Thursday, 24 July 2008

Divergent Maps Hinder Standoff Solution

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
23 July 2008

Cambodia has called on Thailand to accept the use of an international map drawn in 1904 and 1907 to settle an ongoing dispute at the border near Preah Vihear temple.

Thailand was using a "unilateral" map in its negotiating position over a continued military standoff at the border, said Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers.

He compared Thailand to "fascist" regimes like Germany under Adolph Hitler, which "take military occupation according to the unilateral maps they draw."

At least 4,000 troops are amassed on the Thai border near Preah Vihear temple, and negotiations aimed as diffusing the situation broke down on Monday because the two sides could not agree on a map.

Thailand's chief negotiator, Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit, has been quoted on Thai TV and news reports blaming Cambodia's adherence to its map for the breakdown.

"The problem was that we and Cambodia are using two different maps," he said recently on Thai TV. "Cambodia is using the French version while we used a US-drawn map, thus it's hard for us to reach agreement."

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