Foreign Driver Crashes Car into Motorbike and Minivan in Patong

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Thailand, Cambodia agree on border cooperation
By English News



RAYONG, May 17 -- Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in fighting cross-border crime and illegal activities including illegal logging and drug trafficking.

Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat, Thai defence minister, told reporters after the 9th Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) meeting that the discussion focused on cooperation to strengthen peace and security along the border through jointly combating cross-border crimes.

The two-day meeting in Thailand's eastern province of Rayong, was co-chaired by ACM Sukumpol and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Tea Banh.

The two countries also agreed on a plan for joint landmine clearing operations in the International Court of Justice (ICJ)-defined Provisional Demilitarised Zone surrounding Cambodia's Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) Temple which was expected to begin in June, according to the Thai minister.

Gen Tea Banh said Thailand and Cambodia have enjoyed good relations and he assured that there would be no military confrontation between the two countries.

He said any redeployment of the Cambodian military at the border would be carried out at a suitable time and Thailand would be informed of the movement, in particular any military exercise.

Thailand and Cambodia have long disputed the Hindu temple. In 1962, the ICJ ruled that the temple ruins came under the sovereignty of Cambodia and ordered Thailand to withdraw its troops from the temple and its vicinity.

After 50 years, Cambodia is now asking the World Court to interpret its ruling, saying the vicinity of the temple should match the pre-existing boundary in accordance with the French-made "Annex I Map."

The two countries delivered their week-long oral statements on the dispute to the ICJ in the Hague, the Netherlands in April and the court was expected to give its ruling later this year. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-17

[tingtongfarang]

Would i be right in thinking that for both governments an end to this temple dispute would be a disadvantage?

[Pib]

I'm glad to see they agree for the umpteenth time over something they had previously disagreed on for umpteenth times. Final result: status quo.

[waza]

This will upset the "Thai Patriot Network".

[espinoza]

Are Thai Patriot Network really ready for war against Cambodia over a piece of land not bigger than an average European farm ? It`s a Hindu temple, nothing to do with Buddhism. Buddhism means you are not making war ! Some Thais act to much nationalistic for a modern world.

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UPDATE:
Thailand, Cambodia agree to strengthen bilateral ties
The Nation


Thai Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, right, and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh, attend a General Border Committee meeting at a golf resort in Rayong.

RAYONG: -- Thailand and Cambodia yesterday agreed to strengthen cooperation and solve any border conflicts with mutual trust.

Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat met his Cambodian counterpart General Tea Banh at a General Border Committee (GBC) meeting at a golf resort in Rayong province.

After the meeting, Sukampol told the press that both countries had agreed to boost cooperation in suppressing drug smuggling, illegal logging, cross-border crimes and maritime safety.

They reiterated that law enforcement would be based on basic human rights.

The meeting also endorsed a proposal to strengthen mutual trust in respect of news dissemination, emphasising the importance of constructive and correct information and news.

Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in a series of border conflicts in recent years.

Relations appeared tense after Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice to consider a trial against Thailand over the Preah Vihear Temple.

At the press conference, Tea Banh said that border security is a sensitive issue and mutual cooperation is needed to solve the problem.

Sukampol added that both countries have to live together, and the best way for this would be to open communication channels.


-- The Nation 2013-05-18

[ABCer]

Let us hope that Peace will follow soon enough.

From a wider perspective who collects the tourist fees is not important as long as they don't bomb the ruins of this Temple.

[bigbamboo]

I'd be tempted to wait to see who wis the ICJ ruling first.

"It's your land now, you clear the f***ing mines!"

[Markaew]

"They reiterated that law enforcement would be based on basic human rights."

Does Thailand even understand what this means? I suppose it's good rhetoric for the UN.

[Markaew]

Is Cambodia the only country that want to "strengthen ties"? From the sound of it you would think Thailand only borders Cambodia. No other bordering country seems to care.

[waza]

"They reiterated that law enforcement would be based on basic human rights."

Does Thailand even understand what this means? I suppose it's good rhetoric for the UN.

"The United Nations is not my father," Thaksin said.

[waza]

Is Cambodia the only country that want to "strengthen ties"? From the sound of it you would think Thailand only borders Cambodia. No other bordering country seems to care.

Cambodia has special status with the Thaksin/ Yingluck government, despit Thaksin working for Hun Sen and the union of his daughter and Hun Sen's niece there are other issues that unite the two criminals leaders.

In early 2006 Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra concluded a secret oil deal to personally share "under the table" a portion of royalties to be paid by oil exploitation companies. Those companies had been exploring very promising offshore oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Thailand, including in the overlapping zones claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.

Edited May 18, 2013 by waza