Hun Sen's letter to UN "misquoted, out of context and misunderstood" : PM

The Nation
11 Aug, 2010

UN told current border problem caused by Cambodia's invading into Thai territory :

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva tells the United Nations that letter of Cambodia' Prime Minister Hun Sen to the UN concerning Preah Vihear controversy is "misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood."

Abhisit said in his letter signed on August 10 to Vitaly Churkin, President of the United Nations Security Council, that the current border problem between both countries arises from Cambodia's encroachment of Thailand's territory in violation of international law.

Cambodia's intrusion also violated the Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding on boundary demarcation signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 which states: "To facilitate the effective survey along the entire stretch of the common land boundary, authorities of either Government and their agents shall not carry out any work resulting in changes of environment of the frontier zone, except that which is carried out by the Joint Technical Sub-Commission in the interest of the survey and demarcation."

"I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that my remarks as appeared in the said letter were misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood," according to the letter.

It has been Thai government's intention to solve the land boundary problem with Cambodia through the implementation of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (MOU) between Thai and Cambodia.

"The MOU serves as a framework for negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia in relation to the land boundary. Thailand therefore expects strict adherence to the MOU."

"Therefore, I instructed both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to closely coordinate with one another and with their Cambodian counterparts, including through the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC)," he said in the letter.

Thailand also adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN's Charter and the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 concerning the Temple Case.

"It is Thailand's conviction that any differences between countries shall be settled by peaceful means," according to the letter.

Abhisit said in the letter; "I also informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2009 about the problem that occurred because of the inscription by Cambodia of the Temple on the World Heritage List in 2008, while the surrounding area is in Thailand's territory."

Despite the ongoing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the temple, they maintained close relationship under many bilateral and regional frameworks.