Cambodia pulls back troops from border with Thiland

Cambodian troops are seen transporting out of their bases at Choam Te and Bosbov villages near Preah Vihear heading toward Kampong Thom.

PHNOM PENH, August 8 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Cambodian troops were pulled back from the border area with Thailand on Monday.

Kun Kim, deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, who presided over the pull-back ceremony, said the redeployment of the troops was made at the order of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The troops, pulled back to their hometown in Kampong Thom province, were based at Choam Te border area with Thailand, located some 20 kilometers east of Preah Vihear Temple.

According to Kun Kim, the redeployment of the troops was made following the ruling by the International Court of Justice last month. However, the pull-back was made at border areas outside the provisional demilitarized zone that defined by the ICJ's order only.

Cambodia and Thai troops have engaged in many times of fighting since July 2008 when Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as the World Heritage site.

Dozens of troops and civilians on both sides had been killed and tens of thousands of civilians had fled home for safe shelters.

Last Friday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told his cabinet members that the situation along the Cambodia-Thai border has been eased, especially, after the Pheu Thai Party won last month's general election.

He, then, advised Ministry of Information and other ministries as well as military to improve environment of trust so as to have good cooperation with the Pheu Thai-formed government.
Editor: Zhang Xiang