterday and reiterated this morning on TV.

Yim Pim, an officer in charge of an army unit in Veal Entry, confirmed this withdrawal to “Cambodge Soir Hebdo.”

“We consider the sovereignty over Veal Entry as a strategic point of life and death,” Hun Sen threatened on Tuesday morning. “To lose this spot means the loss of the control of Preah Vihear. We will keep Veal Entry, whatever the cost will be.”

“A spokesman from the Bangkok government said that this area belonged to them,” Hun Sen said in anger. “How could this be? They just entered the area yesterday!”

Reacting to the “concern” expressed by Singapore, chair of ASEAN, Hun Sen declared: “We are more worried than they are, this is our territory that was violated.”

“If Thailand considers Cambodia as being negligible, let them say so!” Hun Sen added. “However, the ants can also disturb the sleeping elephant. They can step on my toe, but not on my head.”

Thai troops withdraw from border zone: Cambodian army

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Senior Cambodian military officials said Tuesday that Thai troops had withdrawn from a disputed border area, hours after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum.

General Neang Phat, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Defense, told AFP that the Thai soldiers began moving back at 0400 GMT, although Thai military officials were not immediately available to confirm this.

"The Thai troops have agreed to withdraw from the (disputed) Intry area," the general said.

A Cambodian brigadier general stationed at the border, Yim Pim, told AFP by telephone that Thai troops had now backed off.

"They withdrew from the area ... and went back to their headquarters about a kilometer (mile) away," Yim Pim said.

"There is no more confrontation now. The situation is eased, but we are still on high alert."

Hun Sen had earlier set at a midday deadline for Thailand to remove about 80 soldiers he said had encroached onto their territory in a small disputed patch of land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.

The premier made similar comments Monday after talks between the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers in Phnom Penh, which ended without a breakthrough in the three-month stand off.

Thailand's premier Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday he was not in principle against withdrawing troops from the disputed border area, and called an urgent meeting of top military brass.

Tensions between the neighbours first flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded world heritage status by the United Nations, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Tensions escalated into a military confrontation in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks in a small patch of land, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers.

Thailand withdraws troops from disputed border area with Cambodia

Tuesday 14th October, 2008
Kyodo

PHNOM PENH — Thailand has withdrawn all of its troops from an area of the border hotly disputed with Cambodia ahead of a Tuesday noon deadline set by Cambodia, Cambodia military officials said. Gen Neang Phat, vice minister of National Defense, confirmed to Kyodo News that, ‘‘Thai troops have completely withdrawn from Veal Entry as of 11 a.m. and the situation has returned to normal now.’’

Cambodia’s claim that Thai troops have withdrawn from its soil came after Thailand and Cambodia reached a deal in two rounds of negotiations Tuesday morning involving regional military commanders of the two sides, the sources said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had warned Monday that war with Thailand might erupt if 84 Thai soldiers who allegedly crossed about 1,000 meters into Cambodian territory on Monday morning were not withdrawn by Tuesday.

Hun Sen on Tuesday morning gave a noon deadline for Thai troops to withdraw from the disputed territory, saying, ‘‘Even at any cost, Cambodia will not allow Thais to stand in our land.’’

PHNOM PENH: All 84 Thai troops withdrew around 1100 a.m. (0400 GMT) from the Veal Intry area

Thai PM: Thailand can not withdraw from border area now

BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday morning that Thailand could not pull out troops from the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple as demanded by Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen now, local news network The Nation reported.

However, news from PHNOM PENH said that all 84 Thai troops withdrew around 1100 a.m. (0400 GMT) from the Veal Intry area where they entered Monday, after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a deadline to Thailand Tuesday, said a Cambodian senior military officer.

The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, didn't elaborate on the withdrawal.

Hun Sen here Tuesday set 12:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) as the ultimate time for the 84 Thai troops to pull out from the Veal Intry area, about 2,000 meters west of the Preah Vihear Temple.

Somchai said the joint committee of the two countries needed to reach an agreement on how to carry out the pullout first before it could be done.

Somchai said he will summon all agencies concerned to consult on the matter Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Thai soldiers will not withdraw from the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple despite an ultimatum from Cambodia to withdraw by midday Tuesday.

"We are in our homeland. How can they expect us to leave our home?" he told reporters.

On Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said a "large-scale" armed conflict may happen, if the Thai troops fail to be withdrawn from the border area near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear immediately.

In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

The tension later turned into a military confrontation, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks. In mid-August, most troops evacuated and just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.

However, bilateral talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.

In October at the border area, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during an exchange of gunfire, and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine.

Cambodia: Thai troops retreat from disputed border

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Thai troops retreated from a disputed border area Tuesday, easing tensions after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum that the troops withdraw or face unspecified consequences.

Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim said all Thai troops in the area had retreated to their camp about half a mile from the contested territory some 90 minutes before the noon deadline set by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"The tense situation has now eased," Yim Pim told The Associated Press.

A Thai army spokesman could not be immediately reached to confirm the withdrawal.

Earlier Tuesday, Hun Sen had warned Thailand to pull back 84 troops from the area by noon. He accused the troops of crossing into Cambodian territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which has been a source of enmity between the two countries for decades.

"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said during a speech at an economic conference in the capital, Phnom Penh. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock." Noon in Cambodia is 1 a.m. EDT.

"At any cost, we will not allow Thai troops to invade this area. I would like to be clear about this," Hun Sen said. He added that he had ordered Cambodia's army chiefs to "take full responsibility over this area. It is a life-and-death battle zone."

Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said earlier in the day he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence."

"We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters as he headed into Tuesday's weekly Cabinet meeting.

Both countries have long claimed Preah Vihear, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962. Sovereignty over some of the land around the temple, however, has not been clearly resolved.

Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Both sides deployed troops to the border and at several points came close to armed clashes.

Two Thai soldiers lost legs earlier this month after stepping on land mines, three days after a brief gunfight broke out between soldiers from the two sides. One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded. Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.

Hun Sen met Monday with Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, but the meeting appeared to end without a resolution.

He said Monday, "We told them that if they do not stop (trespassing), armed clashes will break out."

There has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area since, and talks have been held several times to resolve the conflicting claims, but without much progress.

Cambodia: Thai troops retreat from disputed border

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian army official says Thai troops have retreated from a disputed border ahead of a noon deadline issued by Cambodia's prime minister.

Cambodian Brig. Gen. Yim Pin, tells The Associated Press that all Thai troops had retreated from the contested area.

Yim Pin said Tuesday that "The tense situation has now eased."

Earlier, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had warned Thailand to withdraw troops by noon or face unspecified consequences.

A day earlier, Hun Sen had warned that "armed clashes will break out" if Thai troops did not retreat.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

Thai soldiers pull back from Cambodian border

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Reuters

PHNOM PENH: Thai soldiers pulled back from a disputed stretch of the Cambodian border Tuesday, a Cambodian general on the scene said, shortly before the expiry of a conflict deadline set by Phnom Penh.

"They pulled out from our land," General Chea Mon told Reuters by phone from the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, which lies at the heart of the border dispute.

"The situation seems to have returned to normal," he said.

(Reporting by Ek Madra; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Darren Schuettler)

Thai Troops Withdraw From Border

Tuesday October 14, 2008
Sky News (UK)

A Cambodian army official has said that Thai troops have retreated from a disputed border zone ahead of a deadline issued by Cambodia's prime minister.

Hun Sen had threatened to turn the area into a "life or death battle zone" unless Thai troops withdrew.

Shortly before the deadline, General Chea Mon, speaking from the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple which lies at the heart of the border dispute, said:"They have pulled out of our land.

"The situation seems to have returned to normal."

More follows ...