Cambodia warns of "large-scale armed conflict" with Thailand

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) shakes hands with Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat in Phnom Penh.(AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)

Mon Oct 13

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia warned Monday of the risk of a large-scale armed conflict with Thailand as ministers from the two neighbours failed to reach a breakthrough in talks on their border dispute.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornviwat met in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh while troops from the two sides faced off near a disputed temple on their border.

The Cambodian foreign minister said the talks failed to end in agreement because his Thai opposite number "could not sign on anything."

Hor Namhong told reporters that while he was meeting with Sompong he received word Thai soldiers had attempted to cross the border near the disputed ancient temple of Preah Vihear into Cambodia.

"I told my Thai counterpart that sending a lot of troops along the border is dangerous and can provoke a large-scale armed conflict," he told reporters.

He warned that "even one shot can lead to a large-scale armed conflict."

Major general Srey Deok, who oversees the Cambodian military in the area of Preah Vihear, told AFP by telephone that some 80 Thai troops had crossed into the disputed territory.

"Thai troops have already entered the area. They are confronting our troops," he said.

However Thai border commander Major General Kanok Netrakavaesana said his troops were merely patrolling a disputed area. "The Thai army has a responsibility to take care of the area... We stay where we stay," he said.

Hor Namhong told reporters Cambodia would take the border dispute to an international court if the neighbours cannot resolve it within "an appropriate time."

The two countries have swapped accusations of violating each other's territory in the dispute over land near at least three ancient temples along their border.

At least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded when units exchanged gunfire during a brief clash on October 3 near the Preah Vihear temple.

Talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.

Tensions flared in July after the ancient Khmer temple was awarded world heritage status by the United Nations cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Those tensions turned into a military confrontation in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.

However, much of the Cambodian-Thai border remains in dispute, and the slow pace of mine clearance has delayed demarcation.