Cambodian officials head to UNESCO for talks with Thailand over temple

May 24, 2011
Xinhua

A Cambodian delegation led by cabinet minister Sok An on Monday evening left Phnom Penh for the UNESCO's headquarters in Paris for a meeting with Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple's management plan proposal.

The UNESCO-organized meeting will be held on May 25-26 in order to enable Cambodia and Thailand to negotiate about Cambodia's unilateral management plan proposal of Preah Vihear temple, which has been opposed by Thailand.

Speaking at Phnom Penh International Airport before his departure, Sok An, who is also Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said that in the upcoming meeting, he will hold talks with Thai minister of natural resources and environment Suwit Khunkitti, chief of the Thai heritage affairs.

"The meeting will focus on Preah Vihear temple and its management plan," he said.

"Cambodia's proposal for the inclusion of the temple's management plan to the World Heritage Committee (WHC) does not affect Thailand because the plan is conducted in Cambodian territory," he said

However, the Bangkok Post online newspaper reported on May 20 that Suwit Khunkitti said that Thailand stands firm on addressing the issue by determining the boundary on the Thai-Cambodian border first before a management plan around the temple is proposed to the WHC.

He claimed that part of the land in the management plan around the temple is still located on the Thai soil, the newspaper reported.

Sok An said that the upcoming meeting, he will present to UNESCO about the damage of the temple after Thai troops had fired 414 rounds of artilleries on the temple in the deadly clashes on Feb. 4 to 7.

"We will also urge UNESCO to send its experts to evaluate the damage order to consider for renovation," he added.

The upcoming meeting is the preparatory one prior to the World Heritage Committee's annual meeting to be held in Paris on June 19, he added.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 sq km (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

Border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment.

Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.

The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb. 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was delayed as Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first.

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Thailand Agrees on Deployment of Indonesian Observers at Border Area

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2011-05-06

Xinhua

Web Editor: Zhangjin

Thailand on Friday agreed on the deployment of Indonesian observers at its border with Cambodia, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit.

"Thailand is very clear in stating that not only the discussion has been concluded but agreement has been achieved. Thailand is in full agreement with the terms of reference (TOR) for the assignment of Indonesian observers. There is no more negotiation for that," Marty told reporters after meeting with his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya.

He said what remains now is the actual formalization of the agreement between the two sides and that the keyword is to create "conditions conducive" to the deployment of Indonesian observers.

However, he said, Thailand submitted a requirement for the withdrawal of Cambodian troops.

"I am sure Cambodia has its own view on that. Whether it is acceptable or not, from our perspective, we use the term ' conditions conducive' for the assignment of our Indonesian observer team," Marty said.

"We can proceed one step at a time as long as we have the necessary political will," he added.

Before meeting with the Thai foreign minister, Marty also talked with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong over the issue. He said that on Saturday he will have further conversation with the two ministers on defining the "conditions conducive" to the assignment of observers.

Cambodia and Thailand invited Indonesia, the current rotating chair of ASEAN, to send observers to their respective border near Preah Vihear temple on Feb. 22 this year after the deadly clashes between the two sides on Feb. 4-7.

Indonesia agreed to send 15 observers to each border side in order to monitor a ceasefire, but since then the deployment has not been implemented as both sides did not agreed on the TOR.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated. Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was listed as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, border conflicts arose which has triggered military build-up along the border and caused deaths on both sides.

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Cambodia's army condemns Thailand for 10 straight days of arms attacks

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PHNOM PENH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Sunday afternoon issued a statement condemning Thai troops for their ten straight days of armed attacks into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

"The repeated invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia have caused gradual damage to Cambodia, it is an unacceptable act," said the statement. "The Royal Cambodian armed forces (RCAF) strongly condemn this latest series of the attacks on Cambodia."

"We'd like to appeal to Thai troops to keep their repeated promises of ceasefire in order to avoid further costing human lives--either soldiers or civilians."

The statement was issued after the latest round of sporadic clashes between the two countries' troops overnight Saturday- Sunday over the border disputed areas at Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple, marking the ten straight days of the skirmishes.

The fighting had killed at least eight Cambodian soldiers, seven Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian, and forced some 100,000 villagers of both sides to flee homes for safe shelters.

However, Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat, spokesman of Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense said on Sunday that following renewal of acts of aggression on the part of the Thai military on Saturday night through Sunday morning, one Cambodian soldier was killed and another was wounded.

"Again and again, the acts of aggression on the part of the Thai military continue to cause damage for Cambodia despite the agreement reached between Cambodian-Thai military commanders at military Region levels and frontline commanders at Division levels, " Chhum Socheat said.

"This is the tenth times that the Thai military violated the ceasefire agreement and promised, and spin doctored the situation and alleged against Cambodia while we are stationing on our sovereign territory," he added.

The two countries' border has never been completely demarcated. The conflict has occurred just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The International Court of Justice awarded in 1962 that the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square- mile) surrounding area.

Editor: An

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34,000 Cambodians evacuated, 67 schools closed during Cambodian, Thai border clashes

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English.news.cn

2011-04-28

PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of Cambodian villagers evacuated from the latest rounds of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over border disputed areas since Friday last week has increased to 34,000 people, said a senior government official on Thursday.

As of Thursday morning, about 34,000 Cambodians have fled their homes for safe shelters following the bloodshed fightings between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border areas, Nhim Vanda, the first vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, told Xinhua by telephone on Thursday.

"Most of them are women, children and elderly people," he said. "Now clean water and sanitary facilities are posing a concern for them."

In addition, 67 schools, with about 1,600 students, have been closed, he added.

Cambodian and Thai troops have exchanged gunfire for seven straight days over the border areas at the 11th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple, which lie 150 kilometers west of Preah Vihear Temple.

The fighting has killed at least eight Cambodian and six Thai soldiers, and one Thai civilian, and several dozens injured.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 sq km of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in deaths on both sides.

Editor: Xiong Tong

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Thai Defence Minister ready for truce talks: local reports

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2011-04-27

BANGKOK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would be open to having talks on ceasefire with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh after he returns from a visit to China, Bangkok Post online quoted his secretary as saying on Wednesday.

Gen. Noppadol Inthapanya said Gen. Prawit left for China on Wednesday morning for a visit at the invitation of the Chinese defence minister issued during his visit to Thailand several months ago.

The China trip had long been planned and could not be postponed, he said.

"In fact, Gen. Prawit did not have an appointment to meet Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday, May 27, when he was scheduled to leave for China. However, Gen. Prawit said that on his return from China on Saturday he would seek a meeting with Gen Tea Banh provided that the situation has returned to normal," Gen. Noppadol said.

Gen. Prawit earlier planned to hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart on Wednesday but it was later postponed.

The army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, however, said that the reason behind the postponement was due to some Cambodia media reports saying Thailand admitted defeat as the country agreed on truce talks. Moreover, the defence minister would wait for a few days to see Phnom Penh's sincerity before he would re-schedule the meeting.

Gen Noppadol said that by holding talks with Gen. Tea Banh did not mean Thailand admitted defeat but the defence minister was firm about solving the problem through bilateral mechanisms.

Ceasefire talks was raised Tuesday evening after the border fighting between the two countries had continued for five straight days since April 22, leaving at least a dozen of soldiers and civilians on both sides dead. Some 27,000 Thais living along the border near clash zone were evacuated to makeshift camps while about 23,000 Cambodian were forced to flee their houses.

Editor: Zhang Xiang

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Indonesia urged to send observers to monitor Cambodian-Thai border dispute

April 27, 2011
Xinhua

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday urged Indonesia to send observers to Cambodian side to monitor and ensure permanent cease-fire in the disputed area despite disagreement from Thailand.

"I appeal to Indonesia, current ASEAN chair, to send observers to Cambodian side despite disagreement from Thailand," Hun Sen made the remarks during a conference of Cambodian Women Association for Peace and Development.

Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers agreed in February to accept Indonesian observers stationed along their common border to monitor a cease-fire. But Thailand's military insisted the issue be resolved bilaterally and rejected the involvement of Indonesia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Cambodian and Thai troops have clashes for five straight days from April 22-26 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province and on April 26 at the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage site.

Hun Sen said that "in these days of the fightings, Cambodia has used exercised utmost restraint, we just used small weapons, not heavy weapons, but on April 26, Cambodia began to use heavy weapons to defend our infantrymen." "Our patience is limited, but our use of heavy weapons is still in low level and small scale," he said.

The clashes left at least a dozen of both sides' troops killed and more than 30 injured.

The fighting has not only cost lives, damaged to the temples, but also forced tens of thousands of civilians of both countries flee for safe shelters.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated.

Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Temple of Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia, the row over the 4.6-square-km territory around the temple has never been resolved.

The conflict has occurred just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, since then both sides have built up military forces along the border, and periodic clashes happened, resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

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Thai Defense Minister to visit Cambodia for ceasefire talks

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English.news.cn 2011-04-26

PHNOM PENH, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai defense minister General Pravit Wongsuwan will visit Phnom Penh to discuss ceasefire with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh, according to a press release from Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.

"Tea Banh has agreed to meet with his Thai counterpart in Phnom Penh soon in order to discuss ceasefire between the two countries" in response to the request by General Pravit Wongsuwan through a phone conversation with Tea Banh on Tuesday afternoon, the press release said.

The statement did not say when the meeting will take place.

The latest in a series of deadly border clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops occurred near Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage site, on Tuesday after exchange of fire on April 22- 25 near the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

The clashes left at least a dozen of soldiers dead and more than 30 injured on both side.

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Gunfire exchanges broke out again at Cambodian, Thai border

Cambodian armored vehicles stand by in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

Cambodian soldiers leave for the disputed border area in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

Cambodian soldiers leave for the disputed border area in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire in the disputed border area for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Gunfire exchanges between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border area at the Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province broke out again late Monday, said a field military commander on Monday.

"The fighting started again this evening at 6:15 p.m. at the two temples," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle fields.

"Thai forces have fired both small guns and heavy artilleries on our troops over the areas," he said.

"We have also exchanged some gunfires to defend our territory integrity from invasion," he said.

The fighting marks the fourth straight days of armed clashes between the two countries' troops.

The last three days of clashes resulted in six deaths and 16 injuries of Cambodian soldiers and five deaths and 17 injuries of Thai troops, and tens of thousands of the two countries' people have fled home for safe shelters.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated. Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

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5 killed, 30,000 withdraw from Thai border in clashes

April 25, 2011

BANGKOK (Xinhua) -- Five Thai troops have been killed and about 30,000 residents have withdrawn from the Thai border area since the latest round of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia happened recently, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's general-director said Monday.

About 25,942 Thai residents living in 36 villages of northeastern Surin province along the border have suffered from border-cross firing and shelling while some 4,500 in Buriram province are affected. All together about 30,000 evacuees are currently staying at over 20 makeshift camps in two provinces, according to the department.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said six hospitals in Surin province have been closed temporarily and all of their staff have been deployed to work at 35 field hospitals in Surin and Buriram provinces to take care of the evacuees around the clock.

Medical staffs have been instructed to watch closely for signs of contagious diseases, particularly malaria, Jurin said.

The latest three-day clashes from April 22 to 24 took place at the 13th century Ta Muen temple and Ta Kwai temple, known in Cambodian as Ta Moan and Ta Krabei respectively.

The fighting resulted in six deaths and 16 injuries of Cambodian soldiers as reported recently by Phnom Penh.

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3 Cambodian soldiers killed in clashes with Thai troops Saturday

PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Three Cambodian soldiers were killed and other 11 were injured in the armed clashes on Saturday with Thai troops over disputed areas, a senior military officer told Xinhua.

"Today's fighting left 3 of our soldiers killed and other 11 injured," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of artillery unit, told Xinhua from the battle fields on Saturday night.

It brought the death toll of Cambodian soldiers to 6 and the injured to 17 during the two straight days of the two countries' armed clashes.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued another statement late Saturday, saying that the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border near Oddor Meanchey province, provoked by Thai military, is still tense at this moment.

"Following three series of Thai military aggressions on Friday' s morning, at 9:40 a.m. earlier Saturday, Thai military shelled five toxic gas ammunitions by DK 75mm and 105mm on Cambodian military positions within the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan," it said.

"Up to 11:20 a.m., Thai military also continued shelling further five DK 75mm into the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan."

At the same time, Thai reconnaissance planes flew deep into the Cambodia's airspace in the area of the Temple of Ta Moan. But the situation has been calm since 11:30 a.m., it added.

The latest military clashes at Ta Mon Thom and Ta Krabey temples in Oddor Meanchey province reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage Site.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had a border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border and periodic clashes between soldiers on both sides.

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3 Cambodian Soldiers Killed in Clashes with Thai Troops Saturday

2011-04-23
Xinhua

Three Cambodian soldiers were killed and other 11 were injured in the armed clashes on Saturday with Thai troops over disputed areas, a senior military officer told Xinhua.

"Today's fighting left 3 of our soldiers killed and other 11 injured," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of artillery unit, told Xinhua from the battle fields on Saturday night.

It brought the death toll of Cambodian soldiers to 6 and the injured to 17 during the two straight days of the two countries' armed clashes.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued another statement late Saturday, saying that the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border near Oddor Meanchey province, provoked by Thai military, is still tense at this moment.

"Following three series of Thai military aggressions on Friday' s morning, at 9:40 a.m. earlier Saturday, Thai military shelled five toxic gas ammunitions by DK 75mm and 105mm on Cambodian military positions within the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan," it said.

"Up to 11:20 a.m., Thai military also continued shelling further five DK 75mm into the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan."

At the same time, Thai reconnaissance planes flew deep into the Cambodia's airspace in the area of the Temple of Ta Moan. But the situation has been calm since 11:30 a.m., it added.

The latest military clashes at Ta Mon Thom and Ta Krabey temples in Oddor Meanchey province reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage Site.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had a border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border and periodic clashes between soldiers on both sides.

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China urges Cambodia, Thailand to settle disputes through dialogue

April 23, 2011
Xinhua

China on Friday called on Cambodia and Thailand to stay calm and resolve their differences through dialogue.

"Cambodia and Thailand are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and good neighbors of China. China expects both countries to stay calm, exercise restraint and resolve differences through consultations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement Friday.

Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops erupted on Friday, just over two months since a deadly clash occurred from Feb. 4 to 7 in the disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage Site.

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Cambodian, Thai border fighting still continues: spokesman

April 23, 2011
Xinhua

The gunfire exchange between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed area at the Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province still continues.

Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, said Saturday that the clash began at 6:15 when Thai troops have started their attack on Cambodian troops stationed at the Ta Mon Temple and then at 6:40 a.m., Thai troops expanded their attacks on Cambodian troops stationed at the Ta Krabey temple.

As of 8:40 a.m., the fighting still continues.

"The fighting is on a large-scale as Thai troops have been using all types of sophisticated weapons -- heavy guns, machine guns, and artilleries to fire onto the temples and civil habitats around the areas," he said.

Immediate casualties are not available, he said.

Pich Sokhin, provincial governor of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, said that the provincial authority is using trucks to evacuate villagers from the nearby fighting areas.

"As of 9:10 a.m. this morning, a large-scale attack still continues and it's reported that some of our soldiers were injured, " he told Xinhua by telephone on Saturday.

"And we have evacuated 595 families living nearby the fighting areas to a safe shelter in the province's Sarong district, some 30 kilometers from the battle fields," he added.

This is the second consecutive day of military clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed areas after Friday's clashes claimed at least 6 lives of both sides' troops and injured over a dozen, forced thousands of both sides' locals to flee home.

The most recent military clash reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage Site.

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3 Thai soldiers dead, 13 others wounded in Thai-Cambodian clashes

BANGKOK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Three Thai military rangers were killed and 13 others injured, seven seriously, in the latest border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia Friday, the Thai military said.

Chief of Staff Region 2 Col. Prawit Hukaew said that three Thai soldiers were killed in the fatal clashes and at least a house of Thai resident was damaged by the shelling.

The firing erupted Friday morning at around 6:00 a.m. at the border near Pa Nom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin province, followed by shelling across the border. Some artillery shells were found in Thai soil.

Both countries blamed each other for pulling the trigger first.

"Cambodia mobilized its soldier deployment along the border and Thai military had warned them before they started firing at us," Panithan Wattanayakorn, the government acting spokesman, told Xinhua over the phone.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Thai and Cambodian armies have agreement to stay 100 meters away from the border line. Bangkok claimed that Cambodian soldiers crossed the line, triggering firing.

Now, Thai government set up seven temporary camps to take care of about 10,000 evacuees. The last border clashes between the two countries took place from Feb. 4 to 7, claiming ten lives of soldiers on both sides.

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Thailand to protest Cambodia for triggering latest border clash

April 22, 2011
Xinhua

Thailand will protest Cambodia for starting the fresh round of clash in the Thai-Cambodia disputed border area on Friday.

Thani Thongpakdi, director-general of Thai Foriegn Ministry's Information Department, said that the ministry is now in the process of gathering information about the new round of clash along with the Thai Army.

The ministry will later submit a complaint to Phnom Penh via Cambodian Embassy to Thailand, he said.

The official also said that Thai Foriegn Minister Kasit Piromya has already talked with the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this morning to inform him about the fact of the clash.

Thani added that the ASEAN acknowledged the clash and wanted to see the dispute being solved as soon as possible.

Earlier, Deputy Chief of Staff Region 2 Col. Prawit Hukaew said three Thai soldiers were killed in the latest clash and at least a house of Thai resident was damaged by the shelling.

Thai media reported that at least 13 thai military rangers were injured, seven of them seriously wounded.

The clash erupted at around 6 a.m. Friday local time in undemarcated border area near Pa Nom Dong Rak district of Thailand 's Surin province, followed by shelling across the border. Some artillery shells fell in Thai soil.

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Thai Army spokesman, said the clash ended at about 8 a.m. local time after high-ranking officers of Thai Army contacted Cambodia Army officers.

Sansern insisted that Cambodia started firing at Thai military after Thai military warned them not to enter the undemarcated area.

Both countries blamed each other for pulling the trigger first.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Thai and Cambodian armies have agreed to stay 100 meters away from the border line.

Thoudsands of Thai vilagers have evacuated to refugee camps set up by the government.

The last border clashes between the two countries took place from February 4 to 7 killing ten soldiers on both sides.

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At least 5 Thai soliders wounded, some 10,000 evacuated in new clashes with Cambodia

BANGKOK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- At least five soldiers have been wounded in a new round of clashes at the disputed border with Cambodia on Friday morning, some 10,000 villagers have been evacuated.

The fighting broke out early Friday at the border near Pa Nom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin province, Bangkok Post online quoted Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd as saying.

The spokesman said he did not know the reason for the clash which is still going on.

Reports said that the clashes starting around 06:00 a.m. along the border between Ta Kwai and Ta Muen temple ruins.

The fighting left at least five Thai soldiers wounded, Thai News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Wina Sukprasop, the chief of Tambon Bakdai, said nearly 10,000 residents of 20 villages were evacuated after the clashes.

In capital Bangkok, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been informed about the clashes from the ministry of defense.

He said that Thai army did not move into the area of Cambodia.

Situation at Preah Vihear ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodia border has been calm since the break out of the clashes.

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Clashes between Cambodian, Thai troops end: Cambodian military

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops is over at the disputed border area near Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabek temple in Oddar Meanchey province, said a Cambodian military commander on Friday.

The clashes began at 6:00 a.m. Friday and ended around 10:30 a. m., said Neak Vong, deputy commander of brigade 42 at Ta Mon Thom temple.

"The casualties in the clashes have not been tallied yet," he told Xinhua by phone.

Cambodian side accused Thai troops of opening fire first. " Cambodian troops just exercise self-defense rights and protect our territory," said Pich Sokhin, provincial governor of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province.

The military clash reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN, has offered to send monitors to the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple, and the UN and ASEAN have called on both sides to resolve the conflict through a peaceful way.

Cambodia expressed its welcome. But the meetings held earlier this month in Indonesia failed to resolve the situation

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6 sq km of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

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Cambodia expresses deep sympathy to Japan over massive quake

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March 12, 2011

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday expressed a deep sympathy to Japan over the massive earthquake that struck Friday and donate 100,000 U.S. dollars as relief to the victims.

In a message to Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan on Saturday, Hun Sen wrote: "I feel extremely saddened to hear about the loss of hundreds of lives, many injuries and colossal damages in the most powerful earthquakes and Tsunami that struck your country in the afternoon of March 11."

Hun Sen further said, "On behalf of the government of Cambodia and Cambodian people, may I convey to Your Excellency and the people of Japan, particularly the victims and members of the bereaved families my deepest sympathy and profound condolences on the tragic losses and great suffering brought about by this natural disasters."

The government of Cambodia would also like to make a very modest contribution of 100,000 U.S. dollars for the relief of the victims, he said.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong also sent a message to his Japanese counterpart Takeaki Matsumoto to express his deepest sympathy and condolences to the people of Japan on their losses and suffering due to this natural disaster.

Hundreds of deaths and extensive devastation have been reported since the earthquake, measuring 8.8 magnitudes on the Richter scale, hit northeastern Japan on Friday afternoon and triggered a massive tsunami in the Pacific Ocean.

Source: Xinhua

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Cambodian PM urges Thai PM to respond to ASEAN proposals

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March 10, 2011

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday appealed to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, calling for response to the terms of reference (TOR) for Indonesian observers and the proposed meetings on March 24 on Cambodia-Thai border dispute.

"I'd appeal to my Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva to respond as soon as possible to Indonesia on TOR and the proposed meetings on March 24-25," he said, adding that "Cambodia has positively responded already."

The premier's remark was made following a letter from Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday, which was sent to Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and other ASEAN foreign ministers.

The letter wrote that Cambodia has responded positively to the TOR and proposed meetings on Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee (GBC) and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Bogor, Indonesia on March 24-25, however, "I am look forward to hearing positive responses from Thailand," said Marty in the letter.

"It is almost one month since the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting on Feb. 22, we firmly believe that we all have recognized the urgency of the practical activities," Marty wrote.

In the letter, Marty said that there were some changes to the conditions of TOR and asked Cambodia and Thailand to resort to a new TOR.

Hun Sen said some changes to the TOR include the guarantee that the implementation of the TOR will not affect the territory, security or public important interests, and results of negotiations on the border demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand.

Another change involved the period of Indonesian observance -- reduced to 9 months from 12 months as it was in the old TOR, because Indonesia has only 9 months to take over the ASEAN rotating chair.

"Cambodia also absolutely agreed with the new TOR and respond positively to Indonesia on Wednesday already," said Hun Sen.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Temple of Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia; however, the row over the 4.6-square-km territory around the temple has never been resolved.

The conflict has occurred just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, since then both sides have built up military forces along the border, and periodic clashes happened, resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7, which unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, had killed and wounded many soldiers and citizens of both sides, and caused tens of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas fleeing for safe shelters.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua

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Cambodia holds conference on GMS development

Cambodia holds conference on GMS development

via CAAI

March 10, 2011

Cambodia hosted a two-day symposium on the development of the Southern Economic Corridor ( SEC) here Wednesday to attract investment and promote sustainable growth along the SEC of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

The symposium was attended by some 200 participants, who are provincial governors, private stakeholders, experts, and development partners from 43 provinces along the SEC in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the media release from Asian Development Bank on Wednesday.

The SEC is one of the three priority economic corridors under the GMS Economic Cooperation Program. The other two are the East- West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and the North-South Economic Corridor (NSEC).

Thomas Crouch, deputy director general of the ADB to Southeast Asian Department, said during the opening ceremony that there are still many gaps in transport links in the SEC compared to the EWEC and NSEC.

These gaps involve not only road links that require substantial improvement, but also transport interconnecting roads, ports, railways and airports, he said.

Cham Prasidh, Cambodian minister of commerce, said the SEC has the essential drivers of growth, including established markets, agricultural and industrial base and world class tourism assets; however, the development of the SEC will not happen overnight or automatically.

"In this sense, it will be important to establish a monitoring system -- a scorecard so to speak -- which can tell us to what extent we are achieving our goals in developing the SEC," he said.

Arjun Goswami, director of ADB Southeast Asia Department's Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division, said that the development of SEC is very important to boost cross- border trades among the SEC countries and GMS countries.

"In this regard, in the framework of GMS, China can be a big market for the SEC's countries' agro-based and agricultural products as well as other manufacturing products," he said. " Moreover, the development of SEC will enable China to access to the Southeast Asian nations easier."

GMS comprises Cambodia, China, (specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua

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