Gen. Srey Doek leading a military delegation to inspect border near Preah Vihear temple.By Khmerization
Source: RFA
A Cambodian commander based at the Cambodian-Thai border near Preah Vihear temple warned Thailand not to use force against Cambodia, saying that Cambodian troops are ready to retaliate and repel any invading forces, reports Radio free Asia.
The warning came after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he will order the reinforcement of Thai troops to the border areas if Unesco included Cambodia's management plan of Preah Vihear temple for discussion at the Unesco meeting in Brazil.
Gen. Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, told RFA on Thursday that Cambodian commanders had secretly met to discuss retaliatory measures against any invasion by Thai troops. And Gen. Srey Doek, commander of the Preah Vihear Command, also told RFA the same day that Cambodia had enough troops along the borders and that they are ready to respond to any Thai incursions to defend Cambodian territories. "I am of the view that the Thai declaration (of sending troops to the borders) is their problems. I am not concerned about it. I just know that if they entered our territories, I will attack because orders have been given (by PM Hun Sen) already", he said.
At the same time, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that any Thai opposition to the development of Preah Vihear is fruitless, saying that the Preah Vihear inscription as a world heritage site is a fait accompli. "The Thai protest is out-of-date. The inscription of Preah Vihear temple in the world heritage list has gone ahead, it was complete. Whatever Thailand does, it cannot be changed", he said.
Mr. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, also told RFA that Preah Vihear's case had been settled by the International Court of Justice in 2962 and that he regrets the Thai threat of using force to re-settle the Preah Vihear dispute. "I regret that a civilised nation had declared (a threat of war) war and to use force (to settle a dispute). This is showing their lack of civility", he said.
Mr. Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Watchdog Council and president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said Thailand is sowing its disrespect for international laws. "The threat by Thailand over Cambodian territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially over the Preah Vihear area, is a violation of international laws because the verdict of the International Court of Justice had already come into effect. And the United States had expressed its stance during the 60th anniversary ceremony (this month) of Cambodian-US relations that it supports the verdict of the International Court of Justice in The Hague", he said.
At the time of this article going to press, Thai Embassy cannot be reached for comment.
Source: RFA
A Cambodian commander based at the Cambodian-Thai border near Preah Vihear temple warned Thailand not to use force against Cambodia, saying that Cambodian troops are ready to retaliate and repel any invading forces, reports Radio free Asia.
The warning came after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he will order the reinforcement of Thai troops to the border areas if Unesco included Cambodia's management plan of Preah Vihear temple for discussion at the Unesco meeting in Brazil.
Gen. Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, told RFA on Thursday that Cambodian commanders had secretly met to discuss retaliatory measures against any invasion by Thai troops. And Gen. Srey Doek, commander of the Preah Vihear Command, also told RFA the same day that Cambodia had enough troops along the borders and that they are ready to respond to any Thai incursions to defend Cambodian territories. "I am of the view that the Thai declaration (of sending troops to the borders) is their problems. I am not concerned about it. I just know that if they entered our territories, I will attack because orders have been given (by PM Hun Sen) already", he said.
At the same time, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that any Thai opposition to the development of Preah Vihear is fruitless, saying that the Preah Vihear inscription as a world heritage site is a fait accompli. "The Thai protest is out-of-date. The inscription of Preah Vihear temple in the world heritage list has gone ahead, it was complete. Whatever Thailand does, it cannot be changed", he said.
Mr. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, also told RFA that Preah Vihear's case had been settled by the International Court of Justice in 2962 and that he regrets the Thai threat of using force to re-settle the Preah Vihear dispute. "I regret that a civilised nation had declared (a threat of war) war and to use force (to settle a dispute). This is showing their lack of civility", he said.
Mr. Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Watchdog Council and president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said Thailand is sowing its disrespect for international laws. "The threat by Thailand over Cambodian territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially over the Preah Vihear area, is a violation of international laws because the verdict of the International Court of Justice had already come into effect. And the United States had expressed its stance during the 60th anniversary ceremony (this month) of Cambodian-US relations that it supports the verdict of the International Court of Justice in The Hague", he said.
At the time of this article going to press, Thai Embassy cannot be reached for comment.
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