By Chun Sophal
The Mekong Times
Cambodia is to install more markers along the Thai border in a bid to more clearly demarcate the state line, Var Kim Hong, chief of the National Border Committee said Saturday.
“We have to install more border poles because the 73 [colonial-era] markers installed by France are inadequate,” Var Kim Hong told The Mekong Times at the “Smile of Angkor” art exhibition.
Calling the demarcation “our duty,” Va Kim Hong said Cambodia should emulate Malaysia which has planted over 10,000 markers along its border with Thailand. It is “not clear” when work will begin or how many markers will be needed, he added.
“We are examining markers planted by the French in Pailin and we hope to finish this task soon,” Var Kim Hong said.
Cambodia has an 805 km land border with Thailand but 73 markers between Cham Sro Gnam pass in from Oddar Meanchey province and Cham Yeam in Koh Kong province, planted by the French in the early 20th century, are the only official demarcation. Between Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provice there are no markers at all so quarrels are common.
To reduce such disputes, Cambodia and Thailand created a bilateral committee to demarcate the border in 2006.
Va Kimhong said that the scheme “relies on whether we agree or not.”
Son Chhay, chief of the Foreign Affairs committee of the National Assembly, opined that the demarcation of the border with Thailand “may be easier than Vietnam because border markers from the French colonial times still remain.”
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian urged the government to “do the task with reference to maps, not by running a straight line from one marker to another.”
Throughout its history, Cambodia has been plagued by border disputes with neighboring countries.
Negotiations with Vietnam, Thailand and Laos over border demarcations are ongoing.
“We have to install more border poles because the 73 [colonial-era] markers installed by France are inadequate,” Var Kim Hong told The Mekong Times at the “Smile of Angkor” art exhibition.
Calling the demarcation “our duty,” Va Kim Hong said Cambodia should emulate Malaysia which has planted over 10,000 markers along its border with Thailand. It is “not clear” when work will begin or how many markers will be needed, he added.
“We are examining markers planted by the French in Pailin and we hope to finish this task soon,” Var Kim Hong said.
Cambodia has an 805 km land border with Thailand but 73 markers between Cham Sro Gnam pass in from Oddar Meanchey province and Cham Yeam in Koh Kong province, planted by the French in the early 20th century, are the only official demarcation. Between Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provice there are no markers at all so quarrels are common.
To reduce such disputes, Cambodia and Thailand created a bilateral committee to demarcate the border in 2006.
Va Kimhong said that the scheme “relies on whether we agree or not.”
Son Chhay, chief of the Foreign Affairs committee of the National Assembly, opined that the demarcation of the border with Thailand “may be easier than Vietnam because border markers from the French colonial times still remain.”
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian urged the government to “do the task with reference to maps, not by running a straight line from one marker to another.”
Throughout its history, Cambodia has been plagued by border disputes with neighboring countries.
Negotiations with Vietnam, Thailand and Laos over border demarcations are ongoing.
