Cambodia has postponed the meeting to resolve the border dispute between
Cambodia and Thailand without giving any reason, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs announced yesterday.
Thailand's Second Army Chief Wibulsak Neepal was scheduled to lead Thai
delegates for bilateral talks at Cambodia's Siem Reap province next Wednesday
and Thursday.
Thailand's ministry of foreign affairs revealed that it was informed by the
army that Cambodian deputy prime minister and defense minister Tia Banh asked to
postpone the Regional Border Committee meeting between the two countries.
According to reports from the Thai News Agency, it is believed that the
postponement resulted from concern that the meeting, if held according to the
original schedule, won't be able to reach any agreement to settle the border
dispute focused on the 11th century Preah Vihear temple without a negotiation
framework approved by the Thai parliament.
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.