No intervention from third party in Cambodia-Thai border dispute: Thai FM

via CAAI

English.news.cn

2011-02-04

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday there should not be any intervention from the third party over the recent clash over the border dispute at Preah Vihear Temple.

His comment was made after an almost-three-hour military clash between troops of the two countries at Beehive area nearby Preah Vihear temple on Friday afternoon and following Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong's declaration "to sue to the United Nations' Security Council about the invasion into Cambodian territory by Thai troops."

"There should not be any intervention or activity by the third party that would be detrimental to the cordial relationship of the two countries," said Kasit Piromya on Friday evening at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving Cambodia for Thailand.

He said that the border situation particularly in and around Preah Vihear Temple is very sensitive from both sides, so both sides must use utmost restraint.

"I have talked to Cambodian authorities together with my ambassador and I called back to my Minister of Defense in Bangkok in order to defuse the situation and to bring the cease fire under control," he said.

The military clash between Cambodia and Thailand began at 3:00 p.m. and ended at 5:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

There is no immediate report about the deaths and damages yet, said Kasit.

The incident was the latest in a long-festering dispute over the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodian side.

The incident happened coincided with the visit of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in Cambodia to join the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for bilateral cooperation.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Editor: Mu Xuequan