Thai PM says tension eases at border with Cambodia

Abhisit (L) shook hand with Hun Sen (R) during the Asean Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand on 27th February, 2009.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Ambika Ahuja ,

The Associated Press , Bangkok

Cambodian and Thai field commanders met Sunday to ease tensions over a disputed border following deadly clashes that the Thai prime minister said he expected would be discussed at next week's Asian summit.

No further clashes have been reported since Friday, when two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 wounded after troops exchanged fire with assault rifles and rocket launchers along Cambodia's northern border near Preah Vihear temple.

Thailand's deputy regional commander Maj. Gen. Tawatchai Samutsakorn said field commanders from both countries talked over lunch about how they could avoid further fighting.

"The tension, which resulted from a misunderstanding, has eased," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during his weekly television broadcast.

Abhisit said the leaders of the neighboring countries planned to discuss the issue during a summit next week in the Thai coastal town of Pattaya, 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Bangkok.

Abhisit's measured tone echoed Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks Saturday in which he downplayed the clashes as a mere "incident" between neighbors that would not erupt into a war.

Tensions flared in July when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.

Brief border clashes last year killed two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai, and both sides have stepped up deployment of soldiers at the border since then.

The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

Hun Sen said Friday's fighting was triggered when Thai soldiers advanced into heavily mined territory claimed by Cambodia and ignored warnings to turn back.

Thai officials denied any intrusion and said they went into the disputed area to clear explosives after a Thai soldier lost his leg when he stepped on a mine Thursday.

Tawatchai said two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded. On Saturday, Tawatchai had said three died but later said the higher death toll was a result of misunderstanding between commanders and soldiers in the field.

Since Friday, Thailand has closed down the road leading to Preah Vihear temple - which is more easily accessed from the Thai side - to ensure the safety of civilians and tourists.