Cambodian leader says Thais are war lovers, as border clashes continue for 6th day

Thai soldiers, left, stand at the site of a destroyed house following the clash between Thailand and Cambodia in Surin province, northeastern Thailand Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Officials said Thailand and Cambodia have traded fire for a sixth day as an increasingly bloody border dispute drags on. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

By Sopheng Cheang,
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia's leader accused Thailand on Wednesday of loving war and said he wants to talk peace with his Thai counterpart at an upcoming regional meeting.

In his first comments since border fighting began last Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said he welcomes talks with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the meeting in Indonesia early next month.

The two countries traded fire for a sixth day Wednesday, after the death of a Thai civilian a day earlier brought the toll to 14. Tens of thousands of civilians on both sides have been forced to flee their homes.

"The current Thai leader likes war, provokes war," Hun Sen said in a speech to a women's group. "I have never met any Thai leader in the past who had bad behaviour like Abhisit."

Both sides have accused the other of starting the fighting.

"Cambodia is a small, poor country and has fewer forces (than Thailand), but don't you forget that an ant can make an elephant not get any sleep," Hun Sen said. "Cambodian's weaponry is not just slingshots."

Cambodia employed truck-mounted rocket launchers for the first time Tuesday, in what Hun Sen said was retaliation for Thailand's use of heavy weapons.

Abhisit, meanwhile, said his government is not willing to have a meeting of the two countries' defence ministers unless there is a cease-fire first.

"If they want to talk, the easiest way is to stop the firing," Abhisit told Parliament after visiting injured civilians in Surin province in the northeast.

Talks with Cambodia have apparently become a divisive issue within the Thai government, with the military dragging its feet while Abhisit takes a more conciliatory position.

On Tuesday it appeared that Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would meet his Cambodian counterpart in Phnom Penh, but Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd then said the trip was cancelled because Cambodian media had allegedly said it was to negotiate terms for a Thai surrender.

Abhisit, however, said the trip could not take place because Prawit had an engagement in China.

The army has already stymied a plan to station Indonesian military observers along the border. Hun Sen said Wednesday that Cambodia would welcome them on its side of the border regardless of any delays by Thailand.

Indonesia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, offered to provide the observers after four days of border fighting in February.

"Why is Thailand afraid of accepting the observers? That is because you are committing aggressive acts against Cambodia," Hun Sen said.

The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections.

The Thai army has been flexing its muscles domestically in recent weeks, raising political tensions. It has staged several high-profile manoeuvrs inside the country, accompanied by statements by the top brass declaring their dedication to protecting the monarchy.

There is speculation that the military disagrees with Abhisit's plan to hold elections by early July. It is believed to fear the return to power of allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom it deposed in a 2006 coup over accusations of corruption and disrespect for King Bhumibol Adulyadej.