Growing concerns over possible violence between Cambodia-Thailand

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Karen Percy, Sisakret province
Australia Network News

As tensions between Thailand and Cambodia continue to simmer, there's growing concern violence could erupt between the two countries.

A visit to Cambodia by the fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sparked the latest row.

Mr Thaksin's visit has led to the arrest of a Thai man in Cambodia accused of spying on Thaksin's movements and a threat by Thailand to suspend all aid to its poorer neighbour.

The tensions between the two countries are being felt especially near the disputed border region at the Preah Vihear temple.

Thailand's Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has visited the region to reassure the thousands of Thai officers stationed there.

He told them they had the support and protection of the government and also offered the officers food and supplies as a gesture of thanks.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was also there to calm the local villagers.

"At this moment there are alot of news that might frighten the people, alot of people are concerned about their normal living," he said.

"So the Prime Minister wants me to express his concerns to the people and to make the people confident in their government, in the security of their life."

'No immediate threat'

Despite the deepening rift between Cambodia and Thailand and deadly incidents between the armies in the past at the Preah Vihear temple, Justice Minister Piripan told visiting reporters that there were no immediate threats in the region.

The temple, which is of Hindu origin, was built in the 8th century.

The temple is on Cambodian soil, as recognised by UNESCO's world heritage listing last year.

But the land around the temple, measuring about 4.5 square kilometres, has been in dispute for decades.

Preah Vihear has been the site of numerous violent clashes in recent years, and the local villagers deal with the danger on a day-to-day basis.

Locals

Bunkers have been built across the region to protect the locals in case of an attack according to Deputy Village chief Seng Wongthong.

He told the ABC, the situation in the region is tense.

While the villagers seem glad for the protection, many of them want the dispute to end so the border area can flourish.

Many of them even support Mr Thaksin.

Nam Chan-Ob lost part of his right left a decade ago, when he was foraging for mushrooms and shoots in the jungle.

He says that if there was no conflict, tourists would visit the region.

"Foreigners can visit and we can make money..right now, no one is earning an income," he said.

For now, the guns are quiet along the restive border. Trade is continuing and life goes on.

But Cambodia and Thailand aren't talking about the issues that divide them and that means hopes for a resolution are a long way off.