Thai surprise at Cambodia`s ultimatum on border disputes

BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - Thailand was taken by surprise by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks related to the border disputes between the two countries when he issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw its troops from a disputed area near the ancient Khmer Preah Vihear temple by midday Tuesday (October 14), according to the Thai foreign ministry spokesman.

In response to questions from the media, Director-General Tharit
Charungvat of the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement that Thailand is surprised by the remarks by
the prime minister of Cambodia issuing an ultimatum to Thailand to move
its military personnel out of the area adjacent to the Temple of Preah
Vihear temple and threatening the use of force.

Mr. Tharit said the threatened Cambodian action is counter to the spirit
of neighbourliness and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast
Asia (TAC), especially between fellow ASEAN member countries. It also
contradicts international norms of settling bilateral issues peacefully,
as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, he said.

Mr. Tharit said Thailand has always tried to resolve its boundary issues
with Cambodia peacefully through bilateral negotiations which have
achieved satisfactory progress thus far.

In this connection, the military of both sides have agreed to convene a
special meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC) next Tuesday
(October 21), preceded by a working level meeting on Wednesday (October
15).

Under its Ottawa Convention obligations regarding land mines, Thailand has
been demining the area adjacent to Preah Vihear – an area to be surveyed
and demarcated by the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for
Land Boundary (JBC), set up under a Memorandum of Understanding between
the two countries in 2000.

De-mining there, he said, was a necessary and urgent issue for ensuring
the safety of visitors, local residents and military personnel who pass
through the area.

The urgency of the issue was underscored when two Thai paramilitary
rangers lost their legs after stepping on landmines in the area on October
5 in Thai territory as demarcated in the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1904. He
said Thailand is now investigating whether the landmines in the area are
old mines or recently deployed in violation of the Ottawa Mine Ban
Convention.

"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 for under the Charter of the United Nations, in
order to protect our de-mining personnel and Thailand's sovereignty and
territorial integrity," he said.

Thailand has always called for and remains committed to resolving its
boundary issues with Cambodia peacefully through bilateral consultations
under the many frameworks already in place, Mr. Tharit said.

As agreed by the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers meeting in Siem Reap
and Cha-am on July 28 and August 19, he said, both countries committed to
exercise "utmost restraint" to avoid any armed confrontation.

This was reaffirmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong
Amornvivat to the Cambodian side during his visit there on Monday (October
13).

Thailand has strictly observed all commitments and agreements and expects
Cambodia to do the same, he said.