People's Daily OnlineDecember 01, 2010
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) on Wednesday denied recent reports that Thai military had withdrawn from Preah Vihear Temple's surrounding areas in preparation for the reopening of the temple's border crossing this coming weekend.
He said Cambodia has, however, pulled back some troops and this was a good sign for both countries.
Meanwhile, government acting spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn revealed that Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had directly reported to the prime minister that there had been no withdrawal of Thai troops from that area.
The Cambodian has remilitarized its own forces deployed along the border, the spokesman added.
"Thai government has not yet opened the crossing point at Preah Vihear Temple but only allowed Thai people to go through a checkpoint at Pha Mor I-Daeng," Panitan said.
The border gate has been closed since July 2008, when the 900-year-old Hindu temple was enlisted as a World Heritage site, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
Since then, tourists have been allowed to enter the hilltop temple from only Cambodia side, preventing a larger influx of visitors from Thailand.
Source: Xinhua
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