BANGKOK, July 14 (MCOT)- Thailand's Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda (pictured) on Wednesday declined to comment on Cambodia's plan to hold its annual Day of Anger on July 15, saying that bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia remain strong.
The Thai general said nothing about apparent Cambodian government move to associate the historic atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime against its own people with the on again-off again Thai-Khmer rivalries regarding their poorly defined border.
Cambodia's people and government annually recall the Khmer Rouge regime which controlled the country during much of the 1970s. After Vietnam invaded Communist Kampuchea in December 1978, the Khmer Rouge government fled Phnom Penh but still retaining control in some areas.
Gen Anupong, who is visiting the Suranaree Task Force headquarters in the northeastern province of Surin, said he did not want to comment on activities to be held which related to the Cambodia's Day of Anger for fear that someone could bring it up as an issue that could lead to misunderstanding.
He said what the officials should do is to seek a way to make the people of both countries who live along the border to live side-by-side peacefully just like brothers.
Thailand's Suranaree Task Force is responsible for Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchatani provinces.
Gen Anupong said the planned meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) next week in Cambodia was also a channel for both
countries to communicate.
He added that Thailand's army has close contact with Cambodia's army and that there are exchange visits regularly between senior military officers.
The Day of Anger is normally an annual event when Cambodians pay their respects to the souls of the mass victims of the Khmer Rouge during its reign over Cambodia in the late 1970s.
However, Cambodia reportedly planned to hold an event with the same name with over 10,000 Cambodians expected to turn up to show solidarity over the border dispute with Thailand.
The Thai military and Thai residents along the Thai-Cambodian border are bracing for the event, while border trade at Chong Sangam border checkpoint at Si Sa Ket has been relatively quiet since Monday compared with previous weeks.
An MCOT reporter said few Cambodians crossed the border to buy goods in Thailand as they feared that the border situation is tense while security personnel have applied more strict measures at border crossings, making it more difficult to cross over.
However, the Thai traders believed that business will return to normal after July 15.
Gen Anupong was scheduled to visit Si Sa Ket to give moral support to Thai troops stationed around Preah Vihear Temple.
He may meet Cambodian military leaders during the visit. (MCOT online news)
The Thai general said nothing about apparent Cambodian government move to associate the historic atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime against its own people with the on again-off again Thai-Khmer rivalries regarding their poorly defined border.
Cambodia's people and government annually recall the Khmer Rouge regime which controlled the country during much of the 1970s. After Vietnam invaded Communist Kampuchea in December 1978, the Khmer Rouge government fled Phnom Penh but still retaining control in some areas.
Gen Anupong, who is visiting the Suranaree Task Force headquarters in the northeastern province of Surin, said he did not want to comment on activities to be held which related to the Cambodia's Day of Anger for fear that someone could bring it up as an issue that could lead to misunderstanding.
He said what the officials should do is to seek a way to make the people of both countries who live along the border to live side-by-side peacefully just like brothers.
Thailand's Suranaree Task Force is responsible for Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchatani provinces.
Gen Anupong said the planned meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) next week in Cambodia was also a channel for both
countries to communicate.
He added that Thailand's army has close contact with Cambodia's army and that there are exchange visits regularly between senior military officers.
The Day of Anger is normally an annual event when Cambodians pay their respects to the souls of the mass victims of the Khmer Rouge during its reign over Cambodia in the late 1970s.
However, Cambodia reportedly planned to hold an event with the same name with over 10,000 Cambodians expected to turn up to show solidarity over the border dispute with Thailand.
The Thai military and Thai residents along the Thai-Cambodian border are bracing for the event, while border trade at Chong Sangam border checkpoint at Si Sa Ket has been relatively quiet since Monday compared with previous weeks.
An MCOT reporter said few Cambodians crossed the border to buy goods in Thailand as they feared that the border situation is tense while security personnel have applied more strict measures at border crossings, making it more difficult to cross over.
However, the Thai traders believed that business will return to normal after July 15.
Gen Anupong was scheduled to visit Si Sa Ket to give moral support to Thai troops stationed around Preah Vihear Temple.
He may meet Cambodian military leaders during the visit. (MCOT online news)
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