Cambodia Warns PAD about Embassy Protest

Written by DAP NEWS -- Monday, 26 October 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Cambodian high-ranking officials strongly warned the Thai People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) over their plans to protest at the Cambo- dian embassy in Bangkok next month, demanding the Cambodia to withdraw its soldiers from a 4.6 kilometer square area near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple.

PAD protesters on Saturday threa- tened to surround the Cambodian Embassy next month unless Cambodia withdrew its troops from area adjacent to Preah Vihear Temple, according to the Thai Nation newspaper on Saturday.

The threat was made when the PAD organized a brief protest at Puk Tien Beach in Cha-Am district Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of troops from the area immediately.

“We will protest at the Cambodian Embassy next month. Unless its government withdraws troops from the disputed area, we will surround the embassy,” the protesters declared.

Some 30 people gathered at the beach, about 10 km from meeting venue of ASEAN Summit, also in responding to harsh remarks by Cambodia that it would not extradite former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand. Chea Dara, the Royal Government of Cambodia Deputy Army Chief and Preah Vihear military chief, told DAP News Cambodia that he warned the PAD that Cambodia strongly rejects a Thai map claiming the area near Preah Vihear.

“We dot withdraw from that area which requested by only single made map,” Chea Dara said. “As I am a Royal Cambodia Armed Forces soldiers, we must defend and protect our territory as directed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen even one millimeter.”

Koy Kuong, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, also told DAP News Cambodia that the embassy is being protected and that embassy staff are safe.

This is the first time that PAD said it would protest at the Cambodian embassy in Thailand after Thai soldiers attempted to encroach illegally upon Cambodian territory near Preah Vihear.