Thailand offers 'reasonable proposals' to defuse tension: Supreme Commander

SA KAEO, July 21 (TNA) - Talks between Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodian Defence Minister Gen. Tea Banh in this Thai eastern border province, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the border conflict over the disputed ancient temple, continued into Monday afternoon with the Thai delegate expressing optimism that a solution could be found.

Gen. Boonsang, who led the Thai delegation of the Thai-Cambodian Genera Border Committee (GBC), first met with his subordinates soon after his arrival at a hotel which is the meeting site in Aranyaprathet district on the Cambodian border.

He later told journalists that "Thailand would offer reasonable proposals to the Cambodian side to consider in order to reduce tensions."

"It is expected that the Cambodian side would agree to the proposals," he said, expressing hope that his negotiations would be conducted within the good relations existing between Thailand and Cambodia.

"Also, the talks are expected to become a vital mechanism in solving the border problem at Thailand's Si Sa Ket Province and at Preah Vihear province of Cambodia," Gen. Boonsang said.

At 10:15 am, Gen. Boonsang began private talks with Gen. Tea Banh in a closed door session. Talks between the two military leaders went on for more than three hours and were continuing.

Initially, the private talks were expected to be held for only 15 minutes.

Armed plainclothes Thai soldiers and police officers provided full security at the meeting venue. An activist group, however, turned up at the hotel and submitted a letter to Gen. Boonsang through Thailand's Burapha Task Force chief.

The letter urged him to move through politics, military and negotiations means and through also an international law called the Tokyo Peace Convention of May 9, 1941 which would make a ruling by the International Court of Justice in 1962 which awarded the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia null and void.

The temple row between the two neighbouring countries, both also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), erupted again when the UNESCO earlier this month listed the 11th century temple the World Heritage site. Troops of both countries have been built up at the temple in recent days. (TNA)