Preah Vihear news updates Jul 20
Thai stock down sharply!
Thailand’s main stock index has fallen more than 23 per cent since anti-government street protests in Bangkok began in late May, and could drop further if border tensions get worse, analysts said (Gulf News, 19 Jul 08).
Cambodians in Poipet buying reserves just in case!
Over one thousand Cambodians have crossed the border in Poipet to buy reserves in case gunfight erupts between Cambodia and Thailand after the Monday talks (Bangkok Post’s Breaking News). The one who would lead the talks on Thai side has been confirmed to be Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit (Thai News Agency, 19 Jul 08).
Foreign intervention and withdrawal of Thai troops from pagoda???
Meanwhile, Pol.Lt-Gen. Vichienchot Sukchokrat, a Thai government spokesman, said he was informed by Don Pramudwinai, Thailand’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations that Cambodia has asked for UN help in dealing with the border dispute (Thai News Agency, 19 Jul 08; AFP, 19 Jul 08). The content of the Cambodian petition is not known to the Thai govenment, and Thailand is awaiting the details, he said, adding that the pressure by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) earlier this week forced Cambodia to ask for help from the United Nations and therefore asking the PAD to stop their movement (Thai News Agency, 19 Jul 08).
AFP and ABC Radio Australia reported Jul 19 that US, Chinese, French and Vietnamese embassy staff flew to the disputed territory on Saturday, adding to diplomatic pressure to end the confrontation. However, The Earth Times wrote, “[a]lthough other international attaches including the US were originally rumoured to be attending, in the end they were supplied by the two Communist nations, which are also closest regional allies.” That said, The Straits Times directly quoted US, Chinese, French and Vietnamese embassy staff as saying “they flew by helicopter from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to the disputed territory on the border.” They also told the newspaper that diplomatic pressure to end the confrontation between more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops.
CTN, Cambodian TV channel, confirmed that Thai troops had stood down after the intervention (The Earth Times 1, 2 – 19 Jul 08; Khaleej Times 19 Jul 08).
Although CTN claimed Thai troops stood down after foreign intervention (The Earth Times 1, 2 – 19 Jul 08; Khaleej Times 19 Jul 08), latest news from AFP, AP and CNN did not report anything about them pulling out from the pagoda in the disputed area (AP 1, 2; AFP; CNN – 20 Jul 08). Clearly a note was sent to the UN Security Council but not to ask for intervention, according to Cambodian govt spokesman Khieu Kanharith; the actual content of the note is yet unknown. Also, Cambodian troops have very little hope in the Monday “peace talks” and are on “high alert”.
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