Heng Chivoan; A Cambodian soldier stands in front of Preah Vihear temple earlier in July. The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Post Staff
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
A t least 30 Thai troops entered Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple Tuesday, officials said, following the arrest of three Thai protesters who had illegally crossed the Cambodian border in the latest flare-up over the disputed 11th-century Hindu monument.
The armed soldiers have chased Cambodian villagers away from the site, said Koy Chan Sophal, deputy chief of a detachment of special Heritage Police who were deployed to Preah Vihear last month as tensions over the temple rose.
"Right now we are ... like hostages of the Thai soldiers. But we are keeping silent and awaiting orders from our top officials," he told the Post.
"If the government tells us to arrest them, we will arrest them immediately," he added.
Hun Saravuth, deputy military police commander for Preah Vihear province, said the Thai soldiers had spread out in a forested area within the temple complex after occupying a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountainside underneath the temple.
"We do not know why they are here," he said.
Earlier in the day a group of more than 100 soldiers and angry Thai demonstrators massed at the international checkpoint located near the temple to demand the return of three Thais – a monk, a nun and a layperson – arrested for crossing the border.
The checkpoint was closed last month after a group of Thai demonstrators approached Preah Vihear, protesting Cambodia's claim to the temple.
Reinforcements from the Choam Kh'san district and border police have been rushed to the temple complex, said district governor Kao Long, but Cambodian officials have vowed to remain calm.
"The Cambodian side is cool and patient," said Hang Soth, director of the National Preah Vihear Authority.
"The top levels of government are trying to resolve the situation. We do not want to fight," he added.
Preah Vihear temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7 despite a lingering dispute over ownership of the land surrounding the temple.
The designation sparked jubilant celebrations across Phnom Penh, culminating in an enormous fireworks display at Olympic Stadium Monday night that drew thousands of people.
But in Thailand, bruised nationalism remains unappeased, and the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is suffering from the fallout.
On July 10, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama stepped down after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had acted illegally in signing an agreement supporting Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site without the permission of parliament.
His move had been approved by Samak’s cabinet, which the court also decided had violated the Thai Constitution in acting without parliamentary consent, a verdict that observers said could lead to a major cabinet reshuffle.
Thai nationalists have vowed to continue protesting over the temple, with some groups saying they would storm Preah Vihear.
"If Thai protesters continue to enter Cambodian territory, we will arrest them and send them back," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan.
"We would like Cambodia and Thailand to solve this diplomatically through their embassies," he told the Post on Tuesday.
Written by Post Staff
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
A t least 30 Thai troops entered Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple Tuesday, officials said, following the arrest of three Thai protesters who had illegally crossed the Cambodian border in the latest flare-up over the disputed 11th-century Hindu monument.
The armed soldiers have chased Cambodian villagers away from the site, said Koy Chan Sophal, deputy chief of a detachment of special Heritage Police who were deployed to Preah Vihear last month as tensions over the temple rose.
"Right now we are ... like hostages of the Thai soldiers. But we are keeping silent and awaiting orders from our top officials," he told the Post.
"If the government tells us to arrest them, we will arrest them immediately," he added.
Hun Saravuth, deputy military police commander for Preah Vihear province, said the Thai soldiers had spread out in a forested area within the temple complex after occupying a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountainside underneath the temple.
"We do not know why they are here," he said.
Earlier in the day a group of more than 100 soldiers and angry Thai demonstrators massed at the international checkpoint located near the temple to demand the return of three Thais – a monk, a nun and a layperson – arrested for crossing the border.
The checkpoint was closed last month after a group of Thai demonstrators approached Preah Vihear, protesting Cambodia's claim to the temple.
Reinforcements from the Choam Kh'san district and border police have been rushed to the temple complex, said district governor Kao Long, but Cambodian officials have vowed to remain calm.
"The Cambodian side is cool and patient," said Hang Soth, director of the National Preah Vihear Authority.
"The top levels of government are trying to resolve the situation. We do not want to fight," he added.
Preah Vihear temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7 despite a lingering dispute over ownership of the land surrounding the temple.
The designation sparked jubilant celebrations across Phnom Penh, culminating in an enormous fireworks display at Olympic Stadium Monday night that drew thousands of people.
But in Thailand, bruised nationalism remains unappeased, and the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is suffering from the fallout.
On July 10, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama stepped down after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had acted illegally in signing an agreement supporting Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site without the permission of parliament.
His move had been approved by Samak’s cabinet, which the court also decided had violated the Thai Constitution in acting without parliamentary consent, a verdict that observers said could lead to a major cabinet reshuffle.
Thai nationalists have vowed to continue protesting over the temple, with some groups saying they would storm Preah Vihear.
"If Thai protesters continue to enter Cambodian territory, we will arrest them and send them back," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan.
"We would like Cambodia and Thailand to solve this diplomatically through their embassies," he told the Post on Tuesday.
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