Talks Fail as Border Standoff Escalates
Members of a joint border committee between Cambodia and Thailand deadlocked Monday, as at least 4,000 troops amassed near Preah Vihear
Members of a Thai-Cambodian border committee failed to findcommon ground Monday as they sought resolution to a continued military build-upthat has escalated to include tanks and artillery, officials said. A Cambodian delegation remained in Thailand lateMonday, but officials were unsure they would resume negotiations Tuesday. Monday's meeting was not successful, because the Thai sideasked Cambodiato discuss border demarcation that was not acceptable, Defense Minister TeaBanh told VOA Khmer. Both sides have so far kept calm on both sides of theborder, he added. Foreign Minister Hor Namhong meanwhile sent a request toSingaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo for an Asean inter-ministerial group tosolve what he called a "grave situation" where "tension between Thailand and Cambodia is escalating." "Thai troops with artilleries and tanks are building upalong the border, constituting a very serious threat not only to thesovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia, but also to peace andstability in our region," Hor Namhong wrote. More than 4,000 Thai and Cambodian troops have moved to theborder near Preah Vihear temple, more than double the number Friday, theAssociated Press reported. Cambodian troops remained in an alert posture Monday,although there was no sign of fighting. Soldiers on both sides said they remained safe. One Thai soldier told VOA Khmer he was impatient to leaveand was not anxious to fight. Thai officials maintain their soldiers are firmly on Thaisoil, a claim disputed by Cambodia,which claims the land surrounding Preah Vihear temple, an 11-CenturyHindu structure dedicated to the god Shiva. The temple's July 7 inclusion on a Unesco World Heritagesite list was celebrated in Cambodiabut led to a political crisis in Thailand. On July 8, a contingentof Thai troops entered a pagoda claimed by Cambodia following the detention byCambodian police of three Thai protesters in the temple. Soldiers on both sides of the border at Preah Vihear templehave been ordered not to drink, as the standoff entered its seventh day,government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said. Most villagers from the Preah Vihear area have fled for fearof fighting, but the situation remained calm Monday. Not all were prepared togo, however. "I will not leave if there is no order for me to leave,"said Van Son, 44, who lives with his wife in a small home at the top of themountain, about 40 meters from troops north of the temple.