Radio Free Asia
By Mayarith
11th February, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization
A Cambodian official said that Cambodia will consider opening the entry to Preah Vihear from the Thai side only when all Thai troops are withdrawn from the areas.
The entry to Preah Vihear from the Thai side has been closed when Thai troops invaded the areas on 15th October 2008 after the temple was declared a world heritage site.
Mr. Phay Siphan (pictured), spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that Cambodia will consider opening the gate when there is no more deployments of Thai troops in the areas. He said: "At this moment, we are insisting for the return of these areas to the pre-15th July 2008 situation. This is the point that we are demanding. And we made it clear that whenever the conflict is resolved, we will turn the areas into an international tourist zone and tha'ts when we will open the entry from the Thai side."
Mr. Phay Siphan's comments came one day after the Thai authority opened the Pha Mor I Daeng National Park, a tourist gateway to Preah Vihear temple.
There are reports that, after the Pha Mor I Daeng was opened, there were hundreds of Thai tourists queuing to see the Preah Vihear temple, but they can only watch it far away from the Thai side.
Mr. Phay Siphan said that the Thai side has not officially responded to the Cambodian demand yet.
Last week, Prime Minister declared that the Thai Minister of Defence has agreed to withdraw troops and turn the areas into a joint tourist areas. However, a Thai military official who participated in the meeting denied that Thailand agreed to withdraw troops from the Preah Vihear areas as claimed by PM Hun Sen.
A Cambodian senior military official who attended the meeting said that the issue of troops withdrawal will be discussed in subsequent bilateral meetings in later dates.
By Mayarith
11th February, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization
A Cambodian official said that Cambodia will consider opening the entry to Preah Vihear from the Thai side only when all Thai troops are withdrawn from the areas.
The entry to Preah Vihear from the Thai side has been closed when Thai troops invaded the areas on 15th October 2008 after the temple was declared a world heritage site.
Mr. Phay Siphan (pictured), spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that Cambodia will consider opening the gate when there is no more deployments of Thai troops in the areas. He said: "At this moment, we are insisting for the return of these areas to the pre-15th July 2008 situation. This is the point that we are demanding. And we made it clear that whenever the conflict is resolved, we will turn the areas into an international tourist zone and tha'ts when we will open the entry from the Thai side."
Mr. Phay Siphan's comments came one day after the Thai authority opened the Pha Mor I Daeng National Park, a tourist gateway to Preah Vihear temple.
There are reports that, after the Pha Mor I Daeng was opened, there were hundreds of Thai tourists queuing to see the Preah Vihear temple, but they can only watch it far away from the Thai side.
Mr. Phay Siphan said that the Thai side has not officially responded to the Cambodian demand yet.
Last week, Prime Minister declared that the Thai Minister of Defence has agreed to withdraw troops and turn the areas into a joint tourist areas. However, a Thai military official who participated in the meeting denied that Thailand agreed to withdraw troops from the Preah Vihear areas as claimed by PM Hun Sen.
A Cambodian senior military official who attended the meeting said that the issue of troops withdrawal will be discussed in subsequent bilateral meetings in later dates.
No comments:
Post a Comment