Cambodian PM orders troops at border be "alert but calm"

July 9, 2011
Source:Xinhua

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered soldiers based at Cambodia-Thai border to be on "alert but patient and calm" and to avoid any "provocative act."

In a statement released Friday after the weekly cabinet meeting, Hun Sen said that while Cambodia is seeing a positive move concerning the foreign policy of Thai Prime Minister-elect on restoring Cambodia-Thai relations, the military must stay alert, patient and calm and avoid any provocative act.

Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Office of the Council of Ministers said the premier delivered the order directly via video conference during the meeting to all military commanders at the border.

According to Phay Siphan, in addition to the order, the premier also advised the military commanders to stay in touch with Thai counterparts and to create good atmosphere through convening regular meetings and conversation so as to avoid military confrontation.

On Monday, Hun Sen hailed the success of Thai election and in particular, the winning Pheu Thai Party, and expressed his strong hope that relations between Thailand and Cambodia will be restored.

He said he is ready to work with the incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in bilateral and regional cooperation.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border trouble since 2008, and since then many rounds of military clashes erupted at the border near Cambodia's Temple of Preah Vihear, and near two other temples in the west, located about 150 kilometers away.