Cambodia Urges Thais to Approve Border Agreements

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 20 December 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP

Hor Namhong, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, addresses the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“If a Cambodian is doing something illegal in Thailand, Thai authorities should arrest him or her in conformity with normal procedures and not using violence.”

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with his Thai counterpart on Monday, demanding that Thai parliament approve a series of meeting minutes crucial to advancing border agreements.

Hor Namhong told reporters after his meeting with Kasit Pirumya that he wanted urgent action on border resolutions.

“I demand that the Thai National Assembly approves the minutes of three joint border commission meetings and ask to urgently hold Cambodian-Thai joint border commission meetings for demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand,” Hor Namhong said.

Kasit said Thai parliament needs to determine whether agreements made in a series of meetings in recent years are constitutional.

Kasit was in Cambodia with a high-level border delegation for talks with senior leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen. The visit follows a series of improved diplomatic steps and an easing of tensions on the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple.

“I appointed a new ambassador in charge of border affairs, who will arrive in Phnom Penh soon to meet Var Kimhong, the Cambodian border commission head for border talks,” he said.

Hor Namhong also said he requested that Thai border authorities exercise restraint in dealing with Cambodians who illegally cross, following reports of shootings.

“If a Cambodian is doing something illegal in Thailand, Thai authorities should arrest him or her in conformity with normal procedures and not using violence,” he said.

Kasit said he would take the request back to Bangkok.

A spokesman for Hun Sen said the prime minister had encouraged more joint cooperation for resoultion of border disputes in his meeting with Kasit.

The Thai delegation, which stays through Tuesday, also includes senior military officials, including Prayuth Chan-ocha, the nation’s new commander-in-chief.