Thread: Cambodia vs. Thai....WAR?

This just in:

Cambodia warns of armed conflict with Thailand

Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen has warned Thailand to immediately withdraw troops from a disputed border area or risk large-scale armed conflict.

He warned visiting Thai foreign minister, Sompong Amornviwat, that without a quick pullout, Thai troops could face armed opposition.

Tensions have been high since July when around 1,000 soldiers from both countries took up positions near the 900 year-old Preah Vihear temple.

The temple was awarded world heritage status by the United Nations cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Mr Hun Sen says Thai troops must withdraw this week.

Soon after returning to Bangkok, Mr Sompong announced he will discuss the Cambodian request with the Thai prime minister before taking any action.

I reckon the Khamers would recieve a royal azzkicking.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/new...htm?tab=latest

It will be interesting to see Thailand face off against its old allies within the Cambodian Army; the Khmer Rouge veterans.

They are tough fighters, scarred with decades of conflict. Not so easy for the Thais I would think.

The Thai's could use a war to unite them for a minute or two.

The Thais'll probably back down, seeing as the op are also no strangers to dirty fighting.

Originally Posted by spliff

reckon the Khamers would recieve a royal azzkicking. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/new...htm?tab=latest

are you joking?
cambodai which hjas been perpetually at war and thailand who has great experience in collaborating.
i reckon you are totally wrong, not that we'll ever find out

Did the Cambodian PM actually say "risk large-scale armed conflict." or did he say "armed opposition" I suspect the Thai press are colourising the statement. The Bangkok Post online article headline is "War Threat" and that the border will become a "life and death battle zone" The same story in the Nation online is only 5th in the BIg Story list and the article written in a less dramatic way.

According to the BBC the remarks were made by the Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and not the Prime Minister.

Lets hope common sense prevails, (ha) foreign conflict of any kind is that last thing Thailand needs right now, there are too many internal problems to be sorted out as we all know too well, and of course it would definately mess up the tourist High Season!

FM Sompong affirms troop patrolling within Thai territory



BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said he is checking news reports that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned Thailand to immediately withdraw its military forces from a disputed border area near an ancient Khmer temple, but affirmed that the Thai troops were patrolling within this country's territory and had not encroached upon Cambodia.

Khmer PM Hun Sen commented on the issue after he met Mr. Sompong in Phnom Penh after the latest talks between the two countries' foreign ministers meant to ease tensions over a disputed border area failed to reach any agreement.

Mr. Sompong earlier met with his counterpart Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who reportedly warned of the risk of a "large-scale armed conflict."

The Thai foreign minister said after returning from Phnom Penh that he had to get further information about Mr. Hun Sen's comment.

Thai military units were patrolling within the country's borders, and had not trespassed on Cambodian territory, he affirmed.

Upon his arrival in Bangkok, Mr. Sompong went to meet Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to report the results of the failed border talks.

Prime Minister Somchai reportedly told him to use restraint and patience to solve the problem.

Cambodian military officials said earlier that 80 Thai troops had entered the disputed area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Tensions between the two bordering countries escalated in July after UNESCO listed the Khmer temple as the World Heritage Site which angered Thailand, with strongly nationalist Thais claiming that the temple belongs to Bangkok and not Phnom Penh.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but that the surrounding land remains in dispute.

Thai and Cambodian border talks agreed to redeployment of troops in August but the talks to solved border problems were delayed because of the political turmoil in Thailand. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

This is probably a sticky situation for the Thai government, because if they do the rational thing and pull out/back down they'll be handing the PAD a stick to beat them with- the PAD have already exploited this situation and attempted to exacerbate it.

Anupong calls urgent meeting on border row

(BangkokPost.com) - The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Anupong Paochinda, on Tuesday morning called an urgent meeting with relevant army officials to discuss the deepening border row between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting was held at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.

On Monday, the Cambodian authority demanded Thai troops to be immediately withdrawn from the disputed border area near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, or else a “large-scale” armed conflict may take place.

In the meantime at Khao Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear) National Park, the tension was intensifying, as many Cambodian soldiers with full arms were dispatched near the temple and most of them were former troops of Khmer Rouge who were very familiar with the border surroundings and environment.

Thai armed forces consequently had tightened security around the national park.

However, the Commander of the Second Army Region, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn, on Tuesday morning claimed that the situation at Preah Vihear had returned to normal, as troops from both sides engaged in more talks and shared a better understanding.

The Thai soldiers will do their best to protect the country’s sovereignty, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak added.

bangkokpost.com

Nothing like diverting the great unwashed masses from the problems at hand with some good xenophobia, nationalism and fear-mongering.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Nothing like diverting the great unwashed masses from the problems at hand with some good xenophobia, nationalism and fear-mongering.

Good point.

And it's not the first time Hun Sen's employed such tactics either!

Minister: Thai troops won't leave disputed border

(BangkokPost.com) - Thai soldiers will not withdraw from the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple despite an ultimatum from Cambodia to withdraw by midday Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Tuesday morning.

"We are in our homeland. How can they expect us to leave our home?" he told reporters.

His statement came after a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said Thai soldiers could face being fired upon by Cambodian troops.

"If they cannot withdraw tonight, they must withdraw tomorrow," Hun Sen said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat called an urgent meeting with chiefs of armed forces and Foreign Ministry officials at 2pm Tuesday to assess border row.

He said in the morning that troops of both countries should withdraw from the disputed area/

"We would not have any problems if both countries withdraw their troops to avoid confrontation," Mr Somchai said. "I would like the bi-lateral committee that has been formed to state clearly the distance that the troops should stay away from the disputed land."

He insisted that the Thai government is ready to discuss the problem with Phnom Penh.

bangkokpost.com

Originally Posted by panama hat

Nothing like diverting the great unwashed masses from the problems at hand with some good xenophobia, nationalism and fear-mongering.

Worked for Thatcher with the Falklands, Bush with IRAQ, etc, etc......

Somchai says Thailand cannot pull out troops now


Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday that Thailand could not pull out troops from the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple as demanded by Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen now.

Somchai said the joint committee of the two countries needed to reach an agreement on how to carry out the pullout first before it could be done.

Hunsen threatened to go for a full war if Thailand did not pull out the troops from the disputed border by noon Tuesday.

Somchai said the armed forces' commanders were discussing the issue and he would summon all agencies concerned to consult on the matter at 2 pm.

The Nation


Ouestion is who controls the thai army

Why should both sides withdraw when the "border dispute" had already been settled in favour of one - years ago? The problem I see is that this will destabilize the region as Hun has always had support from Vietnam. Well, some say he is a puppet of the Vietnamese government anyway.

hope this does not escalate as I was planning a border run at the end of the month

Originally Posted by panama hat

Nothing like diverting the great unwashed masses from the problems at hand with some good xenophobia, nationalism and fear-mongering.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Originally Posted by panama hat

Nothing like diverting the great unwashed masses from the problems at hand with some good xenophobia, nationalism and fear-mongering.

Good point.

And it's not the first time Hun Sen's employed such tactics either!

Absolutely, it's NUTS, young innocent lives on both sides are at stake here for a pile of old bricks.

I would like to send this message to the war warmongering Politicians and Generals.

A war is just what Thailand needs as people consider booking their holidays this Winter.

This year it will be the hotel owners who jump off balconies.

Just posted on BBC

Cambodia issues border ultimatum
Cambodia's prime minister has given Thailand an ultimatum to withdraw from a disputed border area he described as a "life-and-death battle zone".
Hun Sen gave Thailand until noon (0500 GMT) to pull out its troops but did not say what would be the consequences of failing to do so.
Both countries claim they own the area around the Preah Vihear temple.
Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat has reportedly said that troops will not leave the area.
"We are in our homeland - how can they expect us to leave our home?" he was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling a reporter in Bangkok.
Singapore's foreign ministry has reportedly called for both countries to show restraint and "resolve the issue through negotiations without resorting to force".
Tension has been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off only metres apart.
Temple tensions
The stand-off between the two countries centres on 4.6 sq km (1.8 square miles) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment dividing the countries.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.
The decision by the UN in June to list Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site reignited lingering nationalist tensions over the issue.
In early July Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally, sparking the military stand-off.
The two sides have already held several rounds of talks on the issue, but failed to reach agreement.

Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Cambodia issues border ultimatum

Published: 2008/10/14 04:25:28 GMT

^^

they should get a few mercenaries considering booking their holidays this Winter

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Cambodia: Thai troops retreat on ultimatum

• Story Highlights
• NEW: "Tense situation has now eased," Cambodian army commander says
• Reported retreat comes within hour of ultimatum deadline
• "We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Thai PM says
• Cambodian PM accuses Thai troops of advancing on border area near Preah Vihear

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Thai troops retreated from a disputed border on Tuesday, according to a Cambodian army official, after Cambodia's prime minister issued a noon ultimatum to Thailand.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pin says all Thai troops have retreated and are about half a mile (1 kilometer) from the contested territory.
Yim Pin told the Associated Press that the "tense situation has now eased."
Prime Minister Hun Sen's warning to withdraw troops from a disputed border area or face a "life-and-death battle zone "came amid rising tensions over a stretch of border near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. It has been a source of dispute between the two countries for decades.
Hun Sen accused Thai troops of advancing on a border area called Eagle Field near the temple in an attempt to occupy Cambodian land.
"They must withdraw," Hun Sen said. "I have set the timeline for them to withdraw by 12 o'clock." Noon in Cambodia is 0500 GMT.
"At any cost, we will not allow Thai troops to invade this area. I would like to be clear about this," Hun Sen said, adding that he had ordered Cambodia's army chiefs to "take full responsibility over this area. It is a life-and-death battle zone."
Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence."
"We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters as he headed into Tuesday's weekly Cabinet meeting. However, he added that he was not aware of Hun Sen's deadline, and it was unclear whether any Thai troop withdrawal would be completed ahead of the deadline.
Both countries have long claimed Preah Vihear, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962. However, sovereignty over some of the land around the temple has not been clearly resolved.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Both sides deployed troops to the border.
A brief gunfight broke out between the two sides early this month, with one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers wounded. Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border. Three days later, two Thai soldiers lost legs when they stepped on land mines in the area.
Hun Sen met Monday with Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat, but the meeting appeared to end without a resolution.
He said Monday, "We told them that if they do not stop (trespassing), armed clashes will break out."
There has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area since, and talks have been held several times to resolve the conflicting claims, but without much progress.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Cambodian ultimatum: PM meet military brass on border disputes



BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minster Somchai Wongsawat called the country's military brass to meet Monday afternoon to assess the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border disputes after bilateral talks between the two nation's foreign ministers failed to reach agreement.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw troops from the disputed border by noon.

Mr. Somchai said before the weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday morning that he had invited the military commanders to meet at 2.00 pm (1400 hours) to discuss how to ease the tension between the two neighbouring countries.

The prime minister said he had telephoned to keep in touch and discuss the issues with his Cambodian counterpart from time to time and he believed that the two countries could eventually find the best solution together.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat, who met his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong Monday morning in Phnom Penh for border talks, said the border disputes could be settled via bilateral mechanisms.

He advised that the two countries' leaders should discuss the issue.

Heated words were reported by Associated Press which quoted Mr. Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister as having issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw its troops from the disputed area by noon Tuesday or face a "life-and-death battle zone."

Mr. Hun Sen accused Thai troops of advancing on a border area called Eagle Field near the temple in an attempt to occupy Cambodian land, it said.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Cambodian border provinces were tense following the Khmer premier's warning.

Thai rangers were on high alert at the Ta Muen and Ta Kwai temples in the northeastern province of Surin bordering Cambodia after finding hundreds of Cambodian troops reinforcements in Banteay Ampil district of Oddar Meanchey province just 20 kms from the Ta Muen temple.

Cambodian military personnel were observed to be carrying heavy weapons.

Meanwhile, another unit of Khmer troops were approaching Ta Kwai Temple.

Thailand's Second Army Area Command affirmed that every step that the Thai military personnel had taken was in Thai territory, but as a precautionary measure, the army had ordered its personnel and civilian volunteers on alert, but there were no movements of forces.

At Si Sa Ket province, the army warned villagers along the border to be prepared for evacuation while the military units were preparing their arms.

The public was warned to avoid travel to the Phra Vihear vicinity for their safety.

In Chantaburi, Thai and Cambodian traders rushed to finish their business as they feared that the border pass may be closed if a clash occurs. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

redeployment not retreat was the way Caesar described his movements after getting a whopping in his Gallic Wars

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen seems to be in control of his army.