Cambodia urges UN to deploy security forces to avoid border clashes

Cambodia urges UN to deploy security forces to avoid border clashes

2011-02-07 21:54:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BNO NEWS) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday called on the United Nations to deploy peacekeepers to avoid further clashes in the Thai border, the Phnom Penh Post reported.

PM Sen added that his government requested the United Nations Security Council to deploy peacekeeping forces in a buffer zone at the disputed border area to end clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops.

The border clashes continued for the fourth consecutive day in the region near the Preah Vihear temple on Monday. Sen added that a peace negotiation between the two countries was nearly impossible at the current time.

The Cambodian Prime Minister also called on his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva to allow the UN Security Council to intervene in the serious military clashes which began last Friday.

However, Thai PM Vejjajiva said that no international intervention is necessary to solve the border demarcation issue, as the Joint Border Commission already proves an efficient framework for negotiations.

On Saturday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed on a ceasefire both the fighting resumed on Sunday. According to Thai media, clashes broke out after bullets were fired from the Cambodian side and Thai soldiers retaliated with artillery.

One Thai soldier, one civilian and at least three Cambodians were reportedly killed Friday and Saturday in exchanges of small arms and artillery fire along the border between Thailand's Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.

The fire exchange have already caused severe damage to Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple which was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. For a long time, Thailand and Cambodia have been fighting over territory near the 11th-century temple.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-07