Sunday, 27 September 2009

Thai Group Plans Protest at Border

Written by DAP NEWS -- Sunday, 27 September 2009
(khmernz.blogspot.com)

The Land Demand Pilgrim Group, apparently a different group of Thai protestors to those who recently demonstrated, on September 29 held a protest demanding 4.6 square kilometers of Cambodian territory near the Khmer Preah Vihear Temple be handed over to Thailand. The Land Demand Pilgrim Group’s protest follows the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest on September 19 to demand the same. “We will make a protest at 9:00 am on Sunday at Kasem Seri Hotel in Sisaket province to demand the area belonging to Thailand near Preah Vihear Temple, and to criticize the plan peacefully,” Sama Sigam, the group’s leader, was quoted by Thai News Agencies as saying.

It is so far unclear whether the Sisaket Provincial Authority will permit the protest. The Sisaket Provincial Authority recently stopped the PAD and closed all hotels, guesthouses and petrol stations in the area. Koy Koung, Ministry of Foreign Affair and International Cooperation spokesman, on Saturday told DAP News Cambodia that “They can do whatever as long as it does not affect Cambodia.” Srey Doeuk, Khmer Preah Vihear Army Chief, said that Cambodian soldiers don’t care as they protest on their own territory.

“They can do whatever they want, but do not do or protest in our territory. If they do, we cannot be patient,” Srey Doeuk warned.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has warned protesters not to complicate political issues and not to encroach on Cambodian territory.

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