Thailand Has Troops Inside Cambodian Territory: Hun Sen

[webfact]

Phnom Penh seeks UN help

By The Nation, kyodo

Hun Sen: Thailand has troops inside Cambodian territory and is threatening to use force in violation of UN Charter; PM tells PAD in TV debate that MoU has nothing to do with 4.6 sq km of Thai territory around Preah Vihear

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday denied that the 2000 agreement with Cambodia on the Preah Vihear Temple had compromised territorial integrity, as Phnom Penh brought the simmering conflict to the United Nations' attention.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent letters yesterday to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and Security Council to decry claims that Thailand is ready to abrogate rulings on the border between the two countries.

In his letter to the United Nations, Hun Sen reiterated the border dispute had been ruled on in Cambodia's favour by the world court in 1962 and by other bodies on occasions since 1904.

"In violating the judgement of the International Court of Justice, Thailand currently maintains its soldiers in the Keo Sikkhakiri Svara pagoda of Cambodia, situated only about 300 metres from the Temple of Preah Vihear, well inside Cambodian territory," Hun Sen wrote.

By threatening to use military force, Thailand "flagrantly violates" the UN Charter, he added.

Promising to avoid force on the Cambodian side, Hun Sen asked General Assembly Presi-dent Ali Abdussalam Treki and Security Council President Vitaly Churkin to circulate the letter to all UN members "for information" on the border dispute.

In Bangkok, Abhisit said the 2000 agreement had nothing to do with the 4.6-square-kilometre area claimed by Thailand even though the heritage site was lost under the World Court ruling of 1962.

"The temple's surrounding area is definitely in Thailand and not classified as an overlapping zone as commonly understood," he said.

Following three hours of debate on national television, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said Abhisit's explanation helped it gain a better understanding of the situation although it did not completely agree with the government on all the contentious issues related to the temple.

But critics saw the debate as a stage to bash Samak Sundara-vej's administration without any fresh information forthcoming that could help break the border impasse over the temple.

The government's team included Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti and secretary to the foreign minister Chavanont Intarakomalyasut.

The PAD was represented by its spokesman, Panthep Puapongpan, history lecturer Thepmontri Limpaphayom, and retired diplomat and legal counsel Sompong Sujaritkul.

The roundtable took place amid concerns the 2000 memorandum of understanding might end up causing Thailand to surrender terrain and that Suwit might have made a wrong decision at the recent World Heritage Committee meeting in Brasilia.

Thailand's position

Abhisit started off by outlining Thailand's position on the temple. Although the Sarit Thanarat government had conditionally accepted the World Court decision in favour of Cambodian sovereignty over the temple, the Thai side had never wavered in its assertion of rights of possession over the temple's surrounding area, he said.

The temple verdict neither addressed any border issues nor validated the French-drawn, 1:200,000-scale map that Cambodia has been using as its official reference, he said.

The present government has consistently claimed sovereignty over the temple's surrounding area, he said, while pledging to safeguard territorial integrity.

"The 2000 MoU has no provisions that can be construed as conceding to the Cambodian map. Its design is for handling border problems and any hasty cancellation might pave the way for future compromise risking Thai sovereignty," he said.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya was consulting with the military before choosing the best means to protect Thai interests over the temple's surrounding area, he said.

"I deem it inappropriate to discuss the options in public and should the use of force be unavoidable, it would be the last option," he said in reference to the PAD's call to repel the Cambodians settling in the area.

The government was working hard to dispel a misunderstanding by the Cambodian government, he said.

Among the PAD's key concerns was the map used by Cambodia, Sompong said. It did not comply with using the watershed for border demarcation, as directed by the Franco-Thai Treaty of 1904, as amended in 1907.

Panthep and Thepmontri argued that the country had already forfeited about 50 rai of land, which Cambodia included as part of the temple's grounds when it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Suwit said the government twice protested the decision related to the temple listing, making it clear Thailand did not condone the listing of the temple as a World Heritage Site, which has put Thai territorial integrity at risk.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

[webfact]

Cambodia warns UN of Thai 'threat' in border spat

PHNOM PENH (AFP) -- Cambodia wrote to the United Nations on Sunday in an escalating war of words over a border spat with Thailand, saying it was ready to defend its territory.

Prime Minister Hun Sen accused neighbouring Thailand of threatening to use its armed forces to settle the dispute.

Hun Sen said statements by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva when he addressed royalist "Yellow Shirt" protesters in Bangkok on Saturday was "a clear threat to use military force" to settle the border problem.

The letter to the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Security Council, which was also sent to the media, said the speech was "seriously threatening to use military forces against Cambodia" and therefore in violation of UN rules.

The Cambodian premier reaffirmed his country's "constant policy" not to use military means to settle disputes with its neighbours.

"Cambodia, nonetheless, reserves its legitimate rights to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in case of deliberate acts of aggression," the letter added.

Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in a troop standoff at their disputed border since July 2008, when the ancient Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

Thai nationalist groups have criticised the governing Democrat party for signing up to a 2000 deal with Cambodia that they believe paved the way for recognition of its land claim.

The Yellows have demanded Thailand tear up the memorandum of understanding, eject Cambodian citizens from the disputed 4.6 square kilometre (1.8 square mile) area, and try to regain control of the temple.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-08-09

[jayjayjayjay]

Get out of my sand box!! No, you get out of mine....... I tell my mummy off on you. Goway! (throws sand at him)

Like bloody kids! Asian politics, gotta love it!

[SamritT]

This is beginning to be interesting. Suddenly there is more than 1 country in this world (other than us) that their people also love their country. Surprising?

[RedNIvar]

This is beginning to be interesting. Suddenly there is more than 1 country in this world (other than us) that their people also love their country. Surprising?

Surprising that you're finally opening your eyes to see that there is more than one country in the world.

[rubl]

This is beginning to be interesting. Suddenly there is more than 1 country in this world (other than us) that their people also love their country. Surprising?

Interesting? Only sad that this nationalistic attitude is likely to get people killed again.

Also interesting the first paragraph in the OP where PM Hun Sen says "Thailand has troops inside Cambodian territory" and nowhere else in the OP or following posts this is substantiated. Saber rattling, position building, sympathy gathering and both sides doing the same. Nothing new under the sun.

[tominbkk]

This is beginning to be interesting. Suddenly there is more than 1 country in this world (other than us) that their people also love their country. Surprising?

What's surprising is that you remember to breathe.

[Eurod]

Get out of my sand box!! No, you get out of mine....... I tell my mummy off on you. Goway! (throws sand at him)

Like bloody kids! Asian politics, gotta love it!

What is all this muscle flexing about ? The Thai govt slaps a few whakko old ladys and farmers in red shirts , and now thinks it can do a George Bush .. I love the way that these articles are surrounded with adverts shouting " Buy or build a house in Thailand" or "Cheap flights to ... "

Are they havin a laugh ? Thailand , one of the mose corrupt, and unstable countries in Earth at the moment.. Myanmar seems more appealing ( almost !)

[chantorn]

"Thailand Has Troops Inside Cambodian Territory"?

Please rephrase to "Thailand Has Troops Inside Thailand Territory"

[tominbkk]

"Thailand Has Troops Inside Cambodian Territory"?

Please rephrase to "Thailand Has Troops Inside Thailand Territory"

Depends on whose map you are looking at, my sweet precious girl.

[hammered]

These things usually go:

1. row over some border area between Cambodia and Thailand

2. Both sides military moves around on the border a little

3. a small exchange of gunfire or someone sets off a mine

4. Maybe a few troops seized and then returend by one side or the other

5. Thailand flies an F-16 through the area

6. Everything calms down

7. While this is all happening the Vietnamese move the border posts a little further into Cambodia

8. While this is all happening the PAD rattle their sabres so nobody forgets them and how they love their country.

9. While all this is happening the red shirts and PTP stay relatively quiet on the subject as getting caught supporting a country the locals dont like much doesnt have any poltical mileage

10. While all this is happening Hun Sen gets to intimidate the local opposition party a bit more than usual

Edited August 11, 2010 by hammered

[stevecm]

This is beginning to be interesting. Suddenly there is more than 1 country in this world (other than us) that their people also love their country. Surprising?

What's surprising is that you remember to breathe.

laughs with tominbkk, time to clean the coffee off the computer screen. Couldn't have said it better. :jap:

[chrisinbangkok]

Get out of my sand box!! No, you get out of mine....... I tell my mummy off on you. Goway! (throws sand at him)

Like bloody kids! Asian politics, gotta love it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-off_at_the_Fords_of_Arkaig

arnt we all!!!