Cambodia depends on bilateral mechanism to settle border dispute with Thailand
19/11/2008 16:43
The bilateral mechanism between Cambodia and Thailand can facilitate both
sides to settle their months-long border dispute, Chinese-language newspaper the
Jian Hua Daily today quoted an official as saying.
However, the time is not
ripe yet, as Thailand has to cope with its political turmoil first, Phay Siphan,
secretary of state of the Cambodian Council of Ministers, told a seminar in
Phnom Penh yesterday.
An armed clash in October at the border area killed two
Cambodian soldiers and wounded two others, after Thai troops entered the
disputed there over sovereignty claim. Both sides then initiated rounds of
diplomatic and military talks, but achieved none significant
developments.
The Cambodian government has been improving the roads leading
to the Preah Vihear Temple, which is the focus of the bilateral border dispute,
in order to provide more convenience for its people to visit the site, said Phay
Siphan.
"We are worried that the road renovation might become the latest
excuse for more Thai troops to enter the area," he said.
"We would report any
change within the area to the concerned international organizations (for help
and justice)", he added.
The International Court of Justice decided in 1962
that the temple belongs to Cambodia, which has rankled some Thai nationalists
who believe in the ownership of the 900-year-old historical site by their own
country.
There are now 73 demarcation posts along the 805-km border between
Cambodia and Thailand, 50 percent of which are recognized by the Thai side.
Cambodia still plans to plant hundreds more posts there in order to specify the
border line.
Xinhua
|
