Can Border Row Be Resolved?

Phnom Penh wants an end to border row

Deputy PM calls for troops to withdraw
By: WASANA NANUAM
Published: 27/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Posted by Chea Sophal

Differences between Bangkok and Phnom Penh over the Preah Vihear temple need to be settled by the incumbent governments, says Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh.

"I want both governments to seriously discuss this issue as it has been a prolonged problem," said Gen Tea Banh, who doubles as national defence minister.

"Soldiers from the two countries are facing each other. I want both countries to withdraw their troops from the area. We should settle our negotiations during our [Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's] terms. We shouldn't let the problem go on any longer."

Gen Tea Banh said Thailand and Cambodia needed to negotiate through existing committees to foster a positive relationship.

The minister said he had talked to Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon about the possibility of the two countries withdrawing their troops from the Preah Vihear area to end the military stand-off.

The two agreed that Preah Vihear should be settled bilaterally as the countries had a good relationship. There was no need for other countries to be involved, he said.

The minister said Thailand and Cambodia shared information on terrorist threats, particularly on the Jemaah Islamiyah group.

Gen Tea Banh attended the 3rd Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in Pattaya this week along with fellow ministers from the 10 Asean member countries.

Gen Prawit and the other ministers signed the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Asean Defence Establishments to Meet the Challenges of Non-Traditional Security Threats at the meeting.

The declaration underlines the defence ministers' commitment to peace and stability in the region, as well as supporting the establishment of an Asean Political-Security Community in 2015.

The declaration also obliges Asean members to strengthen the ADMM as an instrument to counter security threats.

About 200 supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) rallied yesterday at the Pattaya hotel where the meeting was being held to demand that Gen Prawit withdraw 3,000 troops protecting Government House.

They also called on the defence minister to resign, claiming he had dragged the military into politics by helping the formation of the Abhisit government.