REUTERSSoldiers from Thailand walk past Cambodian soldiers near the Preah Vihaer temple
AFP / GETTYCambodian soldiers stand guard at Preah Vihear temple near Thai border in Preah Vihear province
Telegraph.co.uk
By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent
17/07/2008
Thailand and Cambodia have sent more troops to the scene of a tense border confrontation, as hundreds of villagers fled the area.
At the centre of the dispute is Preah Vihear, the 900 year old ruin of a Hindu temple that stands spectacularly on a mountain ridge between the two countries. It is officially in Cambodia, but many Thai nationalists do not see it that way.
The latest confrontation started on Tuesday, when three Thai protestors managed to cross barbed wire to reach the ancient site. The military escalation quickly followed.
Yesterday there were 400 Thai troops facing 800 Cambodians – twice as many as the day before.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, wrote an open letter to his Thai opposite number demanding a withdrawal.
"The situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military," he wrote, calling for the two parties to "resolve the problem through negotiations." Hun Sen faces re-election next week.
Cambodia claims Thai soldiers have entered its territory, although Thailand denies it.
"If any order comes from the top, I can launch my rocket immediately," said a Cambodian soldier, Lorm Trouk. "I am protecting my territory and temples." The holy ruins are now occupied by troops toting AK-47s and RPGs.
Samak Sundaravej, the Thai prime minister, is in an even tighter spot politically.
His government is only five months old but is facing a strong challenge from conservative nationalists who have latched on to the Preah Vihear issue as a pretext to overthrow it.
The issue was re-awakened when Mr Samak's government supported a Cambodian application to list the temple as a world heritage site.
Although an international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 nationalists accused the government of ceding territory. The foreign minister has been forced to resign and the whole cabinet faces impeachment.
Mr Samak accused Thai nationalists of "trying to ignite a conflict."
"Those crazy three people who crossed the border [on Tuesday] sparked the problem," he said "They nearly achieved their aim by causing the military on each side to face one another."
Anti-government protestors clashed with local Thai villagers and police in the area yesterday, who accused them of fermenting trouble.
But more anti-government protestors were heading to the scene.
By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent
17/07/2008
Thailand and Cambodia have sent more troops to the scene of a tense border confrontation, as hundreds of villagers fled the area.
At the centre of the dispute is Preah Vihear, the 900 year old ruin of a Hindu temple that stands spectacularly on a mountain ridge between the two countries. It is officially in Cambodia, but many Thai nationalists do not see it that way.
The latest confrontation started on Tuesday, when three Thai protestors managed to cross barbed wire to reach the ancient site. The military escalation quickly followed.
Yesterday there were 400 Thai troops facing 800 Cambodians – twice as many as the day before.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, wrote an open letter to his Thai opposite number demanding a withdrawal.
"The situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military," he wrote, calling for the two parties to "resolve the problem through negotiations." Hun Sen faces re-election next week.
Cambodia claims Thai soldiers have entered its territory, although Thailand denies it.
"If any order comes from the top, I can launch my rocket immediately," said a Cambodian soldier, Lorm Trouk. "I am protecting my territory and temples." The holy ruins are now occupied by troops toting AK-47s and RPGs.
Samak Sundaravej, the Thai prime minister, is in an even tighter spot politically.
His government is only five months old but is facing a strong challenge from conservative nationalists who have latched on to the Preah Vihear issue as a pretext to overthrow it.
The issue was re-awakened when Mr Samak's government supported a Cambodian application to list the temple as a world heritage site.
Although an international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 nationalists accused the government of ceding territory. The foreign minister has been forced to resign and the whole cabinet faces impeachment.
Mr Samak accused Thai nationalists of "trying to ignite a conflict."
"Those crazy three people who crossed the border [on Tuesday] sparked the problem," he said "They nearly achieved their aim by causing the military on each side to face one another."
Anti-government protestors clashed with local Thai villagers and police in the area yesterday, who accused them of fermenting trouble.
But more anti-government protestors were heading to the scene.
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