2008-10-14
BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday Thailand will continue to use peaceful means to settle the border demarcation with Cambodia.
After meeting the Thai army commanders for almost two hours on Tuesday afternoon, Somchai Wongsawat, also Defense Minister, said a joint border committee will meet to work out the ongoing dispute on Oct. 21.
Somchai said Thailand will definitely not start using force against Cambodian troops and the Thai army will protect the country's border without encroaching on Cambodia's territory.
At the same time, the Commander of Suranaree Task Force, Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana, has been assigned by the Royal Thai Armyto reinforce Thai soldiers stationed at the Thai-Cambodian border in preparation for potential armed clashes, since a group of Cambodian troops have approached nearer to the Thai territory, according to local newspaper Bangkok Post's website.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday to open wars if Thailand failed to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple.
But, Thai army said Tuesday in a statement that it will maintain its troops in the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple despite Cambodia's ultimatum for Thailand to withdraw the troops.
In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
The tension later turned into a military confrontation, in which up to 1,000 Thai and Cambodian troops faced off for six weeks. In mid-August, most troops evacuated and just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.
In October at the border area, at least two Thai troops and one Cambodian soldier were wounded during an exchange of gunfire, and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine.
Editor: An
BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday Thailand will continue to use peaceful means to settle the border demarcation with Cambodia.
After meeting the Thai army commanders for almost two hours on Tuesday afternoon, Somchai Wongsawat, also Defense Minister, said a joint border committee will meet to work out the ongoing dispute on Oct. 21.
Somchai said Thailand will definitely not start using force against Cambodian troops and the Thai army will protect the country's border without encroaching on Cambodia's territory.
At the same time, the Commander of Suranaree Task Force, Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakavaesana, has been assigned by the Royal Thai Armyto reinforce Thai soldiers stationed at the Thai-Cambodian border in preparation for potential armed clashes, since a group of Cambodian troops have approached nearer to the Thai territory, according to local newspaper Bangkok Post's website.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday to open wars if Thailand failed to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple.
But, Thai army said Tuesday in a statement that it will maintain its troops in the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple despite Cambodia's ultimatum for Thailand to withdraw the troops.
In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
The tension later turned into a military confrontation, in which up to 1,000 Thai and Cambodian troops faced off for six weeks. In mid-August, most troops evacuated and just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.
In October at the border area, at least two Thai troops and one Cambodian soldier were wounded during an exchange of gunfire, and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine.
Editor: An
No comments:
Post a Comment