Cambodian, Thai Defence Ministers Agree to Pull out Troops

The newly appointed Thai Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha (R) and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh (L) review the guard of honor at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sept. 23, 2011. Yuthasak started a two-day official visit in Cambodia on Friday morning. [Photo: Xinhua/Sovannara]

23rd September, 2011
Xinhua Web Editor: Guo

Cambodian and Thai defense ministers on Friday agreed to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to withdraw both sides' troops from the disputed border area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, but no specific date of pullout is set.

"We have agreed each other to comply with the ICJ's order on troop pullout at the area near Preah Vihear temple and to allow Indonesian observers to monitor ceasefire at the area," Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with visiting Thai Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha at the Ministry of Defense.

However, he said there was no exact date for the troop withdrawal as both sides would discuss further in the General Border Commission in the future.

On July 18, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel from the provisional demilitarized zone on the disputed border near the Preah Vihear temple and allow ASEAN observers access to the provisional demilitarized zone to monitor ceasefire.

"We will comply with the order of the ICJ," Yuthasak Sasiprapha told reporters, adding "no more tension between Cambodian and Thai troops now."

Yuthasak said that for the GBC meeting, the Thai Defense Ministry was ready to hold it with Cambodia in order to bring better situation to the border.

"When I return from Cambodia, I will propose the Thai cabinet ministers in order to allow the Thai Defense Ministry to hold the GBC meeting with Cambodia," he said.

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 and witnessed fierce border fighting in February and April during the Thai's Democrat-led administration.

However, the military tension has eased since the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3.

Yuthasak arrived here on Friday morning for a two-day visit. During the stay, he will also pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Hun Sen.