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PREAH VIHEAR DISPUTE

Border tensions mount as military talks collapse
3/07/2009

Talks between Thai and Cambodian generals have collapsed after the two countries failed to reach an agreement on troop reductions to ease border tensions.


Wibulsak: In failed talks with Cambodia

Cambodia's 4th Army chief Chea Mon rejected a Thai proposal to halve the number of about 500 troops of the two countries near Preah Vihear temple.

The proposal was offered during talks on Wednesday with 2nd Army leader Wibulsak Neepal at the border in Kap Choeng district in Surin, an army source said yesterday.

The soldiers are stationed in the area near Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara. Thailand wants to see the number reduced to prevent possible clashes.

Lt Gen Chea Mon countered by demanding that all Thai troops leave the disputed area claimed by the two countries in a proposal rejected by Thailand, the source said.

Cambodia has about 5,000 soldiers along the land border and Thailand claims there are 4,000 troops not far from the ancient Hindu temple, called Phra Viharn in Thai.

Lt Gen Wibulsak reported the failed talks to Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Anupong Paojinda. Gen Anupong wanted all soldiers on the border with Cambodia to be patient, the source quoted him as saying.

Tensions between the two countries erupted after the government's protest to the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation and World Heritage Committee over their approval of the temple as a World Heritage site.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday ruled out the use of violence to solve border conflicts with Phnom Penh in the wake of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent belligerency.

He insisted a political dialogue was the only means to address the dispute and a reduction of troops was a delicate matter which would take time.

Mr Abhisit said authorities from the two countries would continue with their dialogue.

Mr Abhisit said Hun Sen's recent outspoken statements could have been prompted by internal political affairs.

The Cambodian prime minister was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as warning Thailand that Cambodia was ready to use all means to defend the country's sovereignty.

"We are also ready [for a battle]," Mr Abhisit said.

"But we have agreed that it is not a solution. I believe that the two countries understand that a war does not do anyone any good."

Authorities in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, which is adjacent to the temple, will today hold an evacuation drill near the border area.

District chief Chanya Sukhonkhantachart said local leaders had been asked to inform villagers of the planned drill to avoid a commotion.

bangkokpost.com

__________________
"Keeping quiet while monks and other peaceful protesters are murdered and jailed is not evidence of constructive engagement." - Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch.

"I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check" - M.C. Escher

watterinja

These Thai land-grabbers are a PITA...

Mr R Sole

Come on then if you wanna go???....
Peek a boo...Thai's caught off guard...as they were eating and getting piss*d at 6am!!!!!
left overs from the US!!!!

enough to scare anyone away...

Gooooo on get out ya feckers....Take it back Cambodia...that'll stop Thaksin winning the next election...Abhisit should be facilitating the giving back of land to Lao and Cambodia...then Toxic boy wouldn't have any voters left?!!!!

Don't you mean PITFA????

watterinja

^

Rural Surin

Been active at Korat RAFB...something is up.

MeMock

same same ubon the last 48 hours.

Mr R Sole

^They used to fly over all the time before...but from what I here...they doing way more fly overs and testing......
What's that daddy....Oh that's ok it's just another war...

Rural Surin

From Ubon as well. We sit right in there flight paths to the troubled region.

sabang

Vihear is in Cambodia, and it has been granted world heritage status.

Why don't the Thai just stop acting like petulant children and do a deal with the Cambo's so that they can both direct some lucrative tourist traffic there? friggin stoopid.

Rural Surin

Here! Here!

Rural Surin

It is Khmer {as was all of the Isaan region} historically. An extension of the Angkor era.

Mid

Troop reductions near Preah Vihear
3/07/2009

Thailand and Cambodia will today begin reducing troop levels along the border near Preah Vihear temple, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.

Mr Suthep said this should help ease the tension along the sensitive frontier.

He and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed during talks last weekend that the border dispute should be settled by peaceful means.

The deputy prime minister will tomorrow leave for Phnom Penh for another meeting with Mr Hun Sen.

Mr Suthep refused to comment when asked about senior Democrat MP Suthas Ngernmuen's threat yesterday to quit the party if the Bhumjaithai Party and Newin Chidchob were put in charge of the government's political actvities in the Northeast region.

bangkokpost.com

Mid

somebodies tellin porkies .....................

Norton

No way. Gotta have a national crisis to divert attention of the populace from noticing the dismal state of just about everything in Thailand.

Mr R Sole

HURRAH

Agreed...

Norton

Jeez RS. If Thailand was to give back what was the Khmer Kingdom, Lao Kingdom, Lanna and Malay Sultanates, the country would shrink by 90%.

Rural Surin

Yes. The truth will set you free.

EmperorTud

War with Cambodia. That'll bring the tourists back in droves.

Rural Surin

Fvck the tourists.

TexasRanger

Hmm, it's been a few years but how about a white man militia? Anyone up for it? Fresh air, exercise? Meet interesting people..... and kill them.