Authorities discuss Thai-Cambodian border issues

BANGKOK, July 16 (TNA) - Thai authorities concerned, including Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and military leaders met at the Ministry of Defence Monday morning to discuss replacing soldiers with police in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol told reporters before the meeting that although Thai police would replace soldiers in the border area, supervision would remain the responsibility of the military, and that the planned replacement is part of a bilateral agreement at a recent meeting of Thai-Cambodian authorities in Cambodia's Siem Reap Province. The Thai defence minister said that he will visit a Thai border area with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Teah Banh on July 18, marking the first anniversary of the Hague-based International Court of Justice’s order for a demilitarized zone near the Preah Vihear Temple, and that the World Court has been informed of the planned withdrawal of Thai and Cambodian soldiers. The Thai defence minister acknowledged, however, that both sides have not yet discussed whether Indonesian observers will be invited to witness the withdrawals.(TNA)