Border Conflict Talks

Boy Sophea

The Cambodian and Thai Prime Ministers agreed during a meeting in Beijing October 24 that their nations will avoid any more armed clashes over a border dispute, according
to foreign ministers from both nations.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat discussed the issue during bilateral talks on the sidelines of a 43-nation Asian-European summit in China’s capital, Beijing.

“Both sides have to advise their troops not to have confrontations any longer,” Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat told reporters as he summarized agreements made between the two leaders.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, made similar remarks and described the atmosphere of the talks as “very good, very friendly.”

“We are moving rapidly along the right track, not only to solve the problem of the borders between our two countries but also to improve our neighborliness and cooperation,” Hor Namhong said.

He added, “What happened between us we have to solve peacefully and amicably, for the sake of the neighborliness that has characterized our relations in the past,” On Friday October 24, Thai military commanders insisted that talks with their Cambodian counterparts were easing border tensions after deadly clashes last week, but refused to back down from front line positions.

The senior military officials, whose talks began over a round of golf a day earlier, met to defuse the border dispute near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which erupted into a fire fight on October 15 that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead.

The Thai commanders, led by Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, said there was a “friendly atmosphere” with the Cambodians but insisted Thailand’s soldiers would stand firm. “The Thai side strongly reiterates that the position of our troop deployments is clearly inside Thai territory,” said a statement from Thai commanders released as
the Friday meetings began.

The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation, with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area.