Thai Troops Enter Disputed Territory On Thai-cambodian Border

[sriracha john]

36 minutes ago from Associated Press

Thai Troops Enter Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian official says about 40 Thai troops have entered Cambodian territory as tension escalates over disputed land around an ancient temple.

Hang Soth, who heads an agency responsible for the monument, says the troops entered Cambodian territory Tuesday near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.

The claimed intrusion follows the arrest by Cambodia of three Thai citizens who crossed the frontier near the temple, which was recently awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.

Thailand, which had no immediate comment on the alleged incursion, claims some of the territory near Preah Vihear.

Hang Soth says that Cambodian troops have been ordered to be on alert but not to be the first to fire.

Edited September 14, 2008 by sabaijai

[sriracha john]

previously....

Cambodian soldiers detain three Thais for trespassing Preah Vihear Temple

Cambodian soldiers have arrested three Thais who climbed over a fence from the Thai side to the overlapping area at the entrance of Preah Vihear Temple.

Thai army failed so far to convince the Khmer side to free the three who were detained about 6.30am.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

followed by...

3 Thais freed by Cambodian soldiers

Three Thais detained by Cambodian soldiers Tuesday have been released.

The Thais were arrested after they climbed over a fence from the Thai side to the overlapping area at the entrance of Preah Vihear Temple.

- The Nation

[frodo]

followed by...

3 Thais freed by Cambodian soldiers

Three Thais detained by Cambodian soldiers Tuesday have been released.

The Thais were arrested after they climbed over a fence from the Thai side to the overlapping area at the entrance of Preah Vihear Temple.

- The Nation

Glad they're free, but they as well as the soldiers shouldn't be doing this much provoking. Cambodia has been cool about this, Thailand should do the same.

[sriracha john]

Cambodian soldiers arrest 3 Thais for trespassing Preah Vihear

Three Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Tuesday morning for trespassing Preah Vihear temple. Among the arrested is a monk. According to report from local television, the three went through barbed wire in an attempt to put a Thai flag on the disputed area. But Cambodian soldiers spotted and detained them. Thai authorities are trying to negotiate with Cambodia about

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128872

==============================================================================

Cambodia releases three Thai protestors at border

SI SAKET, July 15 (TNA) – Thailand's Si Sa Ket provincial governor said on Tuesday that Cambodia released three Thai protestors detained earlier in the day for illegally entering the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.

Governor Seni Chittakasem said Cambodian authorities released them unconditionally and the trio crossed the border into Thai side.

Earlier Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niampradit said Cambodian Defence Minister Tia Banh promised to instruct his subordinates to secure their release.

It was the first cross-border protest since Cambodia blocked access to Preah Vihear temple to visitors from Thailand last month after some Thai protestors attempted to march on the temple ruins.

The protestors made their way secretly through a barbed wire fence from the Thai side into the disputed zone at the entrance of Preah Vihear temple in an attempt to raise the Thai national flag over the disputed area.

The three were reportedly members of the Dharma Yatra, a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group and were identified as Wichan Thabson, Chanikar Kaonok, and Phra Kampong, who is a Buddhist monk.

Cambodian authorities earlier said the trio would be prosecuted for illegal entry.

The border province of Si Sa Ket has been tense since Cambodia's successful registration of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site this month.

[sriracha john]

Thai army enter Cambodia

About 40 Thai troops on Tuesday entered Cambodia in the latest flare-up of a territorial dispute over a 900-year-old Hindu temple, Cambodian officials at the border have told AFP.

The military deployment comes as three Thai protesters were detained by Cambodian soldiers early on Tuesday for illegally entering the temple site, which is closed to the public, a Thai provincial governor said.

The 11th-century Preah Vihear temple is at the centre of a long-running territorial dispute as the main compound lies inside Cambodia but the most accessible entrance to the site is at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.

"We are negotiating to secure their release through local officials," Seni Chitkasem, governor of the border province Si Sa Ket, told local television.

"They are being detained for interrogation and haven't yet made any demands," he said.

Cambodia sealed off the temple last month after about 100 Thai protesters attempted to march on the ruins on June 23.

One man, one woman and a Buddhist monk slipped through Cambodia's military fence Tuesday, vowing to reclaim the temple which the World Court handed over to Cambodia in a 1962 ruling.

The protesters are part of a group calling themselves Dharmayatra, which has been camped at the foot of Preah Vihear for the past few weeks.

The temple has provoked a political firestorm in Thailand, after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government agreed last month to support Cambodia's bid to win World Heritage status for the ruins.

A Thai court invalidated the agreement, and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama was forced to resign in the ensuing scandal. The parliamentary opposition is mulling impeachment motions against the entire cabinet.

Despite the controversy, last week the UN's cultural agency UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage status in recognition of its importance as an example of ancient Khmer architecture.

— AFP

[bangkokrick]

Cambodian soldiers arrest 3 Thais for trespassing Preah Vihear

Three Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Tuesday morning for trespassing Preah Vihear temple. Among the arrested is a monk. According to report from local television, the three went through barbed wire in an attempt to put a Thai flag on the disputed area. But Cambodian soldiers spotted and detained them. Thai authorities are trying to negotiate with Cambodia about

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128872

==============================================================================

Cambodia releases three Thai protestors at border

SI SAKET, July 15 (TNA) – Thailand's Si Sa Ket provincial governor said on Tuesday that Cambodia released three Thai protestors detained earlier in the day for illegally entering the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.

Governor Seni Chittakasem said Cambodian authorities released them unconditionally and the trio crossed the border into Thai side.

Earlier Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niampradit said Cambodian Defence Minister Tia Banh promised to instruct his subordinates to secure their release.

It was the first cross-border protest since Cambodia blocked access to Preah Vihear temple to visitors from Thailand last month after some Thai protestors attempted to march on the temple ruins.

The protestors made their way secretly through a barbed wire fence from the Thai side into the disputed zone at the entrance of Preah Vihear temple in an attempt to raise the Thai national flag over the disputed area.

The three were reportedly members of the Dharma Yatra, a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group and were identified as Wichan Thabson, Chanikar Kaonok, and Phra Kampong, who is a Buddhist monk.

Cambodian authorities earlier said the trio would be prosecuted for illegal entry.

The border province of Si Sa Ket has been tense since Cambodia's successful registration of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site this month.

According to the Thai tv news of aound 10 mins ago. One of the 3 Thais stood on a land mine about 4 Kilometers from the temple. He is recovering in hospital.

Cheers, Rick

[sriracha john]

Cambodia insists on filing charges against 3 members of the group who are protesting against the listing of Preah Vihear Temple. The 3 have have earlier been arrested by Cambodian soldiers for unlawful border crossing.

Three Thais have climbed over a fence from the Thai side to the overlapping area at the entrance of Preah Vihear Temple on Monday, before they were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.

Thai army officers have tried to convince the Khmer side to free all the arrested, but their request has not been met.

The three arrested Thais include a man, a woman and a Buddhist monk.

They are 65-year-old Vicharn Tabsorn, 45-year-old Chanikarn Kengnok, and Phra Kam Pong. They have reportedly tried to enter the Preah Vihear Temple, to meditate.

As of this morning, the Cambodian authorities still refused to release them despite continued pleas from the Thai side and insisted that all trespassers must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Cambodian law.

It is reported that the Thai army has stepped up the security along the borderline, especially around the Preah Vihear Temple, to make sure that no violent incident takes place when tension is still brewing.

- Thailand Outlook

[frodo]

Thai army enter Cambodia

The temple has provoked a political firestorm in Thailand, after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government agreed last month to support Cambodia's bid to win World Heritage status for the ruins.

— AFP

I cannot feel sorry for Thailand at all. They wanted this government and deserve what they get. Maybe, just maybe, they can look at this and begin voting with their minds instead of their selfish desires.

[sriracha john]

Ironically, just before the .... the government mouthpiece reported...

Tourism and Sports Minister says Preah Vihear issue will not affect tourism between Thailand and Cambodia

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat says the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site will not affect tourism between Thailand and Cambodia.

The minister says Thai people still carry different notions on the listing of the Preah Vihear temple although UNESCO has approved Cambodia’s bid to register the temple as World Heritage. The ministry will therefore educate Thai people about the history of Preah Vihear. The minister affirms the number of tourists between Thailand and Cambodia during the first six months of this year has not decreased but continuously increased comparing with the same period of last year.

- ThaiNews

[Samuian]

declare the whole area nomans land - fence it off and send un-troops in - it's nut's!

[hammered]

Ironically, just before the .... the government mouthpiece reported...

Tourism and Sports Minister says Preah Vihear issue will not affect tourism between Thailand and Cambodia

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat says the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site will not affect tourism between Thailand and Cambodia.

The minister says Thai people still carry different notions on the listing of the Preah Vihear temple although UNESCO has approved Cambodia’s bid to register the temple as World Heritage. The ministry will therefore educate Thai people about the history of Preah Vihear. The minister affirms the number of tourists between Thailand and Cambodia during the first six months of this year has not decreased but continuously increased comparing with the same period of last year.

- ThaiNews

Trying to convince Thai people that the temple is Cambodian may be a bit of a crazy idea right now. If any Thai news media actually reports the troops incursion it is more likely Thai people will be up cheering it on and demanding the temple is seized than them quietly accepting that it really is Cambodian property. imho

The incursion may well not be reported on Thai media if the government can keep it out.

[sriracha john]

Tensions rise on Thai-Cambodia border after arrests

Bangkok/Phnom Penh - Around 40 armed Thai border police crossed the Cambodian border into Preah Vihear temple after Cambodian authorities arrested three Thais, alarming tourists and sparking urgent talks between the two sides, authorities said Tuesday.

Hang Soth, Secretary-General of the government's Preah Vihear authority, said the armed group arrived after Cambodian soldiers had detained two Thai border guards and a Thai Buddhist monk.

He said the arrested trio had been warned first, but continued and were detained on suspicion of planning to demonstrate the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a UN World Heritage Site.

Cambodia was now preparing to repatriate them and they would be returned some time Tuesday, he said, but added that tensions had risen considerably after the armed border guards arrived in support.

State-run Thai TV PBS identified the three arrested as Phicharn Thapsorn, 35, Chanikarn Singnok, 64, and Buddhist Monk Khamphor.

"After the arrests, around 40 black uniformed Thai border guards with guns arrived at the temple and scared tourists with their weapons," Hang Soth said by telephone.

He said most of them had now returned to the Thai side of the border voluntarily. Cambodia has had riot police and military on standby at the temple since Thai protests began.

The arrested group had crossed in to Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, from the Thai Khantalak district in Si Sa Khet province on Monday, the TV station said.

Preah Vihear temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a World Heritage Site at a UNESCO meeting in Quebec earlier this month, despite Thai opposition to the listing.

The ancient Hindu temple, perched on a 525-metre-high cliff on the Dangrek Mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border, has been the source of a sovereignty dispute for decades.

An ownership spat between Cambodia and Thailand led to a suspension of diplomatic relations in 1958 and eventually ended up in The Hague for an international settlement in 1962. Cambodia won.

The temple reemerged as a source of bilateral tensions in 2006 when Cambodia first proposed listing the monument as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thailand objected, and succeeded in blocking the subscription attempt in 2006 and 2007 on the grounds that parts of the temple compound were still subject to a border dispute.

Cambodia redrew the Preah Vihear inscription map this year, excluding the disputed territory. It was approved by the World Heritage Committee on July 7.

The Thai government at first backed the proposal, but then withdrew support when the issue became a political hot potato.

Residents of Si Sa Khet province, about 400 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, have been protesting the listing since early July, prompting Cambodia to shut access to the temple from the Thai side of the border.

- Deutsche Presse Agentur

[cloudhopper]

What can happen when politicians whip up nationalist fervor.

LOS will not come out of this looking good in the eyes of the international community IMO.

[Los78]

Come on everyone.... A few border guards crossed over to the temple, probably to collect the 3 Thais who illigally went over. Very minor... Again media taking things out of proportion as they do with everything thesedays.......

[sriracha john]

Reporting from the other side of the hill...

Temple tensions

At least 30 Thai troops entered Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple Tuesday, officials said, following the arrest of three Thai protesters who had illegally crossed the Cambodian border in the latest flare-up over the disputed 11th-century Hindu monument.

The armed soldiers have chased Cambodian villagers away from the site, said Koy Chan Sophal, deputy chief of a detachment of special Heritage Police who were deployed to Preah Vihear last month as tensions over the temple rose.

"Right now we are ... like hostages of the Thai soldiers. But we are keeping silent and awaiting orders from our top officials," he told the Post.

"If the government tells us to arrest them, we will arrest them immediately," he added.

Hun Saravuth, deputy military police commander for Preah Vihear province, said the Thai soldiers had spread out in a forested area within the temple complex after occupying a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountainside underneath the temple.

"We do not know why they are here," he said.

Earlier in the day a group of more than 100 soldiers and angry Thai demonstrators massed at the international checkpoint located near the temple to demand the return of three Thais – a monk, a nun and a layperson – arrested for crossing the border.

The checkpoint was closed last month after a group of Thai demonstrators approached Preah Vihear, protesting Cambodia's claim to the temple.

Reinforcements from the Choam Skan district and border police have been rushed to the temple complex, said district Governor Kao Long, but Cambodian officials have vowed to remain calm.

"The Cambodian side is cool and patient," said Hang Soth, director of the National Preah Vihear Authority.

"The top levels of government are trying to resolve the situation. We do not want to fight," he added.

Preah Vihear temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7 despite a lingering dispute over ownership of the land surrounding the temple.

The designation sparked jubilant celebrations across Phnom Penh, culminating in an enormous fireworks display at Olympic Stadium Monday night that drew thousands of people.

But in Thailand, bruised nationalism remains unappeased, and the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is suffering from the fallout.

On July 10, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama stepped down after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had acted illegally in signing an agreement supporting Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site without the permission of parliament.

His move had been approved by Samak’s cabinet, which the court also decided had violated the Thai Constitution in acting without parliamentary consent, a verdict that observers said could lead to a major cabinet reshuffle.

Thai nationalists have vowed to continue protesting over the temple, with some groups saying they would storm Preah Vihear.

"If Thai protesters continue to enter Cambodian territory, we will arrest them and send them back," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphon.

"We would like Cambodia and Thailand to solve this diplomatically through their embassies," he told the Post on Tuesday.

- Phnom Penh Post

[funfun]

I wonder if this may lead to the renaming of shionokataskinville!

[hammered]

Reporting from the other side of the hill...

Temple tensions

At least 30 Thai troops entered Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple Tuesday, officials said, following the arrest of three Thai protesters who had illegally crossed the Cambodian border in the latest flare-up over the disputed 11th-century Hindu monument.

The armed soldiers have chased Cambodian villagers away from the site, said Koy Chan Sophal, deputy chief of a detachment of special Heritage Police who were deployed to Preah Vihear last month as tensions over the temple rose.

"Right now we are ... like hostages of the Thai soldiers. But we are keeping silent and awaiting orders from our top officials," he told the Post.

"If the government tells us to arrest them, we will arrest them immediately," he added.

Hun Saravuth, deputy military police commander for Preah Vihear province, said the Thai soldiers had spread out in a forested area within the temple complex after occupying a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountainside underneath the temple.

"We do not know why they are here," he said.

Earlier in the day a group of more than 100 soldiers and angry Thai demonstrators massed at the international checkpoint located near the temple to demand the return of three Thais – a monk, a nun and a layperson – arrested for crossing the border.

The checkpoint was closed last month after a group of Thai demonstrators approached Preah Vihear, protesting Cambodia's claim to the temple.

Reinforcements from the Choam Skan district and border police have been rushed to the temple complex, said district Governor Kao Long, but Cambodian officials have vowed to remain calm.

"The Cambodian side is cool and patient," said Hang Soth, director of the National Preah Vihear Authority.

"The top levels of government are trying to resolve the situation. We do not want to fight," he added.

Preah Vihear temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7 despite a lingering dispute over ownership of the land surrounding the temple.

The designation sparked jubilant celebrations across Phnom Penh, culminating in an enormous fireworks display at Olympic Stadium Monday night that drew thousands of people.

But in Thailand, bruised nationalism remains unappeased, and the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is suffering from the fallout.

On July 10, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama stepped down after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had acted illegally in signing an agreement supporting Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site without the permission of parliament.

His move had been approved by Samak’s cabinet, which the court also decided had violated the Thai Constitution in acting without parliamentary consent, a verdict that observers said could lead to a major cabinet reshuffle.

Thai nationalists have vowed to continue protesting over the temple, with some groups saying they would storm Preah Vihear.

"If Thai protesters continue to enter Cambodian territory, we will arrest them and send them back," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphon.

"We would like Cambodia and Thailand to solve this diplomatically through their embassies," he told the Post on Tuesday.

- Phnom Penh Post

The trouble is every time this issue comes up the Thai government is trusted less and less by its people on this issue, so solving it through diplomacy is not going to work. This issue is now on the frontline of the politcal divide in Thailand and it looks like escalation will continue. Lets hope it doesnt end in shooting but....

[Xangsamhua]

Come on everyone.... A few border guards crossed over to the temple, probably to collect the 3 Thais who illigally went over. Very minor... Again media taking things out of proportion as they do with everything thesedays.......

Someone ordered them to. On whose authority? Troops can't just wander onto foreign soil when they feel like it. It's quite a serious breach in law, even though the incident itself is very minor.

[Samuian]

"nice" try, move the public away from much more pressing issues...stir up nationalism combined with a pinch of patriotism.

This all about some still neatly arranged historic rubble..

[sriracha john]

"nice" try, move the public away from much more pressing issues...stir up nationalism combined with a pinch of patriotism.

This all about some still neatly arranged historic rubble..

don't look now but the SET has dropped like a hunk of granite off the side of a Bangkok skyscraper under construction by well over 3% just today on top of the nearly 2% yesterday.

10 Cabinet Ministers are going to be shuffled...

on and on the list can go...

Edited July 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[sjaak327]

Maybe these Thai Soldiers could advance toward Siem Reap, get that out of the way once and for all as well

[bangkokrick]

BBC news show a different angle. The Thai troops are on Thai soil not Cambodian, but i suppose that this is what it's all about anyway.

BBC Link

Cheers, Rick

[sriracha john]

Associated Press update:

Thai Maj. Gen. Kanok Netakawesana, an army field commander in the region, said in a telephone interview that the troops were on Thai soil close to the disputed area. He declined to give the number of soldiers deployed.

"We are not violating the territory of Cambodia. We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," Kanok said.

The alleged intrusion followed the arrest by Cambodia of three Thai citizens who crossed the border near the temple. The incident marked the first cross-border incursion by Thai protesters since Cambodia shut off access to the temple to visitors from Thailand late last month.

Hang Soth said the trio were released to Thai authorities Tuesday afternoon.

Thais mainly go to the temple as tourists, as do foreigners. However, Thais have claimed that the land around and beneath the temple belongs to them. They say the colonial French took the land from them when they redrew the map.

[A_Traveller]

Anyone else recall that there's general election in Cambodia on July 27 2008, which is another factor in this saga which is often ignored from this side of the fence.

Regards

[0Mix1up]

"nice" try, move the public away from much more pressing issues.

Its yet to seen if it was a try or a goal

Still its got legs so they will run with it

[sriracha john]

Whether or not Thai troops entered Cambodia at the disputed temple on the disputed border is being disputed...

Cambodian and Thai troops square up over disputed temple

Tensions over a disputed border temple escalated today after a Cambodian official claimed 40 troops from neighbouring Thailand had crossed the frontier.

A Thai army chief immediately denied any incursion, but said its soldiers had taken up positions near the 11th-century Hindu temple on Thailand's soil to protect its territory.

The Preah Vihear complex - long a source of bitter wrangling between the neighbours - was awarded world heritage site status by the UN's cultural organisation last week.

A Cambodian official claimed the troops entered the temple complex following the arrest of three Thai protesters who managed to sneak across the border.

Hang Soth, director general of the Cambodian authority responsible for the Preah Vihear complex, said the Thai troops had crossed the border near the temple site.

"Confrontation is occurring between Thai troops and our Cambodian troops," he said. "Our troops have been ordered to be on alert but not to shoot first."

He added that Cambodian guards had stopped the protesters - a Buddhist monk, another man and a woman - and were willing to hand them back immediately. Cambodia closed the temple to visitors from Thailand late last month.

The festering row over the site was reignited after the former Thai foreign minister Noppodol Pattama backed the Cambodian application for world heritage listing.

He was forced to step down after a Thai constitutional court ruled he had overstepped his authority by offering the government's backing without consulting parliament.

Anti-government protesters, who have been staging demonstrations in Bangkok for weeks, seized upon the dispute as yet another means to attack the People Power party coalition.

The protesters claimed the prime minister Samak Sundarvej's government had lent support to Phnom Penh's listing application in return for business concessions in Cambodia for the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia centres on land around the temple complex, which is situated on a cliff-top. Because of the difficult terrain, access for visitors is vastly easier from the Thai side.

Thai troops occupied the temple complex in 1954 after the withdrawal of French troops from Cambodia. Phnom Penh protested to the international court of justice in The Hague in 1959, prompting a severing of diplomatic relations and threats of force by both sides.

But in 1962 the international court ruled that the temple, whose Hindu roots echo the more famous Angkor complex, lay on Cambodian soil, to the anger of many Thais.

The fragile nature of relations between the neighbours was reflected in 2003 when anti-Thai riots erupted in Phnom Penh. Bangkok's embassy there was set on fire after a Thai actress was falsely reported to have said that Angkor Wat still belonged to Thailand.

- Guardian

[Payboy]

do you think a war in the gulf of siam will inflate the price of fish?

[sriracha john]

that Tourism and Sports guy is back again in the news...

Tourism and Sports Minister calls on media not to cover dispute over Preah Vihear

The Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat called on the media not to propagate news about the Preah Vihear Temple case because such news could exacerbate the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

- ThaiNews

==========================================================================

At least he's getting the appropriate end of chang...

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat

[hammered]

that Tourism and Sports guy is back again in the news...

Tourism and Sports Minister calls on media not to cover dispute over Preah Vihear

The Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat called on the media not to propagate news about the Preah Vihear Temple case because such news could exacerbate the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

- ThaiNews

==========================================================================

At least he's getting the appropriate end of chang...

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat

Tells news media not to report the news. An interesting concept and one that when practiced by a government is known as censorship. It will be interesting if in light of this call for censorship if the state run media will now not mention that temple any more.