Thai military chief confident Thai-Cambodian border dispute can be resolved

BANGKOK, Oct 3 (TNA) -- Thailand's newly-appointed military commander Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara said Friday he is confident that the ongoing Thailand-border dispute could be resolved amicably.

Gen. Songkitti, who has assumed his new post as supreme commander on
Wednesday, said ther dispute between the two neighbours is being solved at
the bilateral committee level and there should not be any problem if all
perform their defined duties.

To date there has been no violence along the border, he said.

The two countries, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), remain engaged in a dispute over at least three ancient
temples. The disputes stem from poor demarcation as Cambodia uses a
colonial-era French map to demarcate the border, which Thailand says
favours Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American
technical assistance.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen. Kanit Sapitak, Thai First Army Region commander
responsible for security affairs in the country's central region, told
journalists that the differences between the two countries does not pose
any problem between the militaryt, civil servants and residents living
near the border.

Currently, Cambodian nationals still cross into Thailand illegally to seek
jobs, according to Gen. Kanit, adding that a new economic zone has been
set up inside Cambodia aimed at encouraging Thai and and other foreign
investors to invest in that country which could improve employment there.

Gen. Kanit will soon visit the Cambodian border at Aranyaprathet district
to follow-up 4th Thai-Khmer general border committee meeting which ended
recently with the parties agreeing to beautify scenery and improve the
environment at the border.