Stories tagged with issan
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Thai-Cambodia joint patrols to start
Following the deadly clash between Thai and Cambodian forces along the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple, the two countries have decided to try out joint patrols in a bid to begin some level of cooperation on the issue. Senior army officers from both sides met last week and agreed that this would be a good first step towards solving a problem that looks increasingly impassable.
Thai Second Army chief Lt General Wibulsak Neepal, who is in charge of security in northeastern Thailand, confirmed that a high level meeting was held for more than 4 hours in Si Sa Ket province. The meeting was a result of the clash that left two Cambodian soldiers dead and several others from both nations wounded.
General Wibulsak admitted the two sides were no closer to an agreement concerning Preah Vihear temple, but that by introducing joint patrols they may be able to avoid future armed confrontations. The atmosphere in the villages and towns along the border in the disputed area is eerily quiet as locals prepare for snap evacuations or possible outbreaks in fighting.
Reports are filtering out that many Cambodians living in these border towns are packing their belongings and heading inland to stay with family. In spite of the tensions, soldiers from both armies are presently staying at their bases and de-mining operations are continuing in the affected area.
Posted by: Andrew on 28 Oct 2008, 06:06 -
Preah Vihear temple talks on hold
Due to the escalation in tensions between PAD protestors and the Thai government, the next round of formal talks over the disputed Preah Vihear temple along the border of Cambodia and Thailand have been postponed indefinitely. The Thai delegation arrived in Siem Reap this week and were chatting agreeably with their Cambodian counterparts prior to the official meetings scheduled for Friday August 29th when the planned talks were abruptly cancelled.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry Secretary of State, Neang Phat, said “we had prepared all the documents [when] a call came and they asked for the meeting to be delayed. [The Thais] didn’t say why but we can assume. This is Thailand’s business, not ours.” According to Phat, the Thai government has not set a new date for resuming the joint discussions over the disputed border area around the Preah Vihear temple site and the Ta Moan temple site, 150kms to the west.
Several rounds of talks between the two nations have so far failed to reach any kind of compromise. Both nations still lay claim to the territory around the 11th-century Khmer temple, which UNESCO granted to Cambodia on July 7. Cambodia closed the border with Thailand in June fearing violence between locals on both sides.
Posted by: Andrew on 02 Sep 2008, 09:56