Cambodia PM calls on UN chief Ban for help
via Khmer NZ
Published: 13/08/2010
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, to be careful how he interprets information he receives through the media concerning the territorial dispute over the Preah Vihear temple.
Hun Sen was reported on the Cambodian Information Center website yesterday as saying he would ask the UN secretary-general to act as a coordinator on border issues with Thailand.
Mr Abhisit said Hun Sen should be careful about interpreting information on such sensitive issues through the media.
He said Thailand would explain the dispute to the global community.
"We want to solve these problems peacefully, without the use of force," Mr Abhisit said.
However, Mr Abhisit said the government would push out the Cambodian communities who have settled in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area surrounding the temple.
Hun Sen on Sunday wrote to the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to say Mr Abhisit had threatened to use military force against Cambodia to settle the border dispute.
Thailand late last month opposed a proposal before Unesco's World Heritage Committee that it consider Cambodia's management plan for the temple.
It argued the Cambodian plan encroached on Thailand's territorial sovereignty by incorporating the surrounding area.
Hun Sen said yesterday he would ask UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to play the role of coordinator in border issues with Thailand.
Mr Ban would visit Cambodia on Oct27-28, Hun Sen said.
However, he insisted that bilateral border talks with Thailand would not resume until the Thai parliament approved border agreements reached by border committees in past years. Otherwise, the talks would be a waste of time, he said.
Hun Sen said he would also invite a third party, such as the UN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to join the border talks.
"It is ridiculous for Thailand to accuse Cambodia of encroaching on the area or using force," he said.
The International Court of Justice in the Hague found in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple and its surrounding area belonged to Cambodia, so there was no disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand, he said.
"I don't know this area of 4.6 square kilometres [near the temple which Thailand insists is part of Si Sa Ket], so how can I ask my people and army to withdraw?" he said.
Hun Sen reiterated that Cambodia did not want to use force to resolve the border issue, but said "we will defend our territorial integrity".
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Ministry has set up a new working group to oversee the issue.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has appointed his secretary, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, to head the working group.
Mr Chavanond said he would call a meeting of the group on Monday to prepare a response to Cambodia and the UN.
"This group will make decisions about the Foreign Ministry's position on border problems with Cambodia," he said. "It will help prevent public confusion and provide accurate and timely responses on the situation to the international community."
Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday he was confident the two sides would be able to settle their differences peacefully and the problem would not escalate into a war.
Troops from the two countries who are stationed along the border are close and have good ties. "They love each other," Gen Chavalit said.
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