Situation Along Thai-Cambodian Border Remains Stable

BANGKOK, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo Province, where seven Thai nationals were arrested last week, has remained calm, as people on both sides of the common border are waiting for a Cambodian court's verdicts against the Thai nationals--which were expected later on Thursday, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

A TNA reporter said that the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border near Ban Nong Jan area of Non Mak Mun Sub-district in Khok Sung District of Sa Kaeo has remained stable,as supporters of the Thai Patriots Network left the province yesterday after staging a rally demanding the release of the seven Thai detainees by Cambodian authorities.

The Thai activists were heading for Government House in Bangkok--where they would resume their protest against the Cambodian government and call on the Thai government to assist the seven Thai people.

Situation Normal After Clashes: Top General

Thai soldiers, above, remain encamped across the border despite firefights with Cambodian units at three sites near Preah Vihear temple Wednesday.

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Preah Vihear province
17 October 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

Cambodia’s top military commander said Friday tensions had eased on the border near Preah Vihear temple, but soldiers on the front line worried of more fighting in the wake of three skirmishes this week.

Commanders in the field met for a second round of talks Friday, after gun battles at three sites near Preah Vihear temple left at least three Cambodians dead Wednesday.

The situation on the border was “normal” following the violence, but Cambodian soldiers were remaining vigilant, Gen. Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told reporters after meeting his Thai counterpart.

Ke Kim Yan also said the sides had not agreed to joint patrols, despite reported statements by the Thai side to the contrary.

Neither side has been able to agree on border demarcations, making joint patrols impossible, he said.

Meanwhile, soldiers on the front lines in the forested mountains surrounding Preah Vihear temple said they worried about more fighting, despite negotiations.

Both sides had ceased speaking to each other or shaking hands, as they had before Wednesday’s fighting, Cambodian soldiers said.

Along tense border, armies back away

Friday, October 17, 2008
By Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to joint patrols and left the more serious issue of troop reductions to the next round of talks aimed at easing tensions at their disputed border.

The decision was reached in five hours of negotiations under the Regional Border Committee between Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn and Cambodian Fourth Army chif Gen Chea Mon at the tourist service centre on Pha Mor E Daeng in Si Sa Ket.

Both sides will resume talks in Siem Reap next Tuesday, said Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Chakkabatr.

At this stage, both sides will keep their troops in the area and have joint patrols, Gen Songkitti added. But he cautioned that Thai soldiers were ready to protect the country if it was invaded.

Lt-Gen Wiboonsak said joint patrols would be introduced to "prevent this kind of incident from happening again".

"We did not make much progress. Troops on both sides will stay where they are," he said.

The fighting between the two countries on Wednesday at Phu Ma Khua and Pha Mor E Daeng came after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday gave Thailand an ultimatum to withdraw its soldiers from the disputed area. Thailand insists it is part of Thai territory.

Seven Thai troops were injured and two Cambodian soldiers died in the clashes.

Army deputy spokesman Col Werachon Sukondhapatipak said no Thai soldiers were captured as claimed by Cambodia. The soldiers in the pictures were stationed at Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh called the outcome "a good result". "We understood each other," he said. "We cannot patrol individually because it could lead to a misunderstanding."

The clashes caused concern at the United Nations and among the international community

In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the two countries to "exercise utmost restraint and expedite bilateral talks so that their differences can be resolved peacefully."

There are 1,000 Thais in Phnom Penh and about 500 in Siem Reap.

Thai ambassador to Cambodia Viraphand Vacharathit said about 600 Thais had returned to Thailand after the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Thais who did not need to stay in Cambodia should return to the kingdom.

Cambodian riot police were deployed in front of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, which was set on fire by anti-Thai rioters in 2003.

Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said undercover police were monitoring Thai businesses to ensure their safety.

"We're protecting all Thai businessmen and citizens in Cambodia in case our people get furious and do something wrong that would not benefit either side," Khieu Sopheak said.

The current stand-off first flared in July after Preah Vihear was awarded World Heritage status, angering some nationalist Thais who claim Thailand ownership of the site.

The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area. (with Agency reports)

Military Talks on Border Yield No Changes

By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Cambodia
16 October 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio by Reaksmey
Click here to listen to the Khmer audio by VOA Khmer reporters

Thai and Cambodian soldiers will remain entrenched along the border, following talks among military commanders from both sides that failed to bring about any kind of withdrawal or cooperation Thursday.

Thai and Cambodia military commanders met on the Thai side of the border near Preah Vihear temple in a four-hour meeting Thursday, as the Cambodian death toll rose by one following a brief skirmishes Wednesday.

Ten Thai soldiers who had been surrounded at the Keo Sikha Svara pagoda, west of Preah Vihear temple, were given back their arms and will be allowed to stay in the pagoda, and all other troops will remain in their positions, said Maj. Gen. Srey Doeuk, commander of Cambodia's Division 12, who participated in the talks Thursday.

Cambodia also rejected a suggestion by Thailand that soldiers from both sides conduct joint patrols along the border, Srey Doeuk said.

Phnom Penh was quiet a day after the fighting, and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told VOA Khmer diplomatic relations on both sides remained good, with hopes of more talks on the border dispute, which has continued since July 15.

Meanwhile, many Thai nationals in Phnom Penh were preparing to return to Thailand.

In Oddar Meanchey province, west of Wednesday's fighting, many people were seen fleeing for safety, though a small percentage stayed behind.