2008-07-24
PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Both Cambodian and Thailand have kept maximum restraint, as their troop deployment at the disputed Preah Vihear area rose to about 800 in the ninth day of bilateral military standoff, said a senior official here Thursday.
"The Cambodian government hasn't taken any measure to tell people to boycott Thai products and the Thai neither. People from both sides do their business as normal. The situation at the border area is calm. We are only confronted near the Preah Vihear Temple," said Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.
The current spat arose from the internal affairs of Thai politicians, as the extremists created the dispute and wanted to cash in on it to topple the current Thai government, he said.
Meanwhile, the minister insisted that Thai troops have violated Cambodian sovereignty and asked Thailand to go to the International Court of Justice again to clarify the possession of the land near the Preah Vihear Temple.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the 11- century classic Khmer-style Preah Vihear Temple, together with the land it occupies, to Cambodia.
In addition, the minister said that Cambodia had asked the UN Security Council to have emergency meeting to help solve the border tension and Hor Nam Hong, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will possibly go to UN to represent the relevant documents.
"Thai troops invaded Cambodia soil. They have to withdraw from Cambodia and make the status quo as prior to in July 15, 2008," he said.
The border between the two countries now runs 800 km with only 73 demarcation posts and the map was drawn and signed in 1904 and 1907 by France, as protectorate of Cambodia, together with Siam (now Thailand), he added.
Earlier Wednesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stated that it failed to mediate between the two ASEAN members, saying that it would adversely affect the regional organization.
The UN Security Council is reportedly to convene an urgent meeting Thursday to find peaceful solution to the ongoing stalemate.
On Monday, bilateral top-level talks in Thailand failed to reach any agreement to end the military face-off.
On July 7, the temple was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.
On July 15, three Thai protesters trespassed the border to reclaim the temple, but were immediately arrested.
Thai troops then came in to fetch them, thus triggering standoff with Cambodian soldiers there. Military force was then built up on daily basis until the current scale.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Both Cambodian and Thailand have kept maximum restraint, as their troop deployment at the disputed Preah Vihear area rose to about 800 in the ninth day of bilateral military standoff, said a senior official here Thursday.
"The Cambodian government hasn't taken any measure to tell people to boycott Thai products and the Thai neither. People from both sides do their business as normal. The situation at the border area is calm. We are only confronted near the Preah Vihear Temple," said Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.
The current spat arose from the internal affairs of Thai politicians, as the extremists created the dispute and wanted to cash in on it to topple the current Thai government, he said.
Meanwhile, the minister insisted that Thai troops have violated Cambodian sovereignty and asked Thailand to go to the International Court of Justice again to clarify the possession of the land near the Preah Vihear Temple.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the 11- century classic Khmer-style Preah Vihear Temple, together with the land it occupies, to Cambodia.
In addition, the minister said that Cambodia had asked the UN Security Council to have emergency meeting to help solve the border tension and Hor Nam Hong, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will possibly go to UN to represent the relevant documents.
"Thai troops invaded Cambodia soil. They have to withdraw from Cambodia and make the status quo as prior to in July 15, 2008," he said.
The border between the two countries now runs 800 km with only 73 demarcation posts and the map was drawn and signed in 1904 and 1907 by France, as protectorate of Cambodia, together with Siam (now Thailand), he added.
Earlier Wednesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stated that it failed to mediate between the two ASEAN members, saying that it would adversely affect the regional organization.
The UN Security Council is reportedly to convene an urgent meeting Thursday to find peaceful solution to the ongoing stalemate.
On Monday, bilateral top-level talks in Thailand failed to reach any agreement to end the military face-off.
On July 7, the temple was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.
On July 15, three Thai protesters trespassed the border to reclaim the temple, but were immediately arrested.
Thai troops then came in to fetch them, thus triggering standoff with Cambodian soldiers there. Military force was then built up on daily basis until the current scale.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
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