Cambodia Threatens Act of War Against Thailand over Temple Dispute

[Gaybutton]

I wonder if these "leaders" are actually idiotic enough to let this dispute start to escalate into actual battles. We'll see.

 

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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War Threat

 

By Thanida Tansubhapol and Wassana Nanuam

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered fresh troops to the border with an ultimatum to Thailand: Pull military forces back today or the border will become a "life and death battle zone".

 

Hun Sen told reporters in Phnom Penh that he had warned Thailand's visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat that without a quick pullout, Thai soldiers could face being fired upon by Cambodian troops in "large-scale armed conflict".

 

"If they cannot withdraw tonight, they must withdraw tomorrow," said Hun Sen.

 

"We have tried to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister today that the area is a life-and-death battle zone."

 

His comments came after talks with Mr Sompong in Phnom Penh.

 

Mr Sompong also met with his counterpart Hor Namhong in a bid to resolve the dispute over the area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

 

The Cambodian foreign minister said yesterday's talks failed to end in agreement because his Thai opposite number "could not sign anything".

 

Hun Sen and Hor Namhong both told reporters that Cambodia could choose to take the border dispute before an international court if it was not resolved soon.

 

The comments made by the Cambodian prime minister and foreign minister surprised Mr Sompong and Thai officials, who were adamant that the meetings had not been a failure.

 

Mr Sompong said the tone during the meetings between the two countries had been different as the Cambodian leaders agreed that both sides had to be patient in resolving the border spat.

 

He said no Thai troop withdrawals would be made from the 4.6 sq km overlapping area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear province of Cambodia until the dispute over ownership is cleared through negotiations in the Joint Boundary Commission that was set up to demarcate the land border.

 

Thailand reiterated its ownership over the area, Mr Sompong said in Bangkok and rushed to report the talks to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

 

Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart tomorrow on the border issues and the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers will meet next Tuesday , according to Mr Sompong.

 

Cambodian Deputy Defence Minister Gen Neang Phat said more Cambodian troops were heading to the area after up to 500 Thai soldiers had tried to cross the border near an ancient Hindu temple that is claimed by both countries.

 

"We are building up our troops at the border in response to Thailand, but I cannot reveal the number," he told reporters.

 

Maj-Gen Srey Deok, who oversees the Cambodian military in the disputed area, said: "Thai troops have already entered the area. They are confronting our troops."

 

But Maj-Gen Kanok denied that more troops had been sent to the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.

 

Thailand and Cambodia have 10 soldiers each at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple and 45 around the compound on joint patrol, according to the agreement between the two countries to ease border tension.

 

The two countries also have back-up troops near the border.

 

The number of soldiers there remained unchanged, Maj-Gen Kanok said.

 

Maj-Gen Kanok slammed Cambodia for distorting information and taking advantage of the political crisis in Thailand to launch an offensive move for its own political benefit.

 

The Suranaree chief, his patience wearing thin, called for a quick solution to the border spat and a clear direction to be provided by the government as it could become an armed conflict if it was left unsettled.

 

"I want the government to solve this problem and make it clear what to do. If it is left this way, nobody knows what is going to happen," he said.

 

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia first flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded World Heritage status by the World Heritage Committee.

 

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.

 

Tensions escalated into a military confrontation in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

 

The two countries have swapped accusations of violating each other's territory in the dispute.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I wonder if these "leaders" are actually idiotic enough to let this dispute start to escalate into actual battles. We'll see.

 

This is a map of Thailand as it was. The red areas are parts of Thailand that have been taken away over the years. Maybe this is why these leaders are idiotic enough to fight for their land.

 

[Guest luvthai]

Its more about saving "Face" in front of the rest of the world. Religion has always been a driving force in wars. More people have died for their religion than any other reason.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Its more about saving "Face" in front of the rest of the world.

 

This is nonsense. Ask any intelligent Thai about their history and why they don't want to lose land; not face.

[Gaybutton]

Maybe this is why these leaders are idiotic enough to fight for their land.

 

Maybe I didn't make myself clear. I was referring to the Cambodian "leaders," not the Thai leaders, if any of them can really be called leaders. Even so, the dispute is not over vast areas of land this time and it can be resolved at the bargaining table or with arbitration via the UN. It's over a tiny area and, in my opinion, certainly not worth a war, no matter who starts shooting first. Not only that, but this sort of thing could quickly escalate into something major. I hope it doesn't come to that. If it does, nobody wins.

 

Here's the latest, both articles from THE NATION:

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Thai Army Vows to Maintain Troops in Disputed Area

 

The Thai army on Tuesday vowed to maintain its troops in the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple despite Cambodia's ultimatum for Thailand to withdraw the troops.

 

Thai army said in a statement that it was prepared for a confrontation with Cambodia if the spat escalated.

 

"The armed forces reaffirmed that all three armed forces -- army, navy and air force -- are ready for confrontation in the area and are confident in our potential to defend Thailand's sovereignty," it said.

 

"We will neither start fighting or invade into Cambodia first, but we will surely act in self-defence if Cambodia invades into our territory," the army said.

 

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday to open wars if Thailand failed to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple.

 

Meanwhile Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said, "All 80 troops will remain in the disputed area because Thailand has overseen that area for 20 to 30 years."

 

Sompong said of those 80 troops deployed to the area, 20 of them are mine clearance workers and the rest offer protection for the mine clearance troops. Thailand insists it has not encroached in any territory, he said.

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Thailand Will Act in Self-Defence : Cambodia Told

 

By The Nation

 

If Cambodia resorts to use of force, Thailand will have to exercise its right of self-defence as provided under the Charter of the United Nations : Thai FM

 

Tensions along Thai and Cambodian border have flared up again on Tuesday after Thailand refused to follow Cambodia's threat to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple.

 

Thai Foreign Ministry's statement said, ""If Cambodia does resort to the use of force in accordance with its so-called ultimatum, Thailand will have to exercise its right of self-defence as provided under the Charter of the United Nations."

 

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued the ultimatum on Monday, saying Bangkok could face large-scale conflict if Thailand failed to abide by his threat.

 

He issued the threat after Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Wongsawat met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Nam Hong in a border meeting in Phnom Penh on Monday. "The Veal Intry area is the dead or alive point for us "The situation at the Veal Intry area is too hot. They have to remove tonight or tomorrow. If they don't remove from the Veal Intry area, war will be waged," he said.

 

Meanwhile Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday chaired an urgent meeting to discuss about the matters Cambodia's threat to start war if Thailand did not evacuate its troops from an area near the Preah Vihear Temple.

 

Somchai reiterated that it is not possible for the Thai troops to withdraw from the area. "It is like you are asked to retreat from your own house," he said.

 

Thai premier quoted Sompong as saying that he was surprised that Hun Sen made such a threat after the meeting. "During the meeting, Prime Minister Hun Sen seemed to have no problems on the matters. It was surprising that he came out of the meeting room to say that," Sompong said.

 

Sompong told the meeting in Phnom Penh that Thailand will not have any problem to withdraw if Cambodia did the same to avoid any confrontation.

 

Asked whether he will telephone Hun Sen about the issue, Somchai said he will look into details and surrounding circumstances before deciding the next step.

[Gaybutton]

Thai PM: Negotiations to Resolve Border Problem with Cambodia

 

BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat reaffirmed Tuesday that Thailand "will hold negotiations and not use any force" in a bid to end the ongoing border dispute with its neighbour Cambodia.

 

Speaking to a press conference after holding a meeting with commanders of the three armed forces and senior security officers, Mr. Somchai said the Thai military will stand guard inside Thai territory while negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful solution will be held next week.

 

A working level meeting is scheduled to be held Wednesday while the military of both countries have agreed to convene a special meeting of the Regional Border Committee next Tuesday.

 

"I insist Thailand will not invade any country's territory and we will stand guarding our soil," said the premier.

 

The planned meetings were urgently arranged after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly spoke to the media, shortly after ending his meeting with visiting Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat in Phnom Penh on Monday that Thai troops must be withdrawn from the disputed border area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple immediately or risk a large-scale armed conflict.

 

To date, Thai forces are now posted in Thai territory and "peace" still prevails in the disputed area, said Mr. Somchai, also defence minister, adding that the two neighbouring countries are "still good friends".

 

Meanwhile, commanders of the Thai three armed forces held a special meeting chaired by military commander Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara and unanimously agreed that Thai soldiers would continue to patrol disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple because the ownership of the area is not yet settled, according to Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

 

Relations between the two countries, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, flared up in July after the 11th century temple which belongs to Cambodia was awarded heritage status by the UNESCO.

 

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but the 4.6 square kilometre area adjacent to the temple remains at issue between the two countries.

 

Stressing that the Thai military is now ready for armed confrontation to protect Thai sovereignty, Col. Sansern said the army has already coordinated with other armed forces to evacuate Thais living in Cambodia and bring them home in case the situation gets out of control.

 

Col. Sansern noted that problem on the disputed area has continued for a long time but has become worsen only recently and this is probably because Cambodia wants to brings the issue to the international level.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to Thais planning to travel to Cambodia to closely monitor the situation, after Thai nationals in Cambodia were advised to contact the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh for latest information on the situation.

 

(TNA)

[Guest JoeM]

Some odds makers have Cambodia to win a short conflict, odds shift to Thailand for a longer conflict. Cambodia's military is lean, mean and experienced, but does not have the size or economic staying power.

 

Thailand will lose big time on the tourist front.

 

Let's hope cooler heads decide to do battle over a table rather than a battle field.

[Guest luvthai]

So we should prepare for rockets being aimed at Bangkok Skyscrapers or at Pattaya's tourist venues? The thai army has lost in the south and also in Bangkok. Now it seems it will take on another country.

[Gaybutton]

So we should prepare for rockets being aimed at Bangkok Skyscrapers or at Pattaya's tourist venues?

 

I sincerely doubt it would come to that unless Hun Sen has gone off the deep end. A border skirmish is one thing, but if they carry it to a point into which it escalates into a full scale war and they start bombing civilians, then they're just begging for catastrophe.

 

Besides, if they bomb some of the roads in Pattaya, considering all the potholes already there, who's going to notice?

[Guest fountainhall]

The red areas are parts of Thailand that have been taken away over the years.

 

I find lvdkeyes' map quite fascinating. Do you know roughly when Thailand had all that additional territory? I understood the Khymer Kingdom (now Cambodia) actually ruled a good chunk of Thailand, but perhaps that was many centuries earlier.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I find lvdkeyes' map quite fascinating. Do you know roughly when Thailand had all that additional territory? I understood the Khymer Kingdom (now Cambodia) actually ruled a good chunk of Thailand, but perhaps that was many centuries earlier.

 

My BF and I have been away. Sorry to be so late to reply. If you send me an e mail at lvdkeyes@aol.com I can send you the maps that show each part of the original Thailand that was given or taken away. There are 16 maps in all. The text is in Thai, so you will need a Thai to translate for you.