A dispute over an ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodian border has escalated dramatically with the Cambodian prime minister threatening that he would create a "death zone" if Thailand does not withdraw its troops "by tomorrow at the latest".
"If they cannot withdraw tonight, tomorrow they must withdraw," Hun Sen said after negotiations in the Cambodian capital collapsed on Monday evening. "We will not allow them to occupy our land."
"We try to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister today that the area is a life-and-death battle zone," he added.
Thailand denies that its troops are on Cambodian land. The Thai border commander, Major General Kanok Netrakavaesana, said his troops were merely patrolling a disputed area. "The Thai army has a responsibility to take care of the area... We stay where we stay," he said.
According to the Cambodian commander on the ground, Major general Srey Deok, around 80 Thai troops have entered Cambodia. "They are confronting our troops," he said.
Thousands of soldiers and artillery have been facing each other across the heavily mined border since the crisis erupted in July.
The dispute centres on the 900-year-old ruin of a Hindu temple, perched on a forested mountain ridge between the two countries. In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia – a decision that still upsets many Thais.
The two countries are now at loggerheads over 1.8 square miles of jungle adjacent to the temple whose status the court did not settle.
The dispute was reignited in July when the United Nations declared the temple a "world heritage site". The decision caused uproar in Thailand and the Thai army moved in. A rapid military escalation followed on both sides.
After the break-up of the negotiations in Phnom Penh on Monday the Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong said: "I told my Thai counterpart that sending a lot of troops along the border is dangerous and can provoke a large-scale armed conflict," adding that "even one shot can lead to a large-scale armed conflict".
On Oct 3 shots were fired, injuring at least one Cambodian and Two Thai soldiers. Both sides claimed the other had strayed into their territory.
Analysts say the crisis is connected to domestic Thai politics, where the government is facing a strong ultra-nationalist challenge that has latched onto the emotive issue of Preah Vihear to stir public sentiment.
Relations between the two neighbours have frequently been hostile.
Most recently, in 2003, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by rioters after false reports of a Thai insult to Cambodian nationhood.
No comments:
Post a Comment