Peaceful life after withdrawals of Thai and Cambodian troops

THAILAND, July 19 (TNA) - People in northeastern Si Sa Ket and eastern Chantaburi provinces, which border Cambodia, remain their peaceful life after a reciprocal redeployment of Thai and Cambodian forces in an unsettled area near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple along the common frontier on July 18, making several parties now become upbeat for expanding trade and tourism between the two neighbouring countries. The local people work and children go to school as usual in Baan Phumsarol of the Sao Thong Chai locality in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, after the withdrawal of Thai soldiers, but replacing them with border patrol police officers, in accordance with last year's provisional order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thailand's Khao Phra Wihan National Park, however, announced a one-day closure on July 19 while border patrol police have been smoothly replacing soldiers and they have been contacting their Cambodian counterparts to coordinate their presence in the area. The situation also remains peaceful in border areas in Chantaburi province's Soi Dao and Pong Nam Ron districts, as Cambodian traders have crossed the border to do businesses in the Thai side as usual. Sombat Juengtrakul, vice president of Chantaburi's border trade and tourism association, told reporters that he had talked with several Cambodian traders who believed that the bilateral redeployment of forces would not only relieve the border situation, but it would also be beneficial in several other aspects, namely further promoting border trade. (TNA)