Wednesday, 17 September 2008

P. Penh, Bangkok tradeaccusations in border row

The Bangkok Post
Thursday September 18, 2008

Cambodia and Thailand swapped accusations of violating each other's territory yesterday as the row continued over disputed land near ancient temples along the border. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen accused Thai soldiers of being thieves ''creating anarchy'' around border areas, including the ancient Ta Muen and Ta Kwai temples.

''We cannot accept this act,'' Hun Sen said, calling for fresh border talks with Thailand.

''I am wondering who ordered the troops to come over, or whether they are thieves, because they [the Thai government] said they did not order them. So it must mean they are thieves.''
Thailand claims sovereignty over both sites.

In Bangkok, the Foreign Ministry in return issued a statement protesting that Cambodian soldiers had violated Thailand territory by periodically occupying Ta Kwai temple since last month.

The statement called on the two countries to resolve their boundary issues in ''a just and peaceful manner in accordance with international law''.

Hun Sen has publicly hinted in recent weeks that he might take his boundary complaints to the United Nations Security Council or international courts if they two countries cannot meet soon to resolve their disagreement.

Much of the frontier remains in dispute, and demarcation has been held up by the slow pace of demining in the region.

Talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around Preah Vihear, called Phra Viharn in Thailand, were postponed late last month because of the political turmoil in Bangkok.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains in dispute. AFP

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