via Khmer NZ
Published: 12/08/2010
Cambodia has sought to postpone a meeting of the General Border Committee amid growing tensions between the two countries over the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding area.
Yeo: ‘Should try to restrain emotions’
Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh asked for the postponement of the GBC summit, which is scheduled for Aug 27 in Pattaya, as the dispute over the temple issue had spoiled the border atmosphere, a source at the Defence Ministry said.
"Soldiers from the two countries are in good contact and are on friendly terms," the source said.
"But on a policy level, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen wants a joint border meeting with Thailand to be postponed for the time being."
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said the postponement of the meeting was a joint decision by Gen Tea Banh and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
He denied the meeting was put off because of tensions over the Preah Vihear temple.
He said documents which had to be signed during the meeting were not ready.
The two countries had planned at the meeting to sign an agreement on joint cooperation for such things as clearing land mines, suppressing illicit drug and human trafficking, and boosting maritime security, Col Thanathip said.
The GBC, which is co-chaired by the Thai defence minister and his Cambodian counterpart, is made up of military top brass from the two countries, each having 18 committee members.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, the nation's foreign minister George Yeo said yesterday Thailand and Cambodia should try to restrain their emotions and resolve their border row through diplomatic channels.
"The border disputes have been discussed at previous Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] meetings and both [Thailand and Cambodia] have agreed to act with restraint in the larger interest of the Asean grouping," Mr Yeo told a group of journalists from Asean member states yesterday.
The call from Mr Yeo comes as Thailand and Cambodia experience rising tensions along the border in the wake of the World Heritage Committee's decision at a meeting in Brazil last month to postpone the approval of Phnom Penh's management plan for the Preah Vihear temple and its buffer zone.
Thailand says the plan involves a disputed area.
Thailand has proposed a meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission to talk about the overlapping border areas. The JBC was established to demarcate the border between Thailand and Cambodia. The JBC is also separate from the GBC.
Mr Yeo said all diplomatic channels should be used to resolve the border issues.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in Bangkok that the time and date for his planned meeting with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon were being arranged.
The talks were aimed at making the UN chief better understand the Thai position.
The prime minister plans to attend the UN General Assembly from Sept 20 to 27.
The planned meeting with Mr Ban comes after Mr Hun Sen sent a letter to the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council complaining about military threats by Thailand.
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