Troop boost for Hun Sen temple visit

KHAKI PRAYER: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany during a visit to the Preah Vihear temple.

FEARS YELLOW SHIRTS WILL SPARK CLASH

7/02/2010
Bangkok Post

The army is reinforcing Ta Muan Thom temple in Surin ahead of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit, amid reports that yellow shirts will turn up to protest at his presence.

Hun Sen yesterday wrapped up his first day of a border visit near Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district without incident.

The Cambodian leader's visit to Preah Vihear temple took about half an hour. He was greeted by a Thai delegation led by 2nd Army commander Weewalit Chornsamrit.

Hun Sen, accompanied by his wife, Bun Rany, both dressed in camouflage fatigues, toured the ancient Preah Vihear temple at the centre of a land dispute with Thailand and met members of the Thai military who guarded the area.

He thanked the Thai government for the warm welcome with a special note to Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban that he wished to invite him to Preah Vihear temple.

Hun Sen asked the Thais "to avoid fighting because we are neighbours, we cannot be enemies forever."

Maj Gen Weewalit quoted the Cambodian premier as saying that he would like "things to go back to normal", to the time before the border dispute erupted in July 2008.

"He told me that his intention for being there is to bring about peace and happiness," he said.

Maj Gen Weewalit said he was assigned to welcome Hun Sen to send a message that Thailand is firm on its ownership claim over the disputed territory covering 4.6 square kilometres near the temple.

The army did not allow the media to go through checkpoints that lead to the temple from Thai soil.

Relations worsened last year after Cambodia appointed former PM Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

Meanwhile, in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district, both Thai and Cambodian forces are increasing their military presence ahead of Hun Sen's visit to Ta Muan Thom temple.

Cambodia has not confirmed the exact date of the visit, but it is likely to be today or tomorrow.

More than 100 Thai troops were sent to the area yesterday.

An operation unit has been set up to provide support and reinforce military operations in case of a confrontation.

Pol Col Adul Boonthamcharoen, commander of the 26th ranger regiment, and Cambodian military officers were in talks to avoid any clashes.

Ta Muan Thom temple is declared off-limits to tourists and villagers for security reasons.

Maj Gen Weewalit, however, denied any efforts were underway to increase troops at Ta Muan Thom temple, which is under the supervision of Thai armed forces.

"The army will have to be more cautious there because we hear that PAD [People's Alliance for Democracy] protesters will show up.

"We don't want to see tension along the border," he said.

The PAD opposes Hun Sen's visit to the area, and champions Thailand's ownership claims over the disputed land.

The Cambodian leader earlier began a tour of the area by opening a school and giving supplies to villagers caught up in a border clash last April.

"I have never asked for compensation. For me, it doesn't matter about compensation," said Hun Sen, referring to the destruction of a Cambodian market during the gun battle.

"They [the Thais] have invaded us and look down on us.

"They are still keeping it in their minds to invade Cambodia and do not know when they will stop. The invaders have never left us, even though they can kill their own citizens," he told the crowd.

Cambodia has denied a report that Thaksin was granted Cambodian citizenship.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the allegation, which surfaced this week on Khmer Intelligence News, a Cambodian anti-government website, was untrue.

The report had drawn threats that Thaksin could lose his Thai citizenship.