Top: Cambodian police stand guard near the border with Thailand in Samrong, Oddar Meanchey province. Hopes of an imminent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia have faded after Bangkok pulled out of talks with its neighbour and deadly border clashes entered a sixth day. Bottom: A Cambodian male nurse distributes medicine to villagers who live near the Thai-Cambodia border and who were evacuated after cross border fighting in Oddar Meanchey province.
France 24
27th April, 2011
AFP - Hopes of an imminent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia faded on Wednesday after Bangkok pulled out of talks with its neighbour and deadly border clashes entered a sixth day.
Cambodia's prime minister called for a truce in the bloodiest fighting between the two countries in decades, which has left 14 people dead and forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee cross-border shelling.
Talks aimed at ending hostilities had been due to take place in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, but Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon called off the planned meeting with his Cambodian counterpart at the last minute.
Army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said the trip was cancelled after Cambodian media reported that Thailand had admitted defeat in the stand-off.
"I will definitely talk with Cambodia but I don't want the public to think the decision to talk is a defeat for Thailand," Prawit told reporters before flying to China for an unrelated meeting.
The two nations traded fresh accusations over the breakdown in diplomatic overtures.
"Thailand isn't honest about wanting to reach a permanent ceasefire," Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said.
Eight Cambodian and five Thai troops have died in five days of heavy weapons fire along their shared border, prompting growing diplomatic pressure on the neighbours to end the conflict. Thailand said a civilian had also been killed.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he wanted the fighting to stop.
"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," the premier said in a speech in the capital Phnom Penh, adding that he was ready to hold talks with his Thai counterpart at a regional summit in Jakarta in early May.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was confident that discussions would be held after Prawit returned from China.
"I am ready to talk but I don't understand why they don't stop shelling," he added.
On Tuesday the fighting spread along the border to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which has been the focus of strained relations between the neighbours since it was granted UN World Heritage status in 2008.
That area had been relatively calm for two months and is 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of two other disputed temple complexes that have been the scene of fierce fighting since Friday.
In February, 10 people were killed near the Preah Vihear temple, prompting a UN appeal for a permanent ceasefire.
Many local villagers caught up in the violence say they want a return to normality.
"I want them to talk to each other and bring about peace," said Pornchai Jongkod, the 46-year-old head of the Thai village of Noi Rom Yen near the border, whose house was destroyed by a shell and his daughter injured.
"People are suffering, losing their lives and belongings. Our lives are already hard and this is only making things worse," he told AFP.
The neighbours agreed in late February to allow observers from Indonesia into the area near Preah Vihear. But the Thai military has since said the monitors are not welcome and they have not been deployed.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) surrounding area.
Cambodia has accused Thailand of using spy planes and poisonous gas in the recent fighting -- which Bangkok has strongly denied.
The fighting comes at a sensitive political time for Thailand, with Abhisit preparing to dissolve the lower house of parliament for elections he has said will be held by early July.
Abhisit said on Tuesday that the clashes would not derail his polls plan.
France 24
27th April, 2011
AFP - Hopes of an imminent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia faded on Wednesday after Bangkok pulled out of talks with its neighbour and deadly border clashes entered a sixth day.
Cambodia's prime minister called for a truce in the bloodiest fighting between the two countries in decades, which has left 14 people dead and forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee cross-border shelling.
Talks aimed at ending hostilities had been due to take place in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, but Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon called off the planned meeting with his Cambodian counterpart at the last minute.
Army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said the trip was cancelled after Cambodian media reported that Thailand had admitted defeat in the stand-off.
"I will definitely talk with Cambodia but I don't want the public to think the decision to talk is a defeat for Thailand," Prawit told reporters before flying to China for an unrelated meeting.
The two nations traded fresh accusations over the breakdown in diplomatic overtures.
"Thailand isn't honest about wanting to reach a permanent ceasefire," Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said.
Eight Cambodian and five Thai troops have died in five days of heavy weapons fire along their shared border, prompting growing diplomatic pressure on the neighbours to end the conflict. Thailand said a civilian had also been killed.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he wanted the fighting to stop.
"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," the premier said in a speech in the capital Phnom Penh, adding that he was ready to hold talks with his Thai counterpart at a regional summit in Jakarta in early May.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was confident that discussions would be held after Prawit returned from China.
"I am ready to talk but I don't understand why they don't stop shelling," he added.
On Tuesday the fighting spread along the border to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which has been the focus of strained relations between the neighbours since it was granted UN World Heritage status in 2008.
That area had been relatively calm for two months and is 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of two other disputed temple complexes that have been the scene of fierce fighting since Friday.
In February, 10 people were killed near the Preah Vihear temple, prompting a UN appeal for a permanent ceasefire.
Many local villagers caught up in the violence say they want a return to normality.
"I want them to talk to each other and bring about peace," said Pornchai Jongkod, the 46-year-old head of the Thai village of Noi Rom Yen near the border, whose house was destroyed by a shell and his daughter injured.
"People are suffering, losing their lives and belongings. Our lives are already hard and this is only making things worse," he told AFP.
The neighbours agreed in late February to allow observers from Indonesia into the area near Preah Vihear. But the Thai military has since said the monitors are not welcome and they have not been deployed.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) surrounding area.
Cambodia has accused Thailand of using spy planes and poisonous gas in the recent fighting -- which Bangkok has strongly denied.
The fighting comes at a sensitive political time for Thailand, with Abhisit preparing to dissolve the lower house of parliament for elections he has said will be held by early July.
Abhisit said on Tuesday that the clashes would not derail his polls plan.
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