Preah Vihear news updates Jul 22
#01
Good negotiation except that Cambodia refused to review the border lines: Cambodia (Xinhua, 22 Jul 08)
“We had good negotiation with the Thai side. We agreed with each other on one point and another, but the Cambodian side didn’t agree the Thai side’s request to review the border lines with us. We already had border lines with the Thai side according to the treaties signed by France and Thailand in 1904 and 1907. It was international border,” said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Banh at a press conference held at the Poit Pet town of Cambodia near the border upon his arrival at homeland.
“This was the hottest issue (during the meeting), but we just couldn’t accept it,” said Tea Banh, who led the Cambodian delegation to Thailand for the eight-hour top-level meeting originally meant to solve the seven-day bilateral military standoff at the border area.
Meanwhile, Var Kim Hong, chairman of the Cambodian Border Committee and member of the Cambodian delegation to Thailand, said that the Thai side insisted on saying that both sides didn’t have border lines on land and only had border lines in air.
“We couldn’t accept it because France and Thailand signed border treaties in 1904 and 1907. Actually, we already had border lines and they were stipulated in these international treaties,” he added.
No-violence promise and ASEAN mediation
The major achievement was the promise made by both sides not to allow any violence and confrontation at the border area near the temple, Tea Banh said (Xinhua, 22 Jul 08).
Although it encourages the two countries to settle the conflict on their own, ASEAN would offer mediation service if necessary, Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN secretary-general, told the Financial Times on Monday night. However, VOA reported that Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong had sent a letter to ASEAN asking for help.
#02
Cambodia calls for UN and ASEAN interference
Cambodia called for intervention from both ASEAN and UN after the Monday talks broke down. “Southeast Asian nations held an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss a simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia ahead of key security talks between regional powers.” (AP, 22 Jul 08)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed to Cambodia and Thailand to settle the tensions peacefully (The Economic Time, 22 Jul 08). “The Secretary-General calls for restraint on both sides and hopes that this matter can be resolved peacefully and by diplomatic means in the context of the excellent relations between the two countries,” Ban’s spokesperson told the newspaper.
Thailand will not allow the ASEAN to broker the border dispute as its intention is to do it by bilateral negotiation, a Thai government source told Bangkok Post today.
Schedule for next border talks
The next meeting to discuss the border issues between Cambodia and Thailand was scheduled to take place 18-20 August 2008 in Siem Reap Cambodia, a Thai government source told Bangkok Post. No deal on withdrawal nor reinforcement of troops was reached at the Monday talk, Gen Boonsrang of Thailand said, according to Bangkok Post.
Ex-Khmer Rouge troops deployed at standoff?
Gulf Times wrote for its headline today, “Ex-Khmer Rouge troops, officers talk tough at standoff.” It reported soldiers there as saying the Thai troops are judging the book by its cover and that they couldn’t wait to fight the Thai army.
The Thai troops, with modern arms and uniforms, appear better prepared.
“The Thai soldiers only know the theories of fighting. They said that we are small but they don’t know that we are wild chickens,” said Yan San, 47, who became a Khmer Rouge soldier when he was 15.
“I want to fight with the Thai soldiers,” he added.
The Cambodian government denied this allegation, saying there’s no more talking about Khmer Rouge in Cambodia today, according to RFA audio report in Khmer 2008/07/22 – 5:30. But brigadier Chea Koe, commander of forces in the disputed area, told Gulf Times he was a former Khmer Rouge soldier and that more than 60% of his troops fought for the brutal Marxist regime which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
#03
Third parties’ involvement in tensions
Cambodia has sought ASEAN and UN help over Preah Vihear row but Thailand has insisted both countries settled it on their own (Reuters, 22 Jul 08; BBC, 22 Jul 08). Govt spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP, “We need a third party to solve this problem,” according to Channel News Asia.
“UN has agreed to Cambodia’s request to convene a meeting on the border dispute between both countries on July 28.” (Bangkok Post, 22 Jul 08) No other news agencies have confirmed this.
“Vietnam urges end to Thailand, Cambodia temple row,” Xinhua’s headline read.
Cambodian, Thai troops assault each other today (RFA audio report, 2008/07/22 – 19:30)
Cambodian and Thai troops stationed close to the Preah Vihear temple gate got into a scrap for 20 minutes this afternoon as the Thai troops demanded the Cambodian troops to move away from the post. No shooting broke out and it ended after talks.
« Preah Vihear news updates Jul 21 | Home | Sex crime expert nabbed for sex crimes: Legal Blog Watch »
Categories
Achives
- October 2008 (5)
- September 2008 (2)
- August 2008 (4)
- July 2008 (33)
- June 2008 (11)
- May 2008 (6)
- April 2008 (8)
Recent Posts- Cambodia, Thailand agree to joint border patrols
- Photos of Thai-Cambodian border conflict following Oct 15 shooting
- Latest news following gunfire between Cambodia and Thailand
- Number of people evicted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Hearts apart, house apart!
- Commercial arbitration in Cambodia is hatching
- Family Footsteps – Cambodia (A Khmaussie’s Story)
- Getting to understand YouTube culture
- Cambodia-Thailand border dispute worsens over weekend
- Thailand seeks foreign support for bilateral talks
Recent Comments
Leave a Comment