Thailand committed to solving border dispute with Cambodia by peaceful means: Thai spokesman

BANGKOK, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said Tuesday that his country has committed to solving the border dispute with Cambodia by peaceful means base on the bilateral framework.

The acting government spokesman's statement was made after news reports saying that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered his troops to shoot any trespassers in the disputed border area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, Thai News Agency reported.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has not worried about the latest development at the Thai-Cambodian border as the two leaders earlier have agreed they will not let the border dispute affect the broader relations of the two countries, said Panithan.

If the two countries use forces to solve the border dispute, it will negatively affect the two neighboring countries and the ASEAN group, Panithan said.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he plans to meet with Hun Sen, who will attend the forthcoming ASEAN Summit in Thailand, to discuss about the border dispute.

Thailand, which is the 2009 chairmanship of ASEAN, will host the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from Oct. 21-25 in central beach resort town Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Abhisit flexes his muscle back at Hun Xen?

Abhisit asserts Thai rights over disputed Khmer border zone

BANGKOK, Sept 29 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday insisted that Thailand was ready to assert its rights after his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier ordered his troops to shoot any intruders from Thailand who stepped on Cambodian soil.

The Thai premier said that raising the issue to an international level was Mr Hun Sen's style.

"When he (Mr Hun Sen) was interviewed by foreign media, he always expressed this attitude," said Mr Abhisit. "It is his style in making headlines."

Mr Abhisit, however, assured that Thailand was always ready for negotiations, but "at the same time, we are ready to assert our rights."

Despite the ongoing tension on the border, the Thai premier expressed confidence that his Cambodian counterpart will attend the 15th ASEAN Summit and other related summits at the Thai seaside resort Hua Hin, scheduled for October 23-25.

Mr Hun Sen's announcement came after yellow-shirt protesters of Thailand's Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied in the Thai province of Si Sa Ket near the disputed Preah Vihear border area with Cambodia and clashed with local police and residents there.

The PAD supporters’ gathering opposed Cambodia's plan to build new structures in the area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple disputed by Thailand and Cambodia.

Tensions between the two neighbouring countries flared after the United Nations cultural body UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid in July last year to list the 11th century temple as a world heritage site, while the question of sovereignty over the 4.6 square kilometres of surrounding land has never been clearly resolved, angering some Thais who continued to claim Thailand’s ownership of the site.

Thailand's PM criticises Cambodia's shooting order

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
ABC Radio Australia

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has criticised his Cambodian counterpart for saying Thai trespassers will be shot if they go near a disputed temple on the border.

Earlier Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had ordered his troops to shoot anyone from neighbouring Thailand who crosses onto land around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"If they enter again, they will be shot," Hun Sen told officials.

"Troops, police and all armed forces must adhere to the order ... for invaders, shields are not used but bullets are used," the PM said in the speech at the opening ceremony for Cambodia's new Ministry of Tourism building.

Hun Sen's comments came a little over a week after Thai protesters rallied near the ancient temple, the site of clashes that have killed seven soldiers since tensions flared last year.

Mr Abhisit says Hun Sen wants to retaliate for the Thai protests on September the 19th.

He says Thailand still wants to find a peaceful solution to the dispute over the temple through a joint border commission set up by the two countries.

Claims attacked

Hun Sen has also lambasted Thailand's claim to the disputed land around the temple, inviting it to raise the issue at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting next month.

Cambodia and Thailand have been arguing over the land around the temple for decades, but tensions spilled over into violence last July when the temple was granted United Nations World Heritage status.

Suthep plans to meet Hun Sen

"The Thai army is also ready to counter if armed Cambodian troops enter Thai territory" - Thailand Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Wiboonsak Neephan

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Bangkok Post

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban plans to meet Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border row after reports Mr Hun Sen has ordered his troops to shoot any trespassers in the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

On Sept 19, yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters rallied near the ancient temple, demanding the Cambodian government remove its people from the disputed border area.

"I believe Prime Minister Hun Sen could misunderstand the situation and I am ready to talk with him," Mr Suthep, who is charged of security affairs, said on Tuesday.

Mr Suthep said he did not know the Cambodian premier announced that he will not attend the Asean summit, scheduled for next month in Thailand and will not talk with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"I believe this has nothing to do with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and I have ordered the Second Region Army commander to keep a close watch on the border area and to prevent clashes between both sides," Mr Suthep said.

The border situation near Preah Vihear temple was still normal, he said.

"The Thai army is also ready to counter if armed Cambodian troops enter Thai territory," Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Wiboonsak Neephan said.

However, the two sides had been trying to negotiate and work together continuously to ease the tension.

PM's deputy secretary-general Panithan Wattanayakorn said the government hoped Cambodia will stick to peaceful means to resolve the border row.

'4 sq km land belongs to Cambodia'

In this photo taken on March 13, 2009, a road up to the hill of the famed Preah Vihear temple is seen on the Cambodian-Thai border in Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Thai officials seek to negotiate the border demarcation line. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, that anyone from Thailand who illegally intrudes into Cambodian territory claimed by both countries will be shot. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

29-09-2009
The Nation (Thailand)

Hun Sen stressed that even though "we will not avoid to use force, our stance is still to deal with the issues with peaceful way, Cambodia does not need war."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday (September 28) said with strong words that Cambodia and Thailand do not have overlapping land of 4.6 square km near 11th century Khmer Preah Vihear temple.

"That area is Cambodian soil," Hun Sen said at a opening ceremony of the new Tourism Ministry building in Phnom Penh downtown.

"Thailand is using their own map which was drawn unilaterally to take land from Cambodia such as 4.6 km square near Preah Vihear Temple," Xinhua quoted Hun Sen as saying.

Hun Sen had said that Thai "yellow T-shirt" protesters rallied at the area near Preah Vihear temple to demand Cambodian troops and villagers move out from the land of 4.6 square km near the temple. "They are extremists and have ambitions," he said.

State-run Xinhua said Hun Sen warned that he has told his military commander that if the Thai "yellow T-shirt" protesters forced their way into the area, Cambodian troops could use force.

He said he has ordered his troops to shoot anyone found illegally crossing a disputed border with Thailand.

His remarks came a little over a week after Thai protesters rallied at the site near the Preah Vihear temple, where seven soldiers were killed when tensions flared last year.

"If they enter again, they will be shot," Hun Sen told officials.

"Troops, police and all armed forces must adhere to the order ... for invaders, shields are not used but bullets are used," the said in the speech at the opening ceremony for Cambodia's new Ministry of Tourism building.

The Prime Minister also rejected the declaration by Thai leaders that the road Cambodia built to Preah Vihear temple is joint sharing for using. "This road was built on Cambodian soil and it did not have joint share with Thai side. I am so sorry for your comment," he said, adding "you have confused the matter of this street."

However, Hun Sen stressed that even though "we will not avoid to use force, our stance is still to deal with the issues with peaceful way, Cambodia does not need war."

Cambodian and Thai troops have confronted each other since July 15, 2008 at the areas near Khmer Preah Vihear temple after Cambodia registered the temple as the World Heritage Site in July 7, 2008.