PHNOM PENH, March 25 (Reuters) – Thai and Cambodian soldiers faced each other near a 900-year-old Hindu temple on their disputed border on Wednesday, but both sides pledged to avoid a repeat of last year’s armed clashes. Tensions rose when 100 Thai troops crossed into a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple and were stopped by Cambodian soldiers, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said. “We are trying to push the Thais back to their border through negotiation. We do not want violence again,” he said, referring to a firefight that killed 4 soldiers last October.
If Hun Sen’s government really doesn´t want the voilence, the act of Thai repeated invasion on Cambodian soveriegnty must have been sent to UN Security Council or the 19 signatories of the Paris Peace Accord, 1991 for a peaceful resolution since last yearand the bilateral talk must be given up. This is the right way that Cambodia should upphold for a peacefull and victorous resolution against Thai agression.
Thailand’s military commander in the area said the troop movements were routine. “Both sides move their troops from time to time. We inform our Cambodian friends of our movements and vice versa,” Major General Kanok NetraKaveysana told Reuters. The border had been quiet for months while the Southeast Asian neighbours sought to jointly demarcate the jungle-clad area where one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers died in last year’s exchange of rifle and rocket fire.
Troop movement? It´s ridiculous. If it is just a normalt troop movement, there would be no confrontation as Cambodian troop claimed as they geographically know the area. Please stop denying the truth and if Thailand really respects its neigbor, love peace, please let the Thai-Cambodian Border Committe work out to resolve it according to the 1904 and 1907 Siamese-French Treaties and the Verdict of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962.
Cambodia’s deputy military commander in chief, General Kun Kim, said the Thais had only entered the disputed area and had not crossed into Cambodian territory. “We would have shot the Thai soldiers if they had crossed into our land,” he told Reuters by telephone from the border.
Kun Kim should not have said like that because there is no such a disputed area around our Preah Vihear temple according to the ICJ 1962. Cambodia, Thailand, and the wolrd know that. Kun Kim, as one of a leader in the country, should learn how to speak for the nation and the Cambodians.
Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn as it is known in Thailand, sits on an escarpment that forms the natural border between the two countries and has been a source of tension for generations. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.
The International Media should write only Preah Vihear as it is offically recognized by history, law, and owner. Please stop using the name calling Preah Viharn for our temple and the journalists should spend some times to read carefully the verdict of ICJ in 1962 and stop publishing the same mistake like: “The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.“ Such a publication surely ruins journalists´professionalism, encourage the invader, and suffered the invaded.
Tags: Hun Sen, Khmer Temple, Kun Kim, Pang Sokheoun, Phay Siphan, Preah Vihear, Siam Invason, Thai invade Cambodia, thai invasion, Thai troop entered Cambodia
