Preah Vihear

In the report, Don Pramudwinai, the Thai ambassador to the United Nations (UN) was quoted as saying that Thailand had made the move following Cambodia’s seeking UN intervention in its dispute with Thailand over ownership of the land adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple.

The land in dispute is a 4.6-square-kilometer parcel overlapping area claimed both by Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province.

“In the face of this imminent state of war, this very serious threat to our independence and territorial integrity, we have an obligation to resort to the UN Security Council,” Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Tuesday.

The Thai ambassador to the UN said Cambodia wanted the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting over the issue despite Thailand’s objection.

He said, however, that Thailand will ponder further moves pending the council’s response over the issue.

“The council will call a meeting on July 24 and we will see to it whether or not the council will hold an emergency session upon Cambodia’s request,” Don said.

“How the council members will react and any implications that would affect Thailand remains to be seen,” the Thai ambassador to the UN said, adding that Bangkok had disagreed with Phnom Penh’s move from the start for fear that it might undermine the solidarity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier expressed concern on Monday over the escalating tension, calling on Thailand and Cambodia to peacefully resolve the conflict after talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh failed to end a military standoff around the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

The military standoff between Cambodia and Thailand has entered its second week. Both countries historically laid claim to the 11th century temple, which now sits on Cambodian soil following the action of the International Court of Justice which awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962. However, the temple can practicably only be accessed from Thailand.

However, the exact demarcation of the border around the ruins remains in contention.

The security situation around the temple deteriorated after three Thais, including a Buddhist monk, were briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers after surreptitiously crossing into the disputed border area on July 15. The trio were released the same day but refused to leave the 4.6 square kilometer disputed area adjoining the temple complex.

Thailand first issued a warning that travel to the vicinity of the temple be avoided, but later closed off access altogether within 10 kilometers of the temple.

Sombat Chuengtrakul, chairman of the local entrepreneurs club in Thailand’s Chanthaburi Province which is bordering with Cambodia, was quoted as saying that the situation in Cambodia is causing worry among Thai investors there, many of whom are packing their bags and returning home.

Thai entrepreneurs are temporarily closing their businesses because they are not confident regarding Cambodia’s position towards their presence in the face of the ongoing Preah Vihear temple dispute.

Rumors are circulating among Cambodians, especially by cellphone, with short SMS messages to Cambodian cellphone users warning that up to 10,000 Thai soldiers have gathered, and are patrolling and beefing up security along the Thai-Cambodian border, Sombat said.

“Some of the messages were rumors that caused confusion among Cambodian people. Thai business people feel they have to travel back to their home to wait until they see the situation returning to normal,” Sombat said.

However, he said that border trade in Chanthaburi’s Soidao and Pong Nam Ron districts is carrying on as usual.

The military standoff between Cambodia and Thailand has entered its second week. Both countries historically laid claim to the 11th century temple, which now sits on Cambodian soil following the action of the International Court of Justice which awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962. However, the temple can practicably only be accessed from Thailand.

Editor: Bi Mingxin