Cambodian PM Warns Thai Border Spat May Bring Bloodshed

[webfact]

Cambodian PM warns Thai border spat may bring 'bloodshed'

PHNOM PENH (AFP) -- Cambodia's premier warned Monday that a border dispute with Thailand was "very hot" and could result in violence, reiterating his call for international assistance to end the row.

"Cambodia would like to ask for intervention to have an international conference on the issue of the Cambodian-Thai border dispute," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during a ceremony attended by foreign diplomats.

"The issue is very hot. It may cause bloodshed," he added.

He said bilateral efforts to resolve the conflict with Thailand would not work and called on the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other countries to help resolve the spat.

Tensions between the two nations over the disputed border have flared up following protests in Bangkok by the royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement over the issue.

Thai media quoted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as saying over the weekend that he was ready to use both diplomatic and military means to settle the dispute.

Thailand's opposition has accused the government of using the spat to fuel patriotism and boost its domestic political support.

Hun Sen wrote to the United Nations on Sunday accusing Thailand of violating UN rules by threatening to use military force against Cambodia.

Cambodia reserves its "legitimate rights to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in case of deliberate acts of aggression," Hun Sen wrote in the letter, which was distributed to the media.

Abhisit said Monday that the letter was based on incorrect information.

"Cambodia wants to give an image of Thailand as an intruder or using force, which is not true," he told reporters.

"We are Thais, whatever the problem we should talk."

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.

Troops from both countries exchanged fire briefly on their border in June, the latest in a series of clashes between the neighbours.

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

[geovalin]

Hun Sen is wise to request help from UN as it's IMPOSSIBLE to trust Abhisit.

Abhisit WANTS and NEEDS war to win the next polls.

It's obvious and he has NO CHOICE.

Anyway the Yellow gave him the order to provoke Cambodia, so, how he could refuse as he has the mandate to implement their policy in term of Foreign Affairs?

[Werfer]

There are troops on both sides of the disputed border watching each other every day.

Its just a matter of time before one soldier does something dumb.

There will be a moderate scale confrontation, just a matter of time.

Life can be cheap in these parts when it compares to property.

The value of face and land will out weight human cost with this and it will only escalate as the UN stalls.

[Just1Voice]

Abhist is a Minor League Player trying to play in the Major Leagues, and it shows. He clearly made the statement about "diplomatic or military" use, and Hun Sen had to jump for joy when he heard that. He immediately sends letters to the UN, pointing out the "aggressive nature" of Thailand, and in a further step to outsmart Oxford Boy, calls for help from the UN and ASEAN, and others, to help settle the border dispute, knowing full well that by doing so it makes Cambodia look like the good guy who is being bullied by Thailand. He knows that Thailand now has two choices. 1) Accept mediation and help from the UN and ASEAN to settle the dispute. 2) Refuse to do so.

He knows Thailand, PAD and Abhist, does NOT want the UN, ASEAN, or anyone else involved because of the fear that any rulings or decisions made by independent bodies will be in favor of Cambodia and against Thailand, thereby forcing Thailand to perhaps lose a few acres, but more importantly, lose a whole LOT of "face". He also knows that if Thailand refuses to accept involvement by the UN or ASEAN, it's going to make them look arrogant, aggressive, and stupid.

Abhist is like a carp swimming in a pool with a shark, and we all know what the outcome of that would be.

[lazygourmet]

Facts:

- Phreah Vihear surrounding map was traced by the French, who were at that epoch one of the founding member of UN ;

- Hun Sen is an ex-Khmer rouge who sold his soul to the Vietnamese ;

- Cambodia is a shi#t hole!

[Just1Voice]

Facts:

- Phreah Vihear surrounding map was traced by the French, who were at that epoch one of the founding member of UN ;

- True, but that was in 1904, and for the next 5+ decades, Thailand never disputed the map.

- Hun Sen is an ex-Khmer rouge who sold his soul to the Vietnamese ;

- Abhist sold his to PAD and the Military.

- Cambodia is a shi#t hole!

- Thailand is the "Sex Capitol" of the world, and has an increasing reputation for drug usage, transportation and distribution, and many of the vacation spots which used to be great are now filthy, over priced, over rated, and fall in that same "schit hole" category.

So what's your point?

Edited August 9, 2010 by Just1Voice

[philw]

Facts:

- Phreah Vihear surrounding map was traced by the French, who were at that epoch one of the founding member of UN ;

- True, but that was in 1904, and for the next 5+ decades, Thailand never disputed the map.

- Hun Sen is an ex-Khmer rouge who sold his soul to the Vietnamese ;

- Abhist sold his to PAD and the Military.

- Cambodia is a shi#t hole!

- Thailand is the "Sex Capitol" of the world, and has an increasing reputation for drug usage, transportation and distribution, and many of the vacation spots which used to be great are now filthy, over priced, over rated, and fall in that same "schit hole" category.

So what's your point?

Nice one, Just1Voice.

Good enough to be heard.

More seriously, I think this problem could quite easily escalate, that the right wing Thai Nationalists should not be underestimated and neither should their stupidity, and it could become a big mess.

It suits many to play the nationalist card at the moment.

[somtampet]

Facts:

- Phreah Vihear surrounding map was traced by the French, who were at that epoch one of the founding member of UN ;

- True, but that was in 1904, and for the next 5+ decades, Thailand never disputed the map.

- Hun Sen is an ex-Khmer rouge who sold his soul to the Vietnamese ;

- Abhist sold his to PAD and the Military.

- Cambodia is a shi#t hole!

- Thailand is the "Sex Capitol" of the world, and has an increasing reputation for drug usage, transportation and distribution, and many of the vacation spots which used to be great are now filthy, over priced, over rated, and fall in that same "schit hole" category.

So what's your point?

We all know that the PM will have to lick many yellows <deleted> to stay in a job

[chantorn]

Facts:

- Phreah Vihear surrounding map was traced by the French, who were at that epoch one of the founding member of UN ;

- True, but that was in 1904, and for the next 5+ decades, Thailand never disputed the map.

- Hun Sen is an ex-Khmer rouge who sold his soul to the Vietnamese ;

- Abhist sold his to PAD and the Military.

- Cambodia is a shi#t hole!

- Thailand is the "Sex Capitol" of the world, and has an increasing reputation for drug usage, transportation and distribution, and many of the vacation spots which used to be great are now filthy, over priced, over rated, and fall in that same "schit hole" category.

So what's your point?

We all know that the PM will have to lick many yellows <deleted> to stay in a job

I do not like your attitude, BUT I love your comment.

[webfact]

Temple row is hot, Hun Sen complains

By The Nation, Agencies

Accuses Thailand of military threat; Abhisit says he was misquoted, situation calm

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned yesterday that the border issue was "very hot" and could result in violence, reiterating his call for international assistance.

"Cambodia would like to ask for intervention to have an international conference on the issue of the Cambodian-Thai border dispute," Hun Sen said at a ceremony attended by foreign diplomats. "The issue is very hot. It may cause bloodshed."

He said bilateral efforts to resolve the conflict would not work and called on the United Nations, Asean and other countries to help resolve the spat.

Tensions between the two nations flared after the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started protesting again over the Preah Vihear temple row, and Thai media quoted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva saying over the weekend that he was ready to use both diplomatic and military means to settle the dispute.

Hun Sen wrote to the United Nations on Sunday accusing Thailand of violating UN rules by allegedly threatening to use military force against its neighbour.

Cambodia reserved a "legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in case of deliberate acts of aggression", he said.

However, Abhisit said yesterday that the letter was based on incorrect information.

"Cambodia wants to give an image of Thailand as an intruder or using force, which is not true," he told reporters. "We are Thais, whatever the problem we should talk."

Abhisit also said that the Foreign Ministry would write a letter to the UN clarifying the dispute and explaining that Hun Sen's allegations were based on wrong information.

"He [Hun Sen] uses the world 'if' and quotes a sentence from a newspaper report, which are not my exact words," Abhisit said.

On Sunday, Hun Sen sent letters addressed to UN Security Council president Vitaly Churkin and UN General Assembly president Ali Abdussalam Treki quoting Abhisit as telling the PAD that Thailand would cancel the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and resort to both diplomatic and military means to resolve the issue.

The PAD has called on the government to revoke the MoU signed over the boundary demarcation because it believes the pact allows Cambodia to claim Thai territory. However, Abhisit insisted that the MoU had been signed by the Democrat-led government under Chuan Leekpai and was useful to prevent territorial encroachment.

According to the PAD, the MoU recognises a French map that was used by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) when it ruled in 1962 in favour of Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple.

In his letters to UN, Hun Sen referred to the ICJ ruling, saying that the border temple was located on territory that was under the sovereignty of Cambodia, and that Thailand was obligated to withdraw its troops and police from the area.

Hun Sen accused Thailand of violating the ICJ's ruling as it maintains troops at Keo Sikkhakiri Svara pagoda, which is 300 metres from the Preah Vihear complex.

Abhisit, meanwhile, said Hun Sen was trying to paint a bad image of Thailand, making it look like an aggressive country.

"On the contrary, what I always say is that we will only use force

for self-defence and protect

ourselves from foreign invasion,"

he said. "We will explain our stance to the international community."

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thailand did not need to worry about Hun Sen's letters to the UN because he had already spoken to Cambodian authorities and that both countries were willing to live in peace.

Former deputy foreign minister and current Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who put his signature to the 2000 MoU, said the pact never allowed Cambodia to take Thai territory and had never created any problems earlier. "I don't see anything wrong with it. The MoU was enforced by six governments over the past decade."

-- The Nation 2010-08-10

[Siripon]

I 1962 the World Court stated the temple Phra Wiharn belonged to Cambodia. It did not pass judgement on the land surrounding the temple.

Thailand offered to jointly administer the surrounding land with Cambodia.

Cambodia refused.

[zzaa09]

There are troops on both sides of the disputed border watching each other every day.

Its just a matter of time before one soldier does something dumb.

There will be a moderate scale confrontation, just a matter of time.

Over the last couple of years, they've had a few little scuffles here and there.....some casualties, mostly wounded egos. Living only some 50 kilometres from the hot spots, we've become accustomed to the HUEYS in formation in transit from Korat RTAFB. The build-up has been stagnant and clearly rhetorical, allowing the politicians to debate amongst themselves. Most consider this a non-issue and quite moot, as real history will lead us to....

[Insight]

Internet lobbying will destroy the credibility of opinions expressed online, if it hasn't already.

[hammered]

In the meantime Hun Sen with a bit of help from Abhisit gets all the Cambodians looking towards Thailand and away from the actual encroachment Vietnam has made into Cambodia on the other border.

The little bit of info that rarely gets mentioned in Thai analysis.

[samran]

In the meantime Hun Sen with a bit of help from Abhisit gets all the Cambodians looking towards Thailand and away from the actual encroachment Vietnam has made into Cambodia on the other border.

The little bit of info that rarely gets mentioned in Thai analysis.

It is all public posturing. Little birdies are telling me that both sides are in negotiations at the moment.

[samran]

In the meantime Hun Sen with a bit of help from Abhisit gets all the Cambodians looking towards Thailand and away from the actual encroachment Vietnam has made into Cambodia on the other border.

The little bit of info that rarely gets mentioned in Thai analysis.

It is all public posturing. Little birdies are telling me that both sides are in negotiations at the moment.

[Zolt]

OK, this whole temple business is boring me to tears. The discussion is not even about the temple itself - it's already been settled that it belongs to Cambodia. It's about a minuscule strip of land on the Thai side of it.

Well, if you are that interested in that stupid piece of mud, go to war over it already! Honestly, everybody will be happy about it on both sides, and it will distract the populace from the endless red/yellow bickering. Nothing better than a crusade against the despised neighbour to unify a country. War and forceful occupation are the only way any serious territorial dispute has ever been settled. All the World Court ever does is to ratify a de facto situation, or occasionally call on some bigger cat to send troops. Of course that last option only applies if there's oil to be found.

I you're not ready to spend billions of dollars, tens of thousand of lives, ruin your economy, trade, and tourism over some stinking piece of mud with no value whatsoever, then *please* just drop the matter and let it die.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Zolt

[Oberkommando]

In the meantime Hun Sen with a bit of help from Abhisit gets all the Cambodians looking towards Thailand and away from the actual encroachment Vietnam has made into Cambodia on the other border.

The little bit of info that rarely gets mentioned in Thai analysis.

The Vietnamese-Cambodian border is in the process of being demarcated.

Remember also Vietnam is pouring in billions to Cambodia.

Ironically enough, they are using the French drawn maps to demarcate.

But your allegations that Hun Sen is using Preah Vihear to steer attention away from other borders is ridiculous as there simply wasn't a problem before the fascist nationalists in the PAD took control.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Oberkommando

[Oberkommando]

In addition, the disputed land was to be ceded to Thailand by Cambodia if Thailand accepted the UNESCO decision to make the temple a Cambodian World Heritage site.

Thailand initially agreed under the Samak adminstration but the PAD refused thus the agreement was not honoured and the land remains disputed.

The PAD and the Democrats want both the temple and the land.

[march]

In a NIDA poll on Tuesday covering all regions of the country, nearly 70 per cent (69.55%) of people polled agreed that the government should push Cambodians out of the overlapping area near Preah Vihear temple as it is Thai territory.

21.62% of them disagreed with the majority, saying it would create more conflict between the two countries which could escalate to a war, while 8.83% were unsure.

Edited August 10, 2010 by march

[Oberkommando]

The sad thing is they are not even aware that Thailand, or even Siam did not exist when this temple was built. In fact, none of the Siamese empires of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya or Thonburi existed until several centuries later.

[BSJ]

I haven't been there yet. But from what people say it's not worth starting a war over. Peace is the only option!

[Just1Voice]

The sad thing is they are not even aware that Thailand, or even Siam did not exist when this temple was built. In fact, none of the Siamese empires of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya or Thonburi existed until several centuries later.

Very true, but would you believe there are some Thai who actually believe that it was built by Thai? I kid you not, there really are.

[whybother]

The sad thing is they are not even aware that Thailand, or even Siam did not exist when this temple was built. In fact, none of the Siamese empires of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya or Thonburi existed until several centuries later.

Very true, but would you believe there are some Thai who actually believe that it was built by Thai? I kid you not, there really are.

The Thais didn't build it. The Cambodians didn't build it. The Khmers built it. They Khmers once ruled most of Thailand and also parts of Malaysia and Vietnam. But they don't now. So, which point in time do you want to use to rule on the regions boundaries?

Given that a lot of the Thais in the area are of Khmer ancestry, it is quite possible it was built by their ancestors. So that would make it as much Thai as Cambodian.

[SamritT]

PAD said that the temple Phra Wiharn belonged to Cambodia, BUT the land that the temple sit belongs to Thailand (from the water line). Hence the problem started.

[rubl]

In addition, the disputed land was to be ceded to Thailand by Cambodia if Thailand accepted the UNESCO decision to make the temple a Cambodian World Heritage site.

Thailand initially agreed under the Samak adminstration but the PAD refused thus the agreement was not honoured and the land remains disputed.

The PAD and the Democrats want both the temple and the land.

I'm not sure the Democrats want both temple and land. It's the PAD and anyone who they manage to raise for this 'just' cause. There was a time this was a popular game in Europe.

[Werfer]

I you're not ready to spend billions of dollars, tens of thousand of lives, ruin your economy, trade, and tourism over some stinking piece of mud with no value whatsoever, then *please* just drop the matter and let it die.

Do you think any western nation would just let it die if a neighboring country claimed a few of their acres?

If you let that happen then you would have to be prepared to concede more in the future.

[SamritT]

What should we do with Angkor Wat?

[hammered]

In the meantime Hun Sen with a bit of help from Abhisit gets all the Cambodians looking towards Thailand and away from the actual encroachment Vietnam has made into Cambodia on the other border.

The little bit of info that rarely gets mentioned in Thai analysis.

The Vietnamese-Cambodian border is in the process of being demarcated.

Remember also Vietnam is pouring in billions to Cambodia.

Ironically enough, they are using the French drawn maps to demarcate.

But your allegations that Hun Sen is using Preah Vihear to steer attention away from other borders is ridiculous as there simply wasn't a problem before the fascist nationalists in the PAD took control.

I would suggest you do a little research on the other border

[dumball]

What should we do with Angkor Wat?

I think as a Thai , you are not able to do much more than visit the spectacular site , much the same as Preaha Vehear .