Cambodia's reaction to Thailand’s diplomatic note on Ta Krabei temple

Ta Krabei temple (Photo: RFI)

04 May 2010
By Voha Cheat
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

An official from the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs replied to Thailand on 04 May, indicating that the Ta Krabei temple and the building of a cable car by the RCAF at the beginning of the year near Ta Krabei temple in order to provide service to Cambodian troops stationed on top of the mountain, - such as food and material transportation etc… - are all located within Cambodian territories.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry of Foreign Affairs, told RFA on 04 May that: “The issue raised by the Thai ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diplomatic note was a violation without clear basis. They raised [the issues] like dumb and Cambodia cannot accept it. The Cambodian embassy in Bangkok sent back to the Thai ministry of Foreign Affairs its diplomatic note dated 30 April, confirming that the location of Ta Krabei temple, as well as the construction of the cable car are truly located inside Cambodia, based on the convention and map convention which are internationally recognized. We want to point out also that even the map that was unilaterally drawn by Thailand does confirm that Ta Krabei temple is located inside Cambodian territories as well.”

The reply took place after the Thai ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter on 29 April 2010 indicating that Ta Krabei temple belongs to Thailand and that the construction of a cable car by the RCAF near there is also located inside Thai territories.

If Cambodians illegally occupied Thai territories, why didn't Thailand react for the past few decades? Is Thailand that dumb?

April border clash site is on Thai territory : Thai FM spokesman

Wed, May 13, 2009
The Nation

Cambodia could not ask for compensation from Thailand for border clash in April because the clash site is on the Thai territory, Thai Foreign Ministry's spokesman Tharit Jarungwat said.

The clash site is on Thai territory which was illegally occupied by Cambodian civilians, he said, adding the Thai authorities are lenient enough to allow them to do business there for the sake of good relations between the two countries and for humanitarian reasons.

Tharit was referring to Cambodia's demand for the Thai side to pay Bt69 million in compensation for damage allegedly caused by heavy weapons from the Thai army used during the border clash on April 3 near Preah Vihear Temple.

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 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, the spokesman said the ministry's Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs is looking into the matters.