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Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends full effort to help Thai national jailed in Cambodia

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:49:10 +0000

BANGKOK, Feb 16 (TNA) – Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya said Tuesday that the ministry is seeking to help the convicted Thai national and has submitted a request to Cambodian Foreign Ministry to permit Thai officials to meet the man who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for planting landmines along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Mr Kasit said the government had asked for cooperation from international agencies including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and non-governmental agencies in Cambodia to contact the Cambodian Corrections Department to send staff to visit the Thai national in prison.

The foreign minister said the man is reportedly having health problems.

The international media earlier reported Friday that 39-year-old Suphap Wongpanna was sentenced to 20 years in Cambodian jail after confessing in proceedings that he had planted at least five landmines in Cambodia’s Anlong Veng town near areas claimed by both countries.

The news service said that he was arrested one year ago and that the Cambodian authorities charged him with attempted murder, endangering national security and entering Cambodia illegally.

The Cambodian court record was quoted as saying Mr Suphap was arrested by Cambodian border guards just a few metres inside the country while carrying a land mine on February 27 last year

Mr Kasit added that the ministry had asked officials at Si Sa Ket province to contact his family in the province for possible assistance, which the ministry would extend under its normal procedures. (TNA)

Troop reductions not seen at Preah Vihear; Thai village defence volunteers ready

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:19:17 +0000

SI SA KET, July 4 (TNA) – Neither Thailand nor Cambodia have reduced their military personnel at the ancient Preah Vihear temple, and Thai village defence volunteers in the area are now fully prepared to defend their villages if Cambodian troops intrude into Thai territory.

The situation around the temple, listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2008 following Cambodia’s application to a committee of the United Nations for Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), remained tense Saturday, one day after Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the two countries had started reducing the numbers of their military personnel deployed along the border to ease tension between the two neighbouring countries.

But Mr. Suthep on Saturday said the cut in military personnel at the border would have to be dealt with by senior military officers of both countries.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers posted at Preah Vihear temple were seen only 50 metres apart, with their combat gear ready, while villagers living near the border had already changed from collecting forest products to other occupations from collecting forestry products for sale, at least for the time being, as they were told not to go near the tense border.

A village chief in Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia said that so far no villagers had been evacuated from their homes, but village defence volunteers were ready to join with Thai government soldiers to fight if national sovereignty is violated.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia. Clashes have occurred frequently near the 11th-century monument after the temple was listed as a World Heritage Site as both countries maintain their claims on area adjoining the temple. (TNA)

Thailand, Cambodia to hold operational level talks in July

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:34:11 +0000

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, June 26 (TNA) – Thailand and Cambodia will hold a regional border affairs meeting in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima in July to discuss border problems, a senior Thai military official on Friday.

Lt-Gen. Viboonsak Neepan, Thailand’s Second Army Region commander, overseeing the northeastern region which borders Cambodia, said he had fruitful talks with Lt-Gen. Chea Mon, Commander of Cambodia’s 4th Military Region on Thursday.

Gen. Viboonsak said the parties agreed to hold their periodic Regional Border Meeting (RBC) in Nakhon Ratchasima to discuss unresolved border problems and troop deployments along the Thai-Cambodian border near the historic Preah Vihear temple, as it is feared that troop reinforcements of both countries may cause misunderstanding which may lead to clashes.

The Thai commander also insisted that despite the latest tensions at the border, both Thai and Cambodia’s operational level officials can still meet regularly in order to understand each other to avoid confrontation.

Gen. Viboonsak added that he regularly reports any border difficulties to army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia arose again and troop reinforcements from both countries took place near Preah Vihear after Thailand expressed its opposition to Cambodia’s unilateral listing of the temple as a World Heritage Site to the World Heritage body and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO agreed to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site under the aegis of Cambodia in July last year.

Thailand had proposed that the temple be registered jointly as a World Heritage Site by both countries, not unilaterally by Cambodia.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand, and both sides claim overlapping portions of the surrounding territory.

Armed clashes between the two countries’ military forces have occurred periodically since then, near the temple, especially in a 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area. (TNA)

Thailand, Cambodia deploy more troops at historic temple

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:41:33 +0000

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, June 25 (TNA) - Troop reinforcements from both Thailand and Cambodia have been deployed around Preah Vihear temple, following Thailand’s opposition to the World Heritage Committee and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted-listing of the historic temple as a World Heritage sie, a senior Thai army officer said Thursday.

Second Region army commander Lt. Gen. Wiboonsak Neeparn said the overall situation at the temple on the Thai-Cambodian border remains calm.

However, he said both Thai and Cambodian troops had been deployed at Preah Vihear and that he had ordered Thai soldiers taking up positions in the area to be on alert and to exercise patience.

UNESCO granted Cambodia’s application for Preah Vihear temple to be designated a World Heritage Site in July 2008. Thailand opposes listing the temple on the basis that it might go against the registration process and was in breach of the principles of world heritage stipulated by the UNESCO.

Meanwhile, Kasemsan Chinnawaso, director-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said the Thai national park near Preah Vihear temple had been closed indefinitely due to concerns over tourist safety of tourists in the face of tensions in the area.

Mr. Kasemsan said he was requested by the governor of Si Sa Ket province to open the park to welcome tourists visiting it during Buddhist Lent on July 8, but he had opted to keep it closed for safety reasons.

He said the national park would reopen when the situation at the border returns to normal. (TNA)

PM Abhisit stresses stronger ties with Cambodiadispute resolution tool

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:56:47 +0000

PHNOM PENH, June 13 (TNA) – Thailand will improve its strained relations with neighbouring Cambodia, troubled by an ongoing border problem, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva affirmed Saturday .

Mr. Abhisit left Phnom Penh and returned home Saturday morning after being delayed by aircraft problems.

On Friday the prime minister told about 100 persons from the Thai community, meeting at the embassy, that his government had tried to resolve long-standing border issues which resulted in armed clashes.

Originally, Mr. Abhisit was to leave the Cambodian capital Friday night but his plane had technical difficulties, and another plane was sent to bring the Thai delegation to Bangkok early Saturday.

Mr. Abhisit told his Thai audience that he and his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed that despite having several cooperation agreements between the two countries, their actual implementation had been obstructed by clashes at the border.

“Armed clashes must be avoided,” Mr. Abhisit asserted. “No one would benefit from such conflict.”

Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said the ministry would coordinate a Thai television station in producing television dramas with Thai and Cambodian actors and actresses together.

The TV dramas could “strengthen bilateral relations and create a better understanding between peoples of the two countries,” said Mr. Kasit.

During the visit Mr. Abhisit said he had called on Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin and all agreed that visits to each other’s country by members of parliament must be made frequently to strengthen relations between lawmakers.

Invited by Mr. Hun Sen, it was Mr. Abhisit’s first official visit to Cambodia since becoming prime minister in December. (TNA)

Thai Prime Minister to visit to Cambodia June 12

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:39:39 +0000

BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will officially visit Cambodia on Friday at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to enhance the close and cordial ties and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva will be granted a royal audience with His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodia’s monarch.

The Thai prime minister will hold bilateral talks with Mr. Hun Sen and will make courtesy visits with Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

This visit is not just a goodwill visit, but is also a testimony of Thailand’s commitment to further strengthening of its bilateral relations and cooperation with Cambodia.

The visit will show Thailand’s determination to find ways and means to resolve outstanding issues in a spirit of good neighbourliness and as members of the the Association of Southeast Asain Nations (ASEAN).

The issues include land and maritime boundaries, cooperation on promoting peace and stability in border areas, development and use of land transport networks, energy cooperation, trade promotion, investment and tourism to collectively cope with the various challenges as a result of the global financial crisis.

In addition, the two prime ministers will witness a ceremony to transfer seven pieces Khmer sculptures by Thailand’s minister of foreign affairs to a representative of the Government of Cambodia.

The historic works of art hold religious and cultural significance smuggled from Cambodia which were seized by the Thai authorities.

The return represents the application of an agreement between Cambodia and Thailand to counter illicit trafficking and cross-border smuggling of “Movable Cultural Property” and to restore such items to the country of origin, a pact which was signed on June 14, 2000. (TNA)