Cambodian PM assures of no escalation of clash with Thailand
17/10/2008 17:26
Cambodian PM assures of no escalation of clash with
Thailand
Wednesday's weapon clash with Thailand at the border area has come
to its end and will not escalate into more serious military confrontation, said
Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh today after concluding a regular cabinet
meeting.
"Large-scale war won't take place and people living at the border
needn't worry," he told reporters.
They don't have to stockpile food and
other living materials, he said, adding that "the tension has been eased now at
the border area."
Meanwhile, he turned down the idea that other countries or
international institutions mediate between Cambodia and Thailand to help resolve
their border dispute.
"It isn't time yet," he said.
Both foreign ministers
had talked on phone and decided to accomplish the job by ourselves with the
existing mechanism, he said.
The premier dismissed the necessity to raise the
issue in the international community, too.
After the armed conflict on
Wednesday killed two and wounded another two Cambodian soldiers, Malaysia has
offered to be mediator for the two sides and Indonesia proposed to put the issue
on the agenda of the upcoming ASEM Summit in Beijing.
In addition at the
cabinet meeting, Hun Sen submitted to increase the government's military budget
by large margin and discuss draft law to list national defense as priority
consideration, according to official source.
"We must consider to raise our
military spending," he told the cabinet.
Prior to the meeting, all members
observed minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of the battle, where only
light weapons were used.
Wednesday's battle lasted for about two hours at the
border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple and caused casualties on both
troops. Each side later alleged passive fight-back for itself.
Yesterday,
both military commanders agreed at a meeting held in Thailand to cease fire and
conduct joint patrol at the border area.
Meanwhile, current troops and
artillery will remain there, but can't move or redeploy unilaterally.
In
July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world
heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim
ownership of the site.
The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in
which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six
weeks.
Bilateral talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple
were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.
In early
October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during
sporadic exchange of gunfire and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured
after stepping on a landmine at the border area.
Xinhua
|
