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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai army to maintain troops in disputed area |
| 2008-10-15 |
| The Thai army decided Tuesday to retain troops in the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple despite an ultimatum by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for a pullout of Thai troops. Thai army said in a statement that it was prepared for a confrontation with Cambodia if the spat escalated. The statement said the armed forces reaffirmed that all three armed forces -- army, navy and air force -- are ready for confrontation in the area and are confident in the potential to defend Thailand's sovereignty. "The Thai army will neither start fighting or invade into Cambodia first, but we will surely act in self-defense if Cambodia invades into our territory," the statement said. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday threatening to open wars if Thailand failed to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple. The Thai army said it will maintain its troops in the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple despite Cambodia's ultimatum for Thailand to withdraw the troops. Meanwhile Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said, all 80 troops will remain in the disputed area because Thailand has overseen that area for 20 to 30 years. Sompong said of those 80 troops deployed to the area, 20 of them are mine clearance workers and the rest offer protection for the mine clearance troops. Thailand insists it has not encroached in any territory, he said. 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 confrontation, in which up to 1,000 Thai and Cambodian troops faced off for six weeks. In mid-August, most troops evacuated and just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple. In October at the border area, at least two Thai troops and one Cambodian soldier were wounded during an exchange of gunfire, and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine. |
| Posted by:Fred |