PM ready for temple land talks

Meeting with Hun Sen likely next month

Published: 23/08/2010
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) says he is willing to discuss the Preah Vihear temple and its disputed surrounding area with his Cambodian counterpart during the Asean-Europe Meeting next month.

Mr Abhisit stressed during his weekly television and radio address yesterday that the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia should be settled through bilateral talks.

He and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen are scheduled to attend the Asem summit, where they could hold talks on the dispute without the involvement of any international organisation or third country, he said.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has been reported as saying he is ready to help Cambodia and Thailand resolve their differences.

Mr Abhisit said the UN supported the two countries talking to each other to settle the dispute.

The UN chief said he was ready to help but any request must be made with the consent of both countries.

The prime minister said he did not believe the government of any country engaged in a border dispute wanted to see clashes.

Thailand and Cambodia were at loggerheads again last month over the Preah Vihear temple during the World Heritage meeting in Brazil.

Thailand opposed Phnom Penh's management plan for the temple and the surrounding areas proposed to the WHC meeting.

The WHC decided to postpone consideration of the matter until its next annual meeting next year in Bahrain.

Cambodia responded by seeking the intervention of international organisations including the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

There have since been reports that Hun Sen is now ready to discuss the issue with his Thai counterpart.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said this is a good sign.

Mr Chavanond said Thailand is ready to talk with Cambodia if it respects Thailand's procedures.

Meanwhile, authorities have confirmed that three Thai villagers arrested after straying into Cambodian territory from Surin are safe.

Surin governor Rapee Pongbuppakit said yesterday he has been in contact with the three by telephone and they confirmed they were safe and had not been physically assaulted.

The three villagers _ Sanong Wongcharoen, Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri of Surin's Sangkhla district _ were arrested on Wednesday by Cambodian soldiers while gathering fruit and hunting in the forest along the border.

They reportedly wandered on to the Cambodian side of the border. The three are being detained in a Siem Reap jail.

Mr Rapee said he told the three not to worry as Thai authorities are working to secure their release.

The villagers have not appeared before a court.

A source quoted a Thai man with a business in Cambodia as saying Lt Gen Jia Mon, commander of Cambodia's Army Region4, will ask the authorities in Siem Reap not to send the three to stand trial in court for the sake of relations between the two countries.

Hatthachai Pengjaem, chairman of a tourism operators club in Si Sa Ket, yesterday said five representatives of Thailand's joint border committee from the northeastern province and Cambodian representatives led by Tod Lar, head of the Cambodian team, left for Siem Reap yesterday to find ways to help the three Thais.

A high-level Cambodian official has promised to help the three, he said.

Mr Hatthachai quoted Lt Col Tod Lar as saying Cambodia has not filed any charges against the three villagers.

The opposition Puea Thai Party has offered to help secure their release.

Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party is willing to help if it was asked by relatives of the three for assistance.