Thai To Review Ties With Cambodia In Wake Of Fresh Border Clash

By ONE Liners Agency

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva orders for a fresh review of the nations tie with neighbor Cambodia in the wake of re-clashes in the border between the two countries.

The proposal for the review came from Thailand Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Tuesday at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

According to government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn, the Cabinet resolved that border dispute will only be confined to dispute and not clashes as it is seen for past few days.

Wattanayagorn also added that Thailand government would cooperate with international organizations and all the relevant agencies. He said the military would take retaliatory action in pushing out the Cambodian soldiers from disputed areas and also diplomatic measures to be taken to bring Cambodian government to bilateral talks.

Spokesman believed further that after the two countries' meet in the sideline of ASEAN summit in Indonesia, the situation would improve. ASEAN will be held on May 7 and 8. Also, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to meet on April 28 the Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa.

It is learned from Wattanayagorn that Thailand and Indonesia may reach to an agreement on the deployment of Indonesian observers at the disputed border areas.

Meanwhile, for the fifth consecutive day fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodia soldiers along the mountainous disputed border.

Thai as well as Cambodia spokesmen said the fight broke out near the 11th Century hill-top Preah Vihear temple today.

Last four days the fight was around Ta Krabey temple, 160km to the west.

In the five days violence between the two countries at least twelve soldiers have been killed.

Due to recent fighting about 36,000 people have been displaced.

Calling for ceasefire, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that both the countries need to resolve the crisis through serious dialogue and not through military means.

In February about ten people were killed in violence around Preah Vihear temple.

Even after international court awarding the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, both the neighbors claim for the ownership of the surrounding area.

Border Clash Between Thailand And Cambodia Resumes

By MALILA Harris

THAILAND NEWS – The clash between Thailand and Cambodia has once again ignited when in an incident four soldiers have been killed, increasing the number of death to 10 in two days.

The clash has started when both sides have exchanged fire in jungle around Ta Krabey temple, which both sides claim. The disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple is spread around 200 km and a place for fatal clashes between two nations. Since February, the scene has turned into a battleground and eventually people were evacuated from the area.

According to a news source, the reason of this immediate violence is still to be known and both sides blamed each other for the clash.

“Fresh fighting started at around 0600 (2300 GMT Friday) with rifles and mortar shelling," said Thai army spokesman Col Prawit Hookaew.

"We are negotiating to stop the fighting," he added.

Both sides blamed each for the killing, as Thai officials said one Thai soldiers had been killed and more than four injured whereas Cambodian officials claimed to lose three of their soldiers.

It is reported that some artillery shelling had also taken place and fighting became more intense in a week.

Indonesia has been playing a negotiator between two countries and appeal for immediate ceasefire.

In 1962, an international court had awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, however, the conflict between two neighbors have been continuing over the surrounding area. There are other parts of the Thai-Cambodian border, which have not yet been formally demarcated.