Cambodian, Thai defense ministers meet to cool tensions over disputed border

Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat, right, takes a Thai delegation to hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart, Gen Tea Bahn, second left, at Preah Vihear Temple on Tuesday. (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)

Sukumpol meets Tea Bahn at P.Vihear

• Published: 26 Feb 2013
• Bangkok Post
• Writer: Wasana Nanuam and Saritdet Marukatat

PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE – The meeting between Thai and Cambodian officials at Preah Vihear on Tuesday had no implications for the legal fight over the disputed area between Thailand and Cambodia, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the talks.

ACM Sukumpol led the Thai delegation for a luncheon meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Gen Tea Banh, on the border at Preah Vihear, the site of an ancient Khmer-Hindu temple.

Both sides promised to respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) later this year, he said.

ACM Sukumpol said the meeting did not imply any recognition by Thailand that the disputed area immediately adjoining he temple was part of Cambodia.

The two ministers also agreed to settle border disputes through peaceful measures instead of using force, he said.

The meeting was held at the temple over the objections of the Thai Foreign Ministry, which argued it could put Thailand at a disadvantage in the legal dispute between the two countries over the disputed border area.

The world court ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple ruins were part of Cambodia.

Phnom Penh asked the ICJ  in 2011 to interpret its 1962 judgement and clarify ownership of the land immediately adjoining the ruins.

The two parties will present verbal arguments on April 15-19, with a ruling due in October.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday warned of  possible repercussions of the meeting of the two ministers at Preah Vihear, which is called Phra Viharn in Thailand.

He said Cambodia could use the talks to substantiate its claim over the 4.6 square kilometres in dispute.

The opposition leader said he did not oppose talks with Cambodia, but the government should realise that meetings with Cambodia could have an impact on Thailand’s claim.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have improved since the Pheu Thai Party backed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took power in 2011.

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ACM Sukampol met Cambodian counterpart Tuesday

February 26, 2013
The Nation 

File photo : Sukampol

Thai Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat on Tuesday held a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart near Preah Vihear Temple amidst concerns that Thailand is at a disadvantage over the adjacent disputed plot. Sukampol's entourage included Gen Thanongsak Apirakyothin, permanent secretary for Defence, Gen Nipat Thonglek, deputy permanent secretary for Defence, Gen Worapong Sanganet, deputy supreme commander, Gen Udomdet Sitabut, Army chief of staff, Lt Gen Worawit Darunchu, the commander of the Border Affairs Department, and representatives of other concerned government agencies.

Sukampol met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh and other Cambodian officials at a location near the Preah Vihear.

A wellinformed source from the Defence Ministry said the Foreign Ministry earlier recommended Sukampol to change the meeting venue after Tea Banh invited the Thai defence minister to a luncheon meeting to discuss the border dispute at Preah Vihear.

The Foreign Ministry feared that holding a meeting there would affect the case in the International Court of Justice. Cambodia has asked the court to rule whether the ancient temple's boundary includes the plot around it, over which Thailand is claiming sovereignty.

Sukampol asked Tea Banh to meet him at the Surin Majestic Hotel instead but Tea Banh threatened to cancel the talks so Sukampol agreed to meet him at Preah Vihear, the source said.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Cambodia, Sukampol said he would visit Thai troops stationed near the border so he would take the opportunity to hold talks with Tea Banh.

Sukampol said the meeting would be a followup to the talks between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen. The two met at the funeral of King Sihanouk on February 4 and the two prime minister assigned their defence ministers to hold further talks.

Sukampol said the two countries should settle their land dispute through talks as their borders would remain connected forever.

He said the talks should not cause Thailand to be at a disadvantage in the case. "If we worry about being at a disadvantage, we won't be able to do anything. If we are at a disadvantage, why should I go?" Sukampol said.-------------------------------------------  

Souce:Xinhua 

Publish By Thomas Whittle

Updated 27/02/2013

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 26 — Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Sukumpol Suwanatat informally met and had lunch near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday, aiming to reduce tensions ahead of the World Court’s hearing over the disputed border around the temple in April.

“The two defense ministers just met and had lunch together in front of the Preah Vihear temple to create a closer atmosphere between the two sides’ troops,” Chan Punloek, an assistant to Royal Cambodian Armed Forces commander in Preah Vihear, Chea Tara, told Xinhua over telephone. “The meeting could cool tensions along the border ahead of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling over the disputed border,” he said.

“The two ministers agreed to solve all issues peacefully based on existing mechanisms,” said Chan Punloek, who also attended the meeting. “They also reiterated their commitment to complying with the decision of the ICJ.”

The ICJ awarded the 11th century Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962.

The two neighbors have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial dispute near the temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple.

Fierce clashes between the two sides’ troops happened in February and April 2011 under Thailand’s Democrat Party rule.

However, the two nations have seen improving ties since August, 2011 when former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party won the general election and led the current government.

At Cambodia’s request, the ICJ is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed land around the Preah Vihear temple later this year.

The two countries are scheduled to give their oral statements on the dispute to the ICJ in the Netherlands on April 15-19.