Thai soldiers sit in a truck towing a 105mm artillery gun in a convoy heading to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.
REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND) By Nopporn Wong-Anan
Saturday July 19, 2008
KANTARALAK, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over an ancient Hindu temple.
Despite the military build-up, both sides said they were willing to negotiate an end to the stand-off at the Preah Vihear temple, which has raised investor fears of a major confrontation.
The diplomatic sparring between Bangkok and Phnom Penh has intensified ahead of high-level talks on Monday involving the two countries' defense ministers.
Thailand summoned Cambodia's ambassador on Friday to respond to Prime Minister Hun Sen's charge that Thai troops had "encroached on our territory" and the situation was "worsening."
In a letter to Hun Sen, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Cambodian troops and buildings on the disputed 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area were a "violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
But he added his government was "resolved to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation."
The temple, perched on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary, has been a source of tension since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles Thais.
The listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site this month triggered a political uproar in Thailand, stoked by groups opposed to Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
Thailand's main stock index has fallen more than 23 percent since anti-government street protests in Bangkok started in late May, and could drop further if border tensions get worse, analysts said.
NATIONALIST FERVOUR
In Cambodia, Preah Vihear has become a key issue in the run-up to next Sunday's general election as Hun Sen's ruling party and the opposition jockey for votes by stoking nationalist fervor.
"They should focus on issues like fighting poverty and corruption instead of using Preah Vihear for their political interests," said Kek Galabru, head of the LICAHDO rights group.
Lieutenant General Sujit Sitthiprapha, commander of Thailand's Second Army, said more troops were sent to the border after Cambodia reinforced its forces at the temple.
A Reuters witness saw a convoy of eight Thai army trucks ferrying several hundred soldiers armed with M-16 rifles to the border. In another convoy, trucks were towing heavy artillery guns.
"If things escalate, we can use those troops right away," Sujit said, although he added the soldiers at the temple "were still talking to each other."
Thailand estimates it is facing 1,200 Cambodian troops in and around the temple, although Phnom Penh disputes that figure.
Chea Mon, Cambodia's military commander at Preah Vihear, said the situation was calm at the temple where his men faced about 400 Thai soldiers.
"We are protecting our borders. We will leave it to government leaders to solve this issue," he said by telephone.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in PHNOM PENH; Writing by Darren Schuettler; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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