Both Sides Vow Restraint of Border Violence
Talks between Thai and Cambodian officials in Beijing and military commanders in Siem Reap Friday failed to secure a withdrawal of troo
The prime ministers of Thailandand Cambodia agreed duringtalks in BeijingFriday to prevent further border violence between soldiers on both sides, whilemilitary commanders in Siem Reap failed to reach an agreement on withdrawal. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Friday theresults from Beijingand Siem Reap were similar. “Both sides agreed to avoid conflict and maintain peace,” hesaid, adding that he hoped the countries would move away from armed confrontationand toward more friendly talks. Prime Minsiter Hun Sen met with his Thai counterpart,Somchai Wongsawat, Friday morning, on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe Meeting. Both leaders agreed to avoid further conflicts in amonths-long border dispute, following a flash of violence last week in three gunbattles near Preah Vihear temple, leading to the death of at least threeCambodian soldiers and one Thai. "The two sides have to advise our troops not to haveconfrontations any longer," Agence France-Presse quoted Thai ForeignMinister Sompong Amornviwat saying after the prime ministers spoke. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said both sides were“moving in a good track,” AFP reported. In Siem Reap, commanders for Cambodia’sMilitary Region 4 and Thailand’sMilitary Region 2 met for the 11 round of Regional BorderCommittee talks. “Both sides agreed to exercise utmost restraint in order toavoid confrontation or armed clashes, as have previously occurred,” the ThaiRegional Border Committee said in a statement following Friday’s talks. Neither meeting produced a substantial timetable for thewithdrawal of heavily armed troops that have been deployed along the bordersince July. Any negotiation on disputed border land had to meet theapproval of Thailand’sparliament, which was scheduled to deliberate on the issues Oct. 28, thecommittee said. “Therefore, it was hoped that negotiation will take place soon.” Thun Saray, president of Adhoc, welcomed the negotiations,but he appealed to the Thai side to respect the results of the meetings. Eventhough both sides have promised to avoid confrontation, Thailandcontinues to build up troops along the border, he said.