2008-10-17
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday's weapon clash with Thailand at the border area has come to its end and will not escalate into more serious military confrontation, said Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Friday after concluding a regular cabinet meeting.
"Large-scale war won't take place and people living at the border needn't worry," he told reporters.
They don't have to stockpile food and other living materials, he said, adding that "the tension has been eased now at the border area."
Meanwhile, he turned down the idea that other countries or international institutions mediate between Cambodia and Thailand to help resolve their border dispute.
"It isn't time yet," he said.
Both foreign ministers had talked on phone and decided to accomplish the job by ourselves with the existing mechanism, he said.
The premier dismissed the necessity to raise the issue in the international community, too.
After the armed conflict on Wednesday killed two and wounded another two Cambodian soldiers, Malaysia has offered to be mediator for the two sides and Indonesia proposed to put the issue on the agenda of the upcoming ASEM Summit in Beijing.
In addition at the cabinet meeting, Hun Sen submitted to increase the government's military budget by large margin and discuss draft law to list national defense as priority consideration, according to official source.
"We must consider to raise our military spending," he told the cabinet.
Prior to the meeting, all members observed minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of the battle, where only light weapons were used.
Wednesday's battle lasted for about two hours at the border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple and caused casualties on both troops. Each side later alleged passive fight-back for itself.
On Thursday, both military commanders agreed at a meeting held in Thailand to cease fire and conduct joint patrol at the border area.
Meanwhile, current troops and artillery will remain there, but can't move or redeploy unilaterally.
In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
Bilateral talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.
In early October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during sporadic exchange of gunfire and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine at the border area.
Editor: Du Guodong
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday's weapon clash with Thailand at the border area has come to its end and will not escalate into more serious military confrontation, said Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Friday after concluding a regular cabinet meeting.
"Large-scale war won't take place and people living at the border needn't worry," he told reporters.
They don't have to stockpile food and other living materials, he said, adding that "the tension has been eased now at the border area."
Meanwhile, he turned down the idea that other countries or international institutions mediate between Cambodia and Thailand to help resolve their border dispute.
"It isn't time yet," he said.
Both foreign ministers had talked on phone and decided to accomplish the job by ourselves with the existing mechanism, he said.
The premier dismissed the necessity to raise the issue in the international community, too.
After the armed conflict on Wednesday killed two and wounded another two Cambodian soldiers, Malaysia has offered to be mediator for the two sides and Indonesia proposed to put the issue on the agenda of the upcoming ASEM Summit in Beijing.
In addition at the cabinet meeting, Hun Sen submitted to increase the government's military budget by large margin and discuss draft law to list national defense as priority consideration, according to official source.
"We must consider to raise our military spending," he told the cabinet.
Prior to the meeting, all members observed minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of the battle, where only light weapons were used.
Wednesday's battle lasted for about two hours at the border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple and caused casualties on both troops. Each side later alleged passive fight-back for itself.
On Thursday, both military commanders agreed at a meeting held in Thailand to cease fire and conduct joint patrol at the border area.
Meanwhile, current troops and artillery will remain there, but can't move or redeploy unilaterally.
In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
Bilateral talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.
In early October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during sporadic exchange of gunfire and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine at the border area.
Editor: Du Guodong
No comments:
Post a Comment