Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Cambodia, Thailand not have channel for talks of military redeployment at border areas

http://www.chinaview.cn/
2008-09-17

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia does not have the channel to continue the talk with Thailand to speed up the military redeployment at border areas, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.

"We do not have channel to talk with the Thai side," Hun Sen said, adding that the Thai troops are still occupying Cambodian territory from one place to another.

"They have invaded our territory at border areas, including areas near the Preah Vihear temple of Preach Vihear province, Ta Moane Toch temple and Ta Moane Thom temple in Oddar Meanchey province, Ta Krobey temple and Chup Korki and Cham Ksan areas in Anlong Veng district of Bantey Meanchey province," he said.

Hun Sen also appealed to the Thai government to send delegates to continue bilateral talks to seek a peaceful resolution.

"After foreign minister meeting in Hua Hin, we have delayed nearly a month for the bilateral talks and now we have to continueit," he said.

"If the bilateral talks fail, we will seek a third party to help, including the International Court of Justice or the UN Security council," he added.

"The newly elected Thai prime minister will give a chance for us to continue the bilateral talks," he said.

On July 22, Cambodia made an appeal to the Security Council during its military standoff with Thailand at the World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple, but withdrew the complaint two days later after Thailand agreed to hold immediate talks on the issue. But discussions over a full troop withdrawal have stagnated, with the Thais requesting a postponement due to political tensions in Bangkok.

The row erupted after Cambodia's arrest of three Thai nationalist protesters on July 15, whom authorities claimed crossed illegally into Cambodian territory close to the disputed temple site.

Since then, Thailand and Cambodia have been building up their forces near the temple and tensions have escalated, spreading to other temple sites along the border.

Editor: Du

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