Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Joint border panel to solve border dispute : Anupong


Tue, September 29, 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Any Cambodians trespassing into Thai soil to be treated in accordance with human rights standard : Army chief

Anupong declined to comment on news report that quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying that Cambodia soldiers are ordered to shoot any Thai crossing the border to the disputed area near the temple.

Hun Sen said the four square kilometres near the temple belongs to Cambodia, not a disputed land pending demacation.

The Cambodian leader also said that if Thai officials negotiating the border demarcation line present their own maps during bilateral talks, Cambodian officials 'should tear them up or walk out.'

Gen Anupong said that all the border talks would be the responsibility of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission for the Demarcation of Land Boundararies.

He said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed earlier on the principle to use the talks to solve the problem not to use forces to end the disputes and the Thai government is still adhere to the principle.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission for the Demarcation of Land Boundary would be responsible for the talks to find solution on the border disputes near Preah Vihear temple.


"The Thai government has clearly showed that it will use dialogue as the channel to end the disputes. Local military personnel are maintaining good relations with Cambodian soldiers," he said, adding that no severe measures would be used.

He ensured that if there was any trespassing by Cambodian soldiers, they would be treated in accordance with human rights standards.

Gen Anupong added that the Second Army Area had warned local residents in Thailand to take care when traveling in the disputed border areas, intrusions into Cambodian territory could happen and there are still landmines in the border zone which could endanger civilians.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he was verifying the news report before making any comment and affirmed that Thailand would use peaceful mean to solve the problems.