Cambodia Will Re-Deploy, Not Withdraw Troops From Preah Vihear: Sukumpol

[webfact]

WORLD COURT'S ORDER

Cambodia will re-deploy, not withdraw troops from Preah Vihear: Sukumpol

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Gen Sukumpol Suvannathat on Friday asserted that Cambodia would just re-deploy not withdraw its troops near Preah Vihear Temple on July 18.

Defence Minister Gen Sukumpol Suvannathat on Friday asserted that Cambodia would just re-deploy not withdraw its troops near Preah Vihear Temple on July 18.

The minister was responding to news reports of Cambodia announcing that it would withdraw its troops near the Hindu-style border temple to comply with the World Court's last-year ruling to make the area a military-free zone.

"I believe that what Cambodia will do is to re-deploy and not withdraw the troops surrounding Preah Vihear Temple. Thailand will do the same," he said.

Cambodia announced Friday it will withdraw its military personnel from the area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple on July 18 in compliance with the World Court's order.

"We will withdraw some 486 troops from the PDZ (Provisional Demilitarized Zone) next week to abide by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order," Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong said in a press conference Friday.

He said the pullout is a sign to show the world that Cambodia is willing to comply with World Court's order.

On July 18 last year, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand to withdraw their military personnel from the 17.3 square kilometre PDZ and refrain from any armed activity directed at that zone.

-- The Nation 2012-07-13

[Genericnic]

It is unfortunate that two Buddhist countries have forgotten what Buddha taught. Attachment (in this case, to Preah Vihear Temple) the cause of suffering.

[TomTao]

I have trouble understanding why both Thailand and Cambodia cannot reach a compromise, the site is obviously religiously significant to both sides, why not call it neutral ground and leave it in the hands of buddhist monks from both sides of the border?

[sunshine51]

FWIW...The Thai's and Khmers (Cambodians) have been enemies ever since time began.

Today's border has been redrawn many times since then too. Siem Reip means Victory

Over Siam...some old feelings die hard out here.

Yes...in today's world the border dispute seems nonsensical. Then again there's a lotta

history; on both sides at stake if ever there's an agreement reached.

[Nisa]

I am confused how they are going to redeploy and not withdraw troops. Are they going to redeploy the troops 2 meters to their left?

[apetley]

I am confused how they are going to redeploy and not withdraw troops. Are they going to redeploy the troops 2 meters to their left?

It's a face thing. Redeploy sounds much better than withdraw especially when the military is involved.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[sunshine51]

I am confused how they are going to redeploy and not withdraw troops. Are they going to redeploy the troops 2 meters to their left?

Nisa....

Two steps backwards...three steps to the right....one step forward and then find the deuce

to take em to a new location perhaps 5 kilometers away in any direction.

[ice1318]

It beggars belief that the government is trying to spin this as if Thailand somehow holds the moral high ground.

Paying too much attention to the parties bickering seems to have overlooked why the ICJ hasn't as yet (15 months on) been

able to give the Interpretation requested by Cambodia.

[Thai at Heart]

I saw the convoys of army equipment moving today. Fortunately they were going away from bangkok and heading towards ubon.

A lot of gear.

[PoodMaiDai]

It is unfortunate that two Buddhist countries have forgotten what Buddha taught. Attachment (in this case, to Preah Vihear Temple) the cause of suffering.

Amen.

You don't see a lot of true Buddhist practices here, even though they all claim to be Buddhist. Simply making merit every chance you get and tooting your horn as you pass a spirit house doesn't make you Buddhist.

[redroo]

The thai army would wind cambodia on the first day of conflict...

[webfact]

Military changes around Preah Vihear

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Cambodia will be making changes to their military presence around the Preah Vihear Temple.

"The adjustments will start on Wednesday," Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Bahn said yesterday, after emerging from an hour-long meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra and Thai Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat.

According to Sukampol, the armed forces would be given freedom to decide what the adjustments on the Thai side should be.

"We are trying to avoid any clash [along the border]," he said.

Yingluck added that Thai-Cambodian ties were improving and that Thailand had already opened border checkpoints at Ubon Ratchathani and Sa Kaew.

"We have also discussed rail and road linkages," Hun Sen said.

Separately, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong told the press yesterday: "We will withdraw some 486 troops from the PDZ [Provisional Demilitarised Zone] next week to abide by the International Court of Justice [iCJ] order."

On July 18 last year, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand to withdraw military personnel from the 17.3 square kilometre PDZ and refrain from any armed activity at that zone.

He said this pullout is a sign to show the world that Cambodia is willing to comply with the World Court's order.

-- The Nation 2012-07-14

[SouthernMan3]

It is unfortunate that two Buddhist countries have forgotten what Buddha taught. Attachment (in this case, to Preah Vihear Temple) the cause of suffering.

Eloquently stated.

[SouthernMan3]

It is unfortunate that two Buddhist countries have forgotten what Buddha taught. Attachment (in this case, to Preah Vihear Temple) the cause of suffering.

Amen.

You don't see a lot of true Buddhist practices here, even though they all claim to be Buddhist. Simply making merit every chance you get and tooting your horn as you pass a spirit house doesn't make you Buddhist.

Here meaning where ?

Where I live it is not the way that you are saying.......

[Tchooptip]

It is unfortunate that two Buddhist countries have forgotten what Buddha taught. Attachment (in this case, to Preah Vihear Temple) the cause of suffering.

I was about to write exactly the same!

[cdnski12]

We ferangs forget how much animosity has existed between Thais & & Cambodians for 1000 years. The course of History favored one nation over the other many times. Both sides are very sensitive to the border issues. It will probably carry on for another thousand years. History relentlessly marches on ... always overshadowed by the rapacious northern behemoth, squatting over it's southern border ... contemplating when it will be useful to simply march south and take over these Aesean Countries. Exceptt those pesky Vietnamese put up a strong show in 1979 ... I digress ...

[ratcatcher]

I have trouble understanding why both Thailand and Cambodia cannot reach a compromise, the site is obviously religiously significant to both sides, why not call it neutral ground and leave it in the hands of buddhist monks from both sides of the border?

That would make sense though.

[Nigel1500]

I've been to Preah Vihear Temple. It's a ruin. A pile of rubble with a few walls standing, a couple of covered colonades, and a really really long stair that takes about 20 minutes to climb. Longer if you're no good with the heat. You can't live there or shelter there without a substantial reconstruction. The Cambodian villagers who live in the makeshift town beside the temple are as poor as church mice. They don't even have land to farm. You can read about the history on Wiki, but if you go to visit you'll be given a brochure in English that alleges how the Khmer tortured and killed two Americans at the site some 20-30 years ago and how the Thai sholdiers massacred hundreds of innocent Cambodians at the site. Then, when you look around at the place you'll wonder why.

Frankly, as much as I love Thailand and Thai people I think Preah Vihear Temple is a black mark in their book of humanitarian deeds. They should walk away and leave the place to the Cambodians.