ID :
114557
Thu, 04/01/2010 - 18:41
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/114557
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Thai army denies troops withdrawn from Thai-Cambodian border
BANGKOK, April 1 (TNA) - A Thai army spokesman on Thursday dismissed claims that the army has withdrawn all its troops along Thai-Cambodian border, saying some troop redeployment is a normal practice.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, an army spokesman made the statement in response to a victory claim by a Cambodian general as reported by the Khmer press that Thai troops were withdrawn to provide security at the rally site in Bangkok.
General Chea Dara, deputy commander in chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying "Fifty per cent of the Thai soldiers were withdrawn recently to Bangkok to solve their internal issues, and they will not dare to attack Cambodian soldiers again."
The redeployment was a normal operation, Col Sansern said, Not all soldiers were withdrawn as they are tasked with protecting the country's sovereignty.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen is due to attend the two-day Mekong summit in Thailand's resort town of Hua Hin on April 4-5.
Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya on Saturday said no bilateral conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would be raised at the meeting.
Tensions between the neighbouring countries flared after the United Nations cultural body UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid in July last year to list the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site, while the question of sovereignty over the 4.6 square kilometres of surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
The two neighbouring countries however reiterated to solve the border conflicts peacefully through the Joint Boundary Committee, while there were some clashes between the soldiers of two countries along the border.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but Thailand holds that the 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) area surrounding the ancient temple belongs to Thailand.
Border demarcation in the area remains unresolved and sporadic clashes have occurred recently. (TNA)
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, an army spokesman made the statement in response to a victory claim by a Cambodian general as reported by the Khmer press that Thai troops were withdrawn to provide security at the rally site in Bangkok.
General Chea Dara, deputy commander in chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying "Fifty per cent of the Thai soldiers were withdrawn recently to Bangkok to solve their internal issues, and they will not dare to attack Cambodian soldiers again."
The redeployment was a normal operation, Col Sansern said, Not all soldiers were withdrawn as they are tasked with protecting the country's sovereignty.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen is due to attend the two-day Mekong summit in Thailand's resort town of Hua Hin on April 4-5.
Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya on Saturday said no bilateral conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would be raised at the meeting.
Tensions between the neighbouring countries flared after the United Nations cultural body UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid in July last year to list the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site, while the question of sovereignty over the 4.6 square kilometres of surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
The two neighbouring countries however reiterated to solve the border conflicts peacefully through the Joint Boundary Committee, while there were some clashes between the soldiers of two countries along the border.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but Thailand holds that the 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) area surrounding the ancient temple belongs to Thailand.
Border demarcation in the area remains unresolved and sporadic clashes have occurred recently. (TNA)
