Border talks with P. Penh rank high on Somchai's list

The Bangkok Post
Friday September 19, 2008

Foreign ministers told to meet in New York


ANUCHA CHAROENPO

Thailand is ready to resume talks with Cambodia to try to resolve the border dispute about overlapping territory, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday.

Mr Somchai said he would inform Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen before their foreign ministries meet about Thailand's determination to use bilateral talks to end the border spats.

He said a new round of talks between the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers will take place after an informal meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) set for Sept 29 in New York.

Asean foreign ministers will follow their leaders to New York for the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to take place between Sept 25 and 29.

Mr Somchai remained tight-lipped about his new foreign minister. The present government has no foreign minister after Tej Bunnag resigned from the position last month.

The premier stressed the new foreign minister must be a person best known for being adept at foreign affairs.

Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations over the past few days. The new hot spot is Ta Kwai temple, known as Ta Krabey in Cambodia.

Phnom Penh claimed Thailand had reinforced troops in the area which has not been settled. But the Foreign Ministry argued that the temple is in Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin, even though the boundary has not been fixed.

Thailand also protested that Cambodia had sent armed units into the area near the temple.

Hun Sen had also questioned Thailand's readiness to chair Asean due to political turmoil caused by the People's Alliance for Democracy's ongoing rally against the government.

The fresh spat prompted Mr Somchai to visit the Foreign Ministry one day after being elected by the House.

The prime minister told ministry officials that he would not attend the annual UN meeting and said Thailand will be represented by the foreign minister.

''I will find a new foreign minister before the UN General Assembly convenes,'' Mr Somchai said.

Political problems in Thailand have stalled talks with Cambodia after border tensions arose over the disputed area near Preah Vihear opposite Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket. The dispute later widened to include other locations, including Ta Moan Thom and Ta Kwai temples in neighbouring Surin.

The two countries have already completed the first phase of troop reductions near Phreah Vihear but the second phase has stalled.

Thailand and Cambodia have twice held talks about the border conflict. These were between Mr Tej and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul said it was not necessary for a third party to help solve the problem between the two countries as it can be handled by the Joint Boundary Committee.