via Khmer NZ
By Jamaluddin Muhammad
BANGKOK, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Bangkok will explain to the United Nations and Security Council about Phnom Penh's allegation that Thailand was threatening to use military force in settling border issues between the two countries.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, had misunderstood his statement Sunday, on the issues.
The foreign ministry would send a letter to the two world bodies, clarifying Bangkok's position on the border issues, he told reporters here.
"It is clear that the Cambodian Government is trying to portray a bad image of the Thai Government," he said.
Hun Sen on Sunday sent letters to the United Nations and Security Council to decry claims that Thailand was ready to abrogate rulings on the border between the two countries.
In the letters, the Cambodian premier said Thailand had violated the judgment of the International Court of Justice for maintaining currently its soldiers in the Keo Sikkhakiri Svara pagoda of Cambodia, situated only about 300 metres from the Preah Vihear Temple, well inside Cambodian territory.
Hun Sen also claimed in the letters that Thailand "flagrantly violates" the United Nations (UN) Charter by threatening to use military force.
Promising to avoid force on the Cambodian side, he asked General Assembly President Ali Abdussalam Treki and Security Council President Vitaly Churkin to circulate the letter to all UN members for information on the border dispute.
Hun Sen sent the two letters after a three-hour live telecast debate between Abhisit and representatives of Thailand Patriot Network in Bangkok on Sunday, on the disputed 4.6 sq km area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand claims the disputed area is part of Si Sa Ket's Karntharalak district while Cambodia says it is in its Preah Vihear province. Abhisit told the debate that the government would use diplomatic means to deal with the issue, and the use of military force only as a last resort in protecting Thailand's sovereignity.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Monday denied that Thai troops had encroached on Cambodian territory as claimed by Phnom Penh because they were positioned in Thailand's territory.
Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon said the Thai-Cambodian border situation was normal and there was no use of force.
He said Hun Sen's accusation would not aggravate the situation in the disputed border area.
The 11th century temple is located in the Cambodian territory as ruled by the International Court of Justice in 1962, and Unesco listed it as a world heritage site in 2008, which led to strained relationship as both countries claimed the disputed area.
The issue heated up again last week when Cambodia submitted the management plan for the temple at the Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil.
Thailand protested as the plan included part of the disputed territory and the meeting postponed its decision on the management plan to next year's meeting in Bahrain.
Last Saturday, Thailand Patriot Network held a peaceful protest in this capital, demanding the government cancel the border memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia signed in 2000, as they claimed the MoU put Thailand at a disadvantage.
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