ID :
248128
Wed, 07/18/2012 - 10:01
Auther :

Authorities inspect redeployment of forces along Thai-Cambodian border

SI SA KET, THAILAND, July 18 (TNA) - Authorities concerned, including Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, on Wednesday inspected the redeployment of a national force on an unsettled area near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, along the Thai-Cambodian border in Kantharalak district of Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket province, and to boost morale of the concerned officers. The redeployment involved the withdrawal of Thai soldiers and replaced them with border patrol police officers. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol reiterated that Thailand would not lose any border area to Cambodia and he is prepared to explain to local villagers who plan to stage a demonstration against the withdrawal of Thai troops from the contested border area to properly understand the situation. According to the defence minister, concerned Thai authorities have discussed on the troop pullout from the 4.6-square-kilometre area claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia and agreed that the withdrawal of soldiers will not put Thailand at disadvantage, as Thailand will not lose any territorial area to neighbouring Cambodia. In response to a comment on whether it would be better to let the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) to handle the joint withdrawal of soldiers from the unsettled area, the Thai defence minister acknowledged that the Thai-Cambodian GBC is overseeing the redeployment process and its members have held meetings twice and shared a similar idea. The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered on July 18, 2011 that both Thailand and Cambodia immediately withdraw their military forces from the "Provision Demilitarized Zone" and have no military presence in the zone. The World Court also urged the two neighbouring countries to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which both are member countries, to reach an agreement to allow the 10-member bloc’s observers to enter the "Provision Demilitarized Zone". (TNA)

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