Cambodia, Thai Border Talks Postponed Due To Bangkok Protests

The Nation: Thu, August 28, 2008 : Last updated 13:10 hours

By Deutsche Presse Agenture

Phnom Penh - Informal talks between Bangkok and Phnom Penh over disputed border areas were halted abruptly and scheduled formal talks postponed indefinitely amid political tension in Thailand, a Cambodian official said Thursday.


Defence Ministry Secretary of State Neang Phat said the Thai delegation arrived Wednesday in Siem Reap, 300 kilometres north of Phnom Penh, and the two sides had talked amicably before formal talks scheduled for Friday were abruptly cancelled.


"We had prepared all the documents," Phat said. "Then a call came and they asked for the meeting to be delayed. They didn't say why but we can assume. This is Thailand's business, not ours."


Phat was referring to the ongoing anti-government protests in Bangkok by the Thai opposition People's Alliance for Democracy movement, which escalated Tuesday.


Phat said no new date had been set for a resumption of joint talks over border areas around the newly listed UNESCO World Heritage site of Preah Vihear temple, as well as the Ta Moan temple complex 150 kilometres to its west.


Thailand maintains the sovereignty of the areas is disputed but Phnom Penh claims the territory belongs to Cambodia. Several rounds of bilateral talks so far have failed to break the impasse.


Cambodia closed the border to Thailand at Preah Vihear, north of Siem Reap, in June after Thai protesters gathered in the area, saying it feared trouble with Cambodian settlers.


On July 7 UNESCO granted the 11th-century hilltop Hindu temple World Heritage status over protests by Thailand. Thai troops moved into nearby areas a week later, severely straining relations between the neighbours.//dpa

Thailand, Cambodia Agree To Tourism For Preah Vihear Once Military Tensions Ease

Courtesy of Phnom Penh Post
Written by Thet Sambath and Brendan Brady
Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Thai Prime Minister Samak met with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh over the dispute, agreeing to restart tourism to the ancient site after troops leave the area

AFP

Tourists stroll through the ruins at Preah Vihear. Officials hope to draw in more visitors. THAILAND and Cambodia have agreed to cooperate to develop tourism at areas along the border once the military standoff is resolved, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Monday.

The Thai premier made the statement in Bangkok after meeting with Cambodia's defence minister, Tea Banh, who is also a deputy prime minister.

"Territorial problems which cannot be resolved by now will be left for negotiations later," and a "middleman will be appointed to oversee promoting tourism with an aim to bring back tourists," Samak was quoted as saying by the Thai government news service, Thai News Agency (TNA).

He added that the temple cannot be opened to tourism until all military personnel have withdrawn, according to TNA.

Monday's agreement to promote tourism at Preah Vihear temple came after Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart, Tej Bunnag, failed in talks August 19 and 20 to reach a resolution on the border dispute.

The two sides agreed they would meet again in October pending a survey and demarcation of the area to be carried out by the Joint Border Commission.


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I never thought this area would become popular with tourists.

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On the Cambodian side, developing tourism at Preah Vihear could give a major boost for a corner of the country long notorious as the last region occupied by Khmer Rouge fighters.

Locals hopeful
The prospect of a tourism boom has enterprising Cambodians in the area licking their lips at the potential windfall.

Tep Savy, 43, an owner of a small guesthouse in Sa Em, about 25 kilometres from the base of the pitted mountain road to the temple, said her village had been an active battlefield between Khmer Rouge and Cambodian military forces since she moved there in 1979.

"I never thought this area would become popular with tourists. It's going to go from a war zone to a tourist boom town," she said.

She said that since the temple's World Heritage listing, her 12-room guesthouses, which before was lucky to see a guest every couple of days, is now regularly fully booked.

She said she planned to add more rooms but would wait for the temple standoff to cool down before making the investment.

Chim Phalla, from Komuoy village at the base of the Dangrek mountain range on which the temple sits, has "high hopes to earn a fortune" by quitting his job as a grocer and opening a restaurant to capitalise on the expected influx of tourist dollars.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon told the Post that the government would develop comprehensive plans to encourage the development of tourism infrastructure for Preah Vihear temple, including road access from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

The Unesco listing should also promote Preah Vihear's spot on multinational temple tours through Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, he added.

Infrastructure
Early this month, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered that the 80 km road connecting Anlong Veng town to Preah Vihear temple be paved as the dispute with Thailand has lent new significance to the ancient ruins of Preah Vihear temple.

The prime minister followed up last week, ordering the construction of a new 9km road from Prey Veng village in Oddar Meanchey province to Ta Moan Thom temple complex, also along the border with Thailand.

Thailand and Cambodia have been locked in a military standoff at the temples for six weeks.

Tensions have eased, but troops are still only yards apart in some disputed areas.

US envoy urges Asean to take up temple issue

Courtesy of Bangkok Post

Phnom Penh (dpa) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations could play a key role in resolving an ongoing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, outgoing US ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli said at a press conference Monday.

Mussomeli, who is ending a three-year mission, said the US favoured a bilateral solution between the two neighbours over disputed territory on the northern Cambodian border.

"Cambodia and Thailand are neighbours and they will stay with each other forever," he told reporters. "Thailand needs Cambodia and Cambodia needs Thailand.

"But if bilateral negotiations fail, if after every effort you cannot find a solution, it is time to consider the option of the United Nations Security Council."

He also said one step that had been overlooked in the negotiation process which could help ensure the dispute was solved within Asian parameters was the 10-member Asean, of which both sides are members.

"That is one thing Asean could do to make itself really effective," he said.

Tensions arose last month shortly after UNESCO declared the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, around 300 kilometres from the capital, a World Heritage site over Thai objections.

Thailand sent troops into what it says is disputed territory near the temple and Cambodia says is sovereign territory.

At the end of July, Cambodia made fresh claims that Thai troops had also moved into the Ta Moan temple complex, 150 kilometres west, but Thailand disputed that, saying it had held the area for years.

Who's The Crying Wolf?

BANGKOKIAN
When Cambodia cries wolf
By The Nation.
Published on August 1, 2008

Cambodia knows exactly when and where to hit Thailand to inflict the most pain on its neighbour to the east. Repeated attempts by Phnom Penh to raise the Preah Vihear dispute at the international level in forums such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement - which were subsequently withdrawn - shows a lack of sincerity and ill intentions. At a meeting in Singapore, Asean took the unprecedented step of discussing the temple dispute but without any progress.

Just put fingers cross and hope that the Author of this particular article, in any way and manner, did not represent the voices of the people of Thailand or the current legitimate democratic elected government and its administration.

If the Author means to say that Cambodia has lack of sincerity and ill intention on her part then he/she [author] is indeed an impressive delusional.

Mind you that Cambodia is the sole and lawful owner of the Preah Vihear Temple, which was legally awarded by the International Court of Justice in Hague, dated back in 1962; and was fully recognized by the international community. However, with due respects and sincerity, in good faith and in good intentions for us as a neighbour, Cambodia has approached Thailand that we shall have an open and sincere dialogue regarding the enlisting of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage site.

Both sides have done all their bests to teething any differences, meetings after meetings before reaching a fruitful result when a join communique was eventually and dully signed by the lawful representatives from both Cambodia and Thailand.

During the 32nd session in Quebec, the World Heritage Committee [all the 21 members] has unanimously approved the Cambodian application to list the Preah Vihear Temple as the World Heritage Site.
Thailand last attempt to delay and cite for a join-menagement on the temple has been rejected.

In return for all good deeds by Cambodia, the Royal Government and people of Cambodia; Thailand has decided to flex its military mights and muscles by sending its elite troops and military hardware to the surrounding areas of Preah Vihear Temple, on 15 July 2008.

How would the Author explain these type of action?

Would these actions prove the kind of sincerity and good intentions on part of Thailand?

Thailand Has Shown Its True Color

Thailand as in geographic and population size-wise is much lager and most populated than its friendly neighbour - Cambodia - Total area of: 514,000 sq km, land: 511,770 sq km, water: 2,230 sq km; with a population of 65,493,298 people comparing to a total area of: 181,040 sq km, land: 176,520 sq km, water: 4,520 sq km and population of just14,241,640; respectively.

Thailand domestic political affairs was once again at the blink of seeing the repetition of another potential coup d'etat, when tanks and black uniformed arm force were stationed and occupied all main streets leading to the Government House; some 2 years ago during the overthrown of democratic elected government of Thaksin Sinawatra, if they failed to act swiftly to the demand of PAD [People Allied for Democracy].

The current administration in Thailand has been losing its momentum and forced to a corner by compromising its stance and realistic approaches [domestic and international policy's approach] when PAD took on the street and demanded a swift action over the allegation that its current administration assisted Cambodia to enlist the temple and giving away the so called land in the disputed area where are yet to finalized and demarcated or otherwise would be facing the same fate as the Thaksin's administration.

By rather than looking into an applicable and constructive solution to its domestic political affairs, and to have the border issues solved diplomatically through round table talk and negotiation, the current administration has turned its back and acted contrarily to the join communique [sign by both countries] and since then the departure of its Foreign Minister was inevitable .

On 15 July 2008, Thailand and its current administration have decided to flex its military mights and muscles by sending troops and hardware to the Cambodia -Thai border where the 900 years old Cambodia owned Preah Vihear Temple is standing proud and has been enlisted as world heritage site, and since then the numbers of troops has been doubling by both sides.

Thailand is one of the well-equipped military nation amongst the ASEAN members' nation [is said to acquired a naval carrier some 10 years ago], has finally shown its true color.

It is sad but true!

This action [decision by the current administration in Thailand to flex its military mights and muscles] is purely a form of intimidation and dire-straight warning to its friendly neighbor - Cambodia.

Cambodia may not have such a modernized military mights and muscles, Cambodia population is smaller, however should the war is inevitable, Cambodia and its people will stand up to the aggression - should a soldier down then 2 civilians will stand up and take the place of its comrade.

If it is really the best solution for Thailand, and its administration is thinking that this is the right method to intimidate and oppress Cambodia, I strongly believed that Cambodia and its people have to and can live with it. But so far, it has been proven that Thailand and its people cannot live the truth that Preah Vihear Temple is rightfully belonged to Cambodia.

We will not make the first move, but will of course retaliate should attacked, however our goal is to find a peaceful solution to the problem, we will seek every possible way and through diplomatic channel within the ASEAN, those friendly nations, the UNSC or ICJ to settle the issue one for the last time and for the historical record.

I personally would urge the Thai administration and its people to have a peaceful solution by engaging on all honest and opened dilogues in the best interests of both nations and to evert any imminent war.

Preah Vihear Temple: Khmer Pride Enlisted as World Heritage Site

Congratulation to Cambodia and its people for the inscription of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage site.

The decision of the World Heritage Committee to list the Preah Vihear temple has given Cambodia second justice and victory over Thailand, after the International Court of Justice adjudicated to give ownership of the temple to Cambodia in 1962.