The temple gate of Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda where 10 Thai troops had been stationed since 2008.By Khmerization
Source: everyday.com
An official from Cambodia's Preah Vihear National Authority has said that 10 Thai troops based at the Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak near Preah Vihear temple since Thai toops invaded the temple surrounding areas on 15th July 2008 had all been withdrawn from the pagoda on Tuesday 30th November. He added that the border crossing near the Preah Vihear temple will be re-opened this Sunday 5th December, two and a half years after it was closed after the Thai invasion of the areas.
Mr. Hang Soth, Chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said since Monday afternoon, the 10 troops from both countries stationed at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak Pagoda had all been withdrawn. He said Psar Krom Market or Preah Vihear Market located on the staircase of the temple will be re-opened. But, said that the Cambodian side has not agreed to allow Thai vendors and traders set up their shops and stalls at the above market as requested by the Thai side. But he added both sides had also started to fill up their trenches dug during the heights of the tensions in the areas after the withdrawls of the Thai troops.
However, the Bangkok Post has just quoted the Thai Second Army Region commander Thawatchai Samutsakhon yesterday who insisted no troop withdrawals from the disputed area had or would take place.
Source: everyday.com
An official from Cambodia's Preah Vihear National Authority has said that 10 Thai troops based at the Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak near Preah Vihear temple since Thai toops invaded the temple surrounding areas on 15th July 2008 had all been withdrawn from the pagoda on Tuesday 30th November. He added that the border crossing near the Preah Vihear temple will be re-opened this Sunday 5th December, two and a half years after it was closed after the Thai invasion of the areas.
Mr. Hang Soth, Chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said since Monday afternoon, the 10 troops from both countries stationed at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak Pagoda had all been withdrawn. He said Psar Krom Market or Preah Vihear Market located on the staircase of the temple will be re-opened. But, said that the Cambodian side has not agreed to allow Thai vendors and traders set up their shops and stalls at the above market as requested by the Thai side. But he added both sides had also started to fill up their trenches dug during the heights of the tensions in the areas after the withdrawls of the Thai troops.
However, the Bangkok Post has just quoted the Thai Second Army Region commander Thawatchai Samutsakhon yesterday who insisted no troop withdrawals from the disputed area had or would take place.
The Free Press Magazine has reported that the Cambodian opposition MPs and civil society organisations have called for the Thai withdrawals as a pre-condition for the re-opening of the Preah Vihear temple border crossing and in exchange for peace along the borders with Thailand.
Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association and chairman of the Cambodian Watchdog Council, said he also wants all Thai troops out of Cambodian territory and he is not happy that Cambodia had to withdraw her troops from the areas as well. "I don't understand the position of the government which said that both sides had withsrawn their troops. In fact, it is the Thai side which need to withdraw troops, but the Cambodian side need not withdraw any troops because they are stationing on our soil to defend our territory", he said.
An anonymous Cambodian official said, to enable the re-opening of the border crossing and in exchange for peace, Cambodia had to agree to withdraw troops from the border areas near the temple.
An anonymous Cambodian official said, to enable the re-opening of the border crossing and in exchange for peace, Cambodia had to agree to withdraw troops from the border areas near the temple.
2 comments:
Khmer is on the lost lost side in this situation. That's a sad solution to real khmer people.
Hun Sen will sacrifice our territory and territorial integrity for his dollars and pockets. To open this border crossing for trades and tourism without Thai troop withdrawal should be a no, no. All Thai troops must withdraw from Cambodian territory before we agree to open the border here.
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