Riot Police Deployed to Guard Thai Embassy
Police hoped to avoid a repeat of the 2003 riots, following reports of planned demonstrations in the capital Thursday. (03 July 2008)
Phnom Penhdispatched extra riot police to protect the Thai Embassy in the capital Thursday,following reports of demonstrations over Preah Vihear temple. More than 20 police in green tactical uniforms, armed withrifles and pistols, stood guard along the embassy's perimeter and in front ofits gates on Norodom BoulevardThursday afternoon. Phnom Penh Police Chief Touch Naroth said the extrapolice were deployed at the request of the embassy. The Unesco's World Heritage Committee is to decide on thetemple's protection status during meetings underway in Canada, but the Thai governmentthis week pulled its endorsement of the application. A 1962International Court decision claimed the templebelongs to Cambodia, but thesurrounding borderlands are still under dispute, and Thai opposition groupshave held protests of an initial Thai government endorsement of Cambodia's bid. "This is also our duty, to safeguard thisembassy," Touch Naroth said. "We learned that some NGO plans to holda demonstration at the Thai Embassy, so we deployed our police, because we experienced the government having to compensate the Thai government afterriots destroyed the Thai Embassy." Anti-Thai demonstrations in 2003 led to the sacking andburning of the Thai Embassy and other Thai businesses in PhnomPenh, following unsubstantiated rumors that a Thai actress claimedAngkor Wat belonged to Thailand. "The police will be deployed until safety is fullyguaranteed," Touch Naroth said. One policeman at the embassy said Thursday the embassy wasguarded 24 hours per day. Phnom Penhofficials meanwhile denied a request for a local organization to hold ademonstration in Phnom Penh. The National Culture and MoralCenter,which delivered a letter of support for the temple's World Heritage bid to the Council ofMinisters Thursday, will postpone a demonstration, due to the election period,Po Samnang, president of the group, said. The center supports the efforts of the government on PreahVihear issues, the letter to the Council of Ministers said, and opposes any attempt of Thai"extremists" who do not respect an international court ruling givingthe temple to Cambodia. Po Samnang told reporters Thursday his group had applied tohold demonstrations,but the municipality forbid them. Po Samnang said Thursday he would put himself legally andpersonally responsible for demonstrators, to ensure no rioting took place. The National Culture and MoralCenter was started in 1992,he said, and has no political affiliations.