Sunday, 17 August 2008

Tensions ease as Thai and Cambodian troops withdraw from temple

Radio australia

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are easing after a monthlong military standoff over the Preah Vihear temple on their mutual border has ended with the withdraw of most of the troops from the area.

Relations between the neighbours flared up last month after Preah Vihear, which belongs to Cambodia, was awarded heritage status by the United Nations, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the 11th century Khmer temple.

On July the 15th Cambodia arrested three Thai protesters for illegally crossing the border to try to reach the temple, sparking the deployment of troops from both sides on a tiny patch of disputed land near Preah Vihear.

More than 1,000 fully armed soldiers from both countries were deployed around a small pagoda near the temple.

A senior Cambodian military official says 10 soldiers from each side will remain in the pagoda's compound while another 20 from each side will remain in the disputed border area near the ancient temple.

The next round of talks at the foreign ministerial level will be held in Thailand's Hua Hin beach resort tomorrow to settle remaining differences between the two nations.

No comments: