Thursday, 16 October 2008

Thailand, Cambodia To Hold Talks To Resolve Border Dispute

(RTTNews) - Generals from Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to meet on Thursday to try and resolve the ongoing dispute over a border temple, said officials on Wednesday.

The move comes after two Cambodian soldiers were killed and several soldiers from both sides injured after clashes broke out between the two forces on Wednesday.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong described the recent clashes between the soldiers of the two countries as "an incident between soldiers and not an invasion by Thailand," and said that Thursday's meeting between the generals of both sides was a good positive sign.

Also on Wednesday, Cambodian Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the fighting between the soldiers on both sides was "small scale" and pledged his commitment in resolving the issue through peaceful means.

"Cambodia is a good neighbor. We will use peaceful means. If there is violence, we have to negotiate," he said Wednesday.

The long-standing dispute over the border temple began after International Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, and escalated after Unesco listed it as a World Heritage Site recently.

The current standoff began after Cambodian police arrested three Thai protesters in July for attempting to reach the temple without proper immigration papers.

Thai troops then massed near the border to rescue the arrested protesters, prompting a Cambodian troop built up along the disputed border area.

Currently, about two hundred Thai soldiers and 380 Cambodian soldiers are believed to be stationed near the site of the disputed Preah Vihear Temple site.

by RTT Staff Writer

No comments: