Cambodia seeks UN help in temple row with Thailand
24-JUL-2008 Intellasia | Reuters
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
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Cambodia has asked the United Nations Security Council for an emergency meeting to resolve a military stand-off with Thailand over an ancient temple on their border.
Phnom Penh's appeal to the world body late on Monday came after bilateral talks failed to end the week-long border confrontation, which neighbours fear could turn violent.
"In order to avoid armed confrontation, the Royal government of Cambodia has decided to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to find a solution to the problem in accordance with international laws," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
At the heart of the dispute is a 4.6 sq kilometres (1.8 sq mile) area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary and is claimed by both nations. The 900-year-old temple was awarded to Cambodia by an international court in 1962.
Ministers representing Thailand and Cambodia briefed foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations about the situation at a working lunch, after Cambodia asked Asean to get involved.
Thailand does not want to internationalise the dispute, and prefers to settle it bilaterally, Asean diplomats said afterward.
"The lunch was very, very unofficial, very informal, talking about many, many issues," said Asean Secretary general Surin Pitsuwan.
"Just expressing some views on issues that would affect the region, that would affect Asean, that would have some implications on the image and credibility of Asean. Many, many issues were discussed."
Surin said that Asean expected the "two sides to find the amicable solutions to the issues between them and that Asean still stands ready to extend any support if the two sides would like Asean to play a role. But we did not go any further than that."
Disputed area
The military build-up began a week ago, when Thai troops moved into the disputed area after three Thai protesters were briefly detained there. Since then, both sides have sent hundreds more soldiers and heavy artillery to the border.
Preah Vihear's listing as a World Heritage site in Cambodia this month triggered a political uproar in Bangkok, where the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accused the government of selling out Thailand's history by initially backing the listing.
The stand-off has become a key issue in the run-up to Cambodia's general election on Sunday, with ruling party and opposition politicians slamming the "Thai invaders."
But domestic politics in Thailand have played an even bigger role in fuelling the dispute.
A coalition of activists and royalists is waging a street campaign against prime minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they accuse of acting as a proxy for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006.
Cambodia had asked Asean to form an Inter-Ministerial Group of foreign ministers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to "find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and to avoid a military confrontation between two Asean members."
Monday's talks on the Thai-Cambodia border partly bogged down over which maps should be used to settle ownership of the temple and surrounding area, officials said.
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