[Thai] Armed forces put on standby

2/07/2011
Wassana Nanuam & Apinya Wipatayotin
Bangkok Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered all three of the country's armed forces to get ready for the implementation of the national defence plan, a military source says.

The armed forces are ready to protect Thai territory along the border with Cambodia, the source said yesterday.

The army is ready to implement its Kasat Suk (Warlord) and Phichit Suk (War Victory) plans. The Suranaree Task Force serves as the focal point of these two plans.

The navy's border defence forces in Chanthaburi and Trat have been deployed to the Thai-Cambodian border in the two provinces. Navy warships have been put on standby as well.

Prawit: No new fighting [with Cambodia] expected (sic!)

27/06/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

It was unlikely there would be any more fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces along the border because soldiers on both sides preferred to settle dispute through talks, Defence Mininster Gen Prawit Wongsuwon said on Monday.

Gen Prawit said the military stood ready to defend the country's sovreignty. Surveilland had been stepped up along the border.

''Don't worry. What is ours, will remain ours,'' said the defence minister.

Asked whether Thailand's policy towards Cambodia is to be defensive only, Gen Prawit said that is what the military can do at the moment.

Thailand set to defy International Law

Thailand set to defy any border order

MINISTER SAYS ICJ HAS NO AUTHORITY TO RULE

5/06/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

SINGAPORE : Thailand is set to defy any order by the International Court of Justice to withdraw troops from the border area disputed with Cambodia.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday that the ICJ had "no authority" to issue such an order and Thailand would not comply should one be issued.

The minister's comments come as the ICJ deliberates Cambodia's requests for a reinterpretation of the court's 1962 ruling which favoured Cambodia, and to order Thailand to withdraw troops and cease all military activity near Preah Vihear temple, situated inside the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area.

The UN's highest court is expected to rule on troop withdrawal early next month.

"Thailand will respect the ICJ's decision, but the body has no authority to order Thai troops to retreat. Thai soldiers won't step back from our territory," Gen Prawit said on the sidelines of the three-day Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore.

Prawit permits joint survey team

20/05/2011
Wassana Nanuam & Nopparat Kingkaeo
The Phnom Penh Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has agreed to Cambodia's proposal to allow a joint survey team into the disputed Preah Vihear area as a prerequisite to holding a General Border Committee meeting.

Gen Prawit met his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday during the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen demanded that Thailand sign terms of reference for the presence of Indonesian observers in disputed areas and form a joint survey team to collect data, a source close to the meeting said.

"It was demanded that Thailand form the joint survey team first. Then Cambodia would agree to host the 8th GBC [General Border Committee] meeting," the source said.

"Thailand had to compromise on some points to save face for Hun Sen. Otherwise, a deal would be impossible. Without a GBC meeting, solutions to border problems can never happen."

However, Gen Prawit said the government could not sign the terms of reference now as the House has been dissolved for the general election.

RI hosts another round of Thai, Cambodia border talks

We meet again: Defense ministers Gen. Tea Bahn of Cambodia ( from left), Purnomo Yusgiantoro of Indonesia and Prawit Wongsuwon of Thailand greet each other as they meet ahead of the 5th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday. AP/Achmad Ibrahim

Thu, 05/19/2011
Mustaqim Adamrah and Dina Indrasafitri
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With one chance after another to resolve their current dispute, Thailand and Cambodia have met yet again over the border issue that has ignited repeated skirmishes between the two nations.

Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM). That meeting inspired hopes that the resolution Indonesia, as the current chair of ASEAN, has brokered will proceed and conclude in peace.

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro held a number of separate talks with his ASEAN counterparts, as Indonesia is trying to build a climate of defense cooperation among countries in the region.

The ADMM will officially open on Thursday and conclude on Friday.

Defence ministers to meet

Duck Shot aka Tea Banh (Photo: DAP)

Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh is set to carry out sideline talks with his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwon at a regional summit starting tomorrow, in the latest diplomatic effort to follow April’s deadly border clashes.

Ta Banh is set to leave for Indonesia today to take part in the two-day Association of Southeast Asean Nations defence ministers’ summit in Jakarta.

Lieutenant-general Chhum Socheat, spokesman for Ministry of Defence, said yesterday that “as planned the two defence ministers will meet” in talks mediated by ASEAN chair Indonesia. He would not reveal specific topics to be tabled but said the ASEAN meeting would review developments in the region, including security issues.

Prawit to meet Tea Banh in Jakarta

11/05/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will meet his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh to discuss border problems during the 5th Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in Jakarta, Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said on Wednesday.

The defence spokesman said Gen Prawit would be accompanied by Gen Kittipong Ketkowit, the permanent secretary for defence, and a number of military officers in the trip to Indonesia.

The meeting is for the defence ministers of the 10 Asean member countries to exchange opinions concerning security and military affairs in the region.

"Khmer toops must leave; Agreed to observers; Khmer troops must leave": Does Thailand have an inkling of what it "really" wants?

Gen Prawit: Cambodian troops must leave

9/05/2011
Bangkok Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has supported Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's demand that Cambodia withdraw its troops from the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area around Preah Vihear before Indonesia sends its observers there.

"The prime minister has spoken clearly about this and the armed forces are of the same opinion," Gen Prawit said on Monday.

"Cambodian soldiers must withdraw from the disputed area before any other steps can be taken."

Gen Prawit said that there should be a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) first, to explore ways of enabling Thai and Cambodian troops to both stay in place before an agreed terms of reference is signed to allowed the Indonesian observers into the disputed area.

Prawit ready for border talks

The gate at the Chong Jom border pass which separates Thailand’s Kap Choeng district from Cambodia’s O-Smach area remains locked yesterday with the O-Smach Resort standing in the background. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

3/05/2011
Wassana Nanuam and Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Sunday night flew to Paris to meet three legal advisers from France, Canada and Australia to discuss Cambodia's move.

Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon says he wants Thai-Cambodian border conflict talks to be held this month. Defence spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Gen Prawit was ready to meet his Cambodian counterpart on the condition that Cambodian soldiers stopped firing at Thai troops.

Gen Prawit had ordered the Thai military to contact Cambodian authorities to advance the bilateral General Border Committee meeting from June to this month as he wanted the panel to meet as soon as possible.

He said yesterday he had not yet arranged a meeting with Cambodian Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh as he wanted to ensure a truce was honoured.

"Now there is nothing to talk about. A truce must happen first. I believe there is a positive sign," Gen Prawit said.

Thailand postpones peace talks with Cambodia

BANGKOK, April 27
RIA Novosti (Russia)

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday that planned peace talks between Thai and Cambodian defense ministers had been rescheduled.

The talks to end a conflict over a long-standing border dispute were abruptly cancelled when Thai Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon left for China on Wednesday morning.

"We are not pulling out of cease-fire talks with Cambodia," Vejjajiva said. "We will set a new date as soon as Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon comes back from China."

Before flying to Beijing, Gen. Prawit said his meeting in China was scheduled several months ago and could not be cancelled. But Thai media cited a military spokesman as saying that the decision was made in response to Cambodian claims that Thailand was admitting defeat by attending the talks.

Thai Defence Minister ready for truce talks: local reports

BANGKOK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would be open to having talks on ceasefire with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh after he returns from a visit to China, Bangkok Post online quoted his secretary as saying on Wednesday.

Gen. Noppadol Inthapanya said Gen. Prawit left for China on Wednesday morning for a visit at the invitation of the Chinese defence minister issued during his visit to Thailand several months ago.

The China trip had long been planned and could not be postponed, he said.

"In fact, Gen. Prawit did not have an appointment to meet Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday, May 27, when he was scheduled to leave for China. However, Gen. Prawit said that on his return from China on Saturday he would seek a meeting with Gen Tea Banh provided that the situation has returned to normal," Gen. Noppadol said.

Thailand not pull out of talks with Cambodia : [Thai] PM [-Does Thailand even know what it is doing?]

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday denied reports that Thailand pulled out of planned ceasefire talk with Cambodia, saying Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is engaged with a foreign trip.

Abhisit said that Thailand will make a new appointment with Cambodia to talk about the ceasefire with Cambodia's Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh when Prawit comes back from China.

Abhisit was speaking during a visit to Surin province to visit people affected by skirmish between Thai and Cambodian troops. The visit was not scheduled.

The battles that started on April 22 killed at least 13 Thai soldiers. Both sides blame each other for starting the fighting.

Meanwhile Prawit said his trip to China is planned long time ago. Earlier report said that Prawit would travel to Phnom Penh today to hold talks with Tea Banh in an attempt to cease the ongoing border fightings between both troops.

Thailand pulls out of Cambodian ceasefire talks as fighting continues

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Phnom Penh/Bangkok

The Cambodian government has confirmed that Thailand's defence minister has pulled out of ceasefire talks that were scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The two countries have engaged in five straight days of fighting that have left at least 13 soldiers dead and around 50 wounded on both sides.

Cambodia said shots were exchanged early Wednesday at two sites along the contested border.

On Tuesday the Cambodian Defence Ministry announced that Thailand's Defence Minister, General Prawit Wongsuwan, would meet his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh, something Thai media later confirmed.

But on Wednesday Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan told the German Press Agency dpa that Prawit had cancelled his visit, but had given no reason.

"We didn't trust that they would come at all," he said.

Thailand pulls out of planned talks with Cambodia [-Peace talk driven by Khmer newspapers rumors? Bangkok must be kidding!]

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
AFP

BANGKOK — Thailand's defence minister has cancelled his planned trip to Cambodia Wednesday for talks on a border ceasefire, an army spokesman said, in a setback to efforts to end the deadly fighting.

"We decided last night to cancel General Prawit (Wongsuwon's) trip to Phnom Penh today after some Cambodia media reported Thailand agreed to ceasefire talks after it admitted defeat and losses," said Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

Eight Cambodian and five Thai troops have died in five days of heavy weapons fire on the two countries' disputed jungle frontier, prompting growing diplomatic pressure on the neighbours to end the conflict.

Both sides have accused each other of starting the clashes.

"We welcome talks on the condition that they stop firing first for a few days. We clearly informed Cambodia of this condition," Sunsern said.

Cambodia, Thailand to discuss ceasefire

Apr 26, 2011
AFP

PHNOM PENH - THE Thai and Cambodian defence ministers will meet soon to discuss a truce, Phnom Penh said on Tuesday, after five days of heavy border fighting left 13 troops dead.

'Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh has agreed to meet his Thai counterpart in Phnom Penh shortly to discuss a ceasefire between the two countries,' the Cambodian defence ministry said in a statement.

Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon indicated that he was ready for dialogue with his Cambodian counterpart.

'We will have an opportunity to talk and there will be no problem. I think the situation will ease within a few days,' he told reporters in Thailand during a visit to the border area.

Border Clashes Spread as Leaders Talk of Ceasefire

A Cambodian Buddhist monk watches a house damaged by a rocket during Monday night's armed clash near the disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand in Kork Morm village, Udor Meanchey province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Thai and Cambodian military officers say the border between their two countries is calm after four days of clashes. (Photo: AP)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 26 April 2011

"The two men spoke by phone as border skirmishes spread to Preah Vihear province, where the two sides exchanged rocket and artillery fire."

The defense ministers of Thailand and Cambodia agreed to hold talks for a ceasefire late Tuesday, as spreading border clashes entered their fifth day.

Defense Minister Tea Banh agreed with his counterpart, Pravit Wongsuwan, to hold talks in Phnom Penh “soon” to discuss a ceasefire, according to a Cambodian statement late Tuesday.

The two men spoke by phone as border skirmishes spread to Preah Vihear province, where the two sides exchanged rocket and artillery fire, military officials said.

Prawit plans Jakarta trip for military talks

15/04/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha will travel to Jakarta to meet Indonesian military leaders on Monday.

Among the topics likely to be discussed is the possibility of allowing Indonesian observers to enter the Thai-Cambodia disputed border area around the Preah Vihear temple complex.

A source at the Defence Ministry said Gen Prawit and Gen Prayuth will also meet the Indonesian defence minister.

Gen Prawit and Gen Prayuth learned of the trip only on Wednesday, according to the source. He said it was possible Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who attended the Joint Boundary Committee meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, last week, arranged the meeting to discuss what steps should be taken to send Indonesian observers to the disputed area.

Prawit: Kasit to decide on observers

7/04/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will decide during the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting on the deployment of Indonesian observers at the 4.6 square kilometre disputed border area, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Thursday morning.

Mr Kasit said on Wednesday said he had agreed with Phnom Penh and Jakarta that Indonesian observers could inspect the disputed area.

He said 15 Indonesian observers would deployed in Thailand and 15 in Cambodia. They would be allowed to approach the disputed area, but would not be permitted to enter it. They must not be armed or wear military uniform, but must arrive as diplomats.

Gen Prawit said Mr Kasit called him on the telephone on Wednesday seeking a face to face meeting. He had told Mr Kasit it was not necessary as they could talk on the telephone.

Prawit: GBC should come after JBC

4/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Thailand and Cambodia should first hold a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting, and the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting could then follow, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Monday.

Gen Prawit said he wants the JBC to be separate from the GBC.

The JBC meeting should be held first and its outcome could be discussed later at the GBC meeting, which is not urgent, he said.

Indonesia has invited Thailand and Cambodia to hold both GBC and JBC meetings at Bogor, east of Jakarta, on April 7-8.

The foreign ministries of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to attend the JBC, but the defence ministries of the two countries have not been able to agree on the GBC meeting. The GBC is chaired by the respective defence ministers; the JBC by the foreign ministers.

Prawit again says 'no' to GBC meeting

1/04/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Friday reiterated that he will not attend a Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee meeting in Indonesia or any other third country.

The meeting must be held either in Thailand or Cambodia, he said.

"If the GBC meeting is held in a third country, its results may require parliamentary approval under Section 190 of the constitution. Therefore, the meeting must be bilateral, between soldiers of the two countries," Gen Prawit said.