Thai flag hoisted near the 5th Gopura closer to the stair case of Preah Vihear temple.Published: 2/02/2011
Bangkok Post
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Thailand is ramping up its military presence in the disputed area along the border with Cambodia but the army insists the use of force will be the last resort.
The military rumblings come as the spat over the presence of national flags in the disputed zone continues, with Cambodia refusing to remove its national standard from Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara inside the contested area and Thailand erecting its own in response.
Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara is the Cambodian name of the temple known in Thailand as Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara.
The Thai flag is said to be bigger and stands taller than the Cambodian one.
Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said the border dispute should be solved through the Joint Boundary Commission, adding the Foreign Affairs Ministry was pursuing this channel.
"Use of force will be the last resort," Gen Prayuth said.
"The government must try to solve this through dialogue."
He insisted Thailand had not lost any territory, despite the claims of the People's Alliance for Democracy pressure group, which is protesting against the government's handling of the dispute.
Gen Prayuth said the two countries had increased security along the border but insisted neither had any intention to intrude on the other's territory.
He said Cambodia's deployment of tanks and heavy weapons along the border was part of military preparedness in response to media expectation of the use of force.
Thailand had mobilised its own troops and arms, but Gen Prayuth said this was a routine preparatory practice.
"There are several approaches ranging from talks to force. If talks fail and there is a troop stand-off, that is another story," he said.
"But I don't want to see this happen. It will use a lot of resources. We have to help lessen tension.
" A war is not just about shooting at each other. We need to bring two or three times more troops to the border. There is also weapon support. All of this needs money."
Thailand is ramping up its military presence in the disputed area along the border with Cambodia but the army insists the use of force will be the last resort.
The military rumblings come as the spat over the presence of national flags in the disputed zone continues, with Cambodia refusing to remove its national standard from Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara inside the contested area and Thailand erecting its own in response.
Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara is the Cambodian name of the temple known in Thailand as Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara.
The Thai flag is said to be bigger and stands taller than the Cambodian one.
Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said the border dispute should be solved through the Joint Boundary Commission, adding the Foreign Affairs Ministry was pursuing this channel.
"Use of force will be the last resort," Gen Prayuth said.
"The government must try to solve this through dialogue."
He insisted Thailand had not lost any territory, despite the claims of the People's Alliance for Democracy pressure group, which is protesting against the government's handling of the dispute.
Gen Prayuth said the two countries had increased security along the border but insisted neither had any intention to intrude on the other's territory.
He said Cambodia's deployment of tanks and heavy weapons along the border was part of military preparedness in response to media expectation of the use of force.
Thailand had mobilised its own troops and arms, but Gen Prayuth said this was a routine preparatory practice.
"There are several approaches ranging from talks to force. If talks fail and there is a troop stand-off, that is another story," he said.
"But I don't want to see this happen. It will use a lot of resources. We have to help lessen tension.
" A war is not just about shooting at each other. We need to bring two or three times more troops to the border. There is also weapon support. All of this needs money."
4 comments:
Thailand will tell Hun Sen to take off his pants next, and bend over for them...
Let the Siem raise their own flag all they want, as long as it doesn't encroach into Cambodian territory. As soon the Siem cross that line, welcome them with mortar, RPGs, grenade, bullets, etc. Siem are testing the water. Let them come, what they don't know will hurt them.
10:22 AM, Thailand has raised its flag inside Cambodian territory. You see the stone in which the flagpole was planted? It's a temple stone, a carved stone, not natural, normal rock. Cambodian troops need to remove the Thai flag or the Cambodian govt. take the case to the UN or world court.
How come the Cambodian soldiers didn't patrol over its surround territories and allow the Thai soldiers to sneak in and hoisted their flag inside our territory?? This is the second time that the Thai had successfully hoisted their flag at the same spot. I hope our soldiers will go there to take their flag down and put our flag there instead. The Thais are pushing it for a war. What are we waiting for??
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