Phnom Penh and Bangkok promise to be good

Cambodge Soir

27-10-2008

The countries’ Prime Ministers met on Friday October 24 in China, during the Asia-Europe summit, to discuss the border row.

Both government chiefs agreed to restraint in the use of armed force in solving their dispute. This announcement is the only concrete achievement to come out of the meeting. No resolution is in sight for the Preah Vihear issue. But both Ministers of Foreign Affairs showed optimism. The Cambodian Minister Hor Nam Hong and his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornvivat declared that their respective Prime Ministers “agreed [that] the [October 15] skirmishes shall not happen again”. According to official sources, there are three dead on the Cambodian side and one on the Thai side.

These declarations, easing the tension, came after another meeting was held between military commanders on October 23-24, in Siem Reap. There again both countries declared that weapons shall not be used again.

However the diplomatic stance does not convince everyone, as for months both countries’ leaders have made reassuring statements but on site no conflict resolution seems to be underway.