Thai Foreign Ministry lodges protest letter with Cambodia over new border clash

22 Apr, 2011
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK, April 22 - Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned the Cambodian ambassador to Bangkok to receive a letter of protest reasserting that Cambodian troops invaded Thai territory today following a renewed clash between the two countries troops this morning.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya held a news conference today after clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers erupted at 6.25am Friday on the western side of the Ta Kwai temple in Surin's Panom Rak district.

Mr Kasit charged that Cambodian troops encroached on the buffer zone previously agreed by the two countries that troops from both sides should stay 100 metres away from each other.

He said that Thai troops have warned the trespassers to leave the no-entry zone but the Cambodian soldiers did not retreat and instead opened fire at the Thais.

Thailand has no other choice except firing back to protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity by using proportionate means under international law, the foreign minister said, adding that the clash site was 140 kilometres distant from the disputed Preah Vihear temple.

The Thai foreign ministry summoned the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand to accept the protest letter, and issued a statement to the world community that Cambodia has breached the agreement made by both countries, according to the minister.

Thailand also urged the resumption of the meetings of Regional Border Committee (RBC) and the General Border Committee (GBC) as soon as possible to resolve the ongoing conflict, Mr Kasit insisted, adding that the two countries can still hold talks without intervention from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or other world bodies.

Mr Kasit however said the Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, current ASEAN chair, has telephoned him to inquire about the incident.

Regarding the upcoming meeting of the World Heritage Committee in France in June, the foreign minister said Thailand has agreed in principle to hold talk with Cambodia in May, prior to the June meeting, as proposed by the special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti will lead the Thai delegation to discuss the conflict related to the ancient Preah Vihear temple. The Thai delegate expects to discuss the unconcluded border demarcation between the two neighbours and the temple management plan prepared by Cambodia, which Thailand says trespasses Thai territory.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva initially said there was no confirmation of the number of casualties but the Thai authorities later confirmed that three Thai soldiers have died and 13 were wounded.

Mr Abhisit said that the authorities concerned were urgently coordinating with Cambodia to ease the situation.

He said the two border meetings could be channels to find a solution, and that there is no need to raise the issue to the ASEAN.