Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Cambodia, Thailand agree to pull back some troops

The Associated Press

SIEM REAP, Cambodia Cambodia and Thailand agreed Monday to pull back 1,200 troops stationed near a historic temple but failed to end the long-running border dispute that has stirred up nationalist anger.

Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian neighbors agreed to hold further meetings on how to demarcate a slice of land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, but no date was set for the next meeting.

About 800 Cambodian troops and 400 from Thailand stationed inside and around a pagoda near the temple complex will be pulled back. Unclear, however, was where those troops would be moved and when it would take place.

“We cannot solve all problems at one meeting. We need to take gradual steps,” Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said. “The immediate task is to avoid clashes through the redeployment of troops.”

Moving troops from the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda is considered significant, since that is where Thai troops first deployed earlier this month. Soon after, Cambodia moved troops into the area, and the two sides engaged in a tense armed confrontation on July 17 when Cambodian monks sought to celebrate Buddhist lent there.

The Cambodians eventually pulled back from the standoff, and the two sides have since have managed to keep a lid on tensions.

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