Written by DAP NEWS -- Friday, 02 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)
The dispute with Cambodia over land near the Preah Vihear temple must be solved bilaterally by the Joint Boundary Committee, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the Nation newspaper on Wednesday, rejecting any move to raise the issue at international forums.
The Thai-Cambodian Joint Com- mission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) has been negotiating boundary demarcation in the area.
“We refer to the memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 not to make any changes before completion of the boundary demarcation,” he said. “The best way [for now] is to prevent clashes along the border.”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hit back on Monday this week, warned that troops would “shoot to kill” any trespassers who illegally entered or attempted to encroach upon sovereign Cambodian territory.
Prime Minister Hun Sen vowed to raise the issue with ASEAN and the United Nations Security Council if the dispute was not settled soon.
Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia doesn’t want war, but will fight in self-defense against enemies.
“The illegal encroachment of last year [took place] as Cambodia was busy with election campaign, if not so, you will have blood from your head; do not push the chest more,” the premier said in an apparent threat to unspecified Thai officials. The premier also rejected Thai deputy Prime Minister Suthep allegations that the road Cambodia is constructing to Khmer Preah Viheah will cross Thai territory. “Do not use Preah Vihear as your political issue,” the premier said.
Abhisit told the Nation that the issue could be resolved at a bilateral level and not be referred to ASEAN.
“We are very cautious about the Cambodian move to raise the issue to [the] international level,” he said.
Var Kimhong, head of the Cambodian Border Committee Thursday told DAP News Cambodia that he supports completely the Cambodian premier’s suggestion to bring the issue before an ASEAN summit to be held this month in Thailand.
“It is right to take this issue to international summit as they will urge Thailand to negotiate that we are waiting for long time by approval from their assembly,” he added.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday warned he would personally tear up a Thai border map if the Thais try to use the map again during the next session of negotiations.
The premier’s warning made following deputy supreme commander and chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCA)F, apparently tore up a Thai map during talks with Sombok Khhmoum.
“If Thai Prime Minister uses its map to talk and negotiate with Cambodia f next time, we will tear this map,” said the premier said at the inauguration of the new tourism ministry headquarters on Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment