[Thai] PM: Observers after troops leave

Published: 21/07/2011
Bangkok Post

Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple ruins until Cambodian troops had left, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) said on Thursday - the exact opposite of Phnom Penh's stand on the matter.

“Thailand and Cambodia have different positions on this issue and therefore talks between the two sides are needed.

"Meetings must be held to discuss procedures to prevent any misunderstanding from occurring,” Mr Abhisit said.

The prime minister said the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had ordered an immediate troop withdrawal by both sides.

Jessada Katawethin, deputy director-general of the Department of Information at Foreign Ministry, said state agencies, including foreign and Defence ministries, must meet to discuss the IJC ruling before there was any compliance with the ICJ order.

Mr Jessada expected an initial meeting would be held early next week, after the Thai team at the court hearing returned from The Hague, in the Netherlands.

Police chief Wichian Potephosree on Thursday flew by police helicopter to the No 224 Border Patrol Police unit in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district, to update himself on the the situation along Thai-Cambodian border.

He was accompanied by Army Region 2 commander Lt-Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn.

Pol Gen Wichian said he would order appropriate security measures to ensure the safety of people living along the border and their property.

Asked whether border patrol police might be deployed to replaced troops along the border withdrawn under the ICJ order, the police chief said the situation had not reached that point yet. He would await orders from the prime minister.

Lt-Gen Thawatchai said the situation in Si Sa Ket border area remains calm and without any tension. He said Thai troops would not be pulled back from the border. The army would wait for orders from the new government.

Pol Gen Wichian and Lt-Gen Thawatchai the boarded passenger vans heading for Pha Mor E Daeng in Khao Phra Viharn National Park. Reporters were not allowed to join the trip.