Joint Thai-Cambodian border patrols yet to materialise
Written by Writer on Friday, October 17th, 2008
Joint Thai-Cambodian border patrols yet to materialise
SI SA KET, Oct 17 (TNA) - The Thai-Cambodian joint border patrol agreement reached during Thursday’s meeting of the two sides’ army commanders failed to be put in action however villagers along the border feel relieved a little on the current situation.
One day after the working level meeting of Thai and Cambodian commanders, joint border patrol operation between soldiers of the two countries, believed to be a solution to a temporary cease-fire, failed to begin Friday.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers remained stationed at their bases and the situation has returned more or less to normal, but on Friday, Gen. Ke Kim Yan, commander in chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, reportedly denied any deal for joint patrols had been reached.
The Associated Press quoted the general as saying that the two countries had only agreed to maintain their current troop deployments in the disputed area and inform each other about any troop movements to prevent further misunderstanding.
“The situation has now returned to normal, but the border problems must be solved by negotiations,” Ke Kim Yan told reporters at Preah Vihear temple, where he and other top military brass visited Cambodian soldiers.
Meanwhile, demining operations continued in the area, but not on Phumakhua hill itself, one of three locations that skirmishes occurred on Wednesday. It is believed that there are more new landmines elsewhere on Phumakhua, after two Thai soldiers stepped on mines there on October 6.
Meanwhile, local residents in Si Sa Ket hoped the next round of negotiations at the policy level of the two countries on Tuesday would produce progress, enabling them to harvest crops around the Preah Vihear temple for selling.
Some local residents started to unpack, believing the situation in the next phase would not be so serious that they had to evacuate.
While residents and media are still not allowed to go in the ancient temple, only soldiers are permitted to rotate their force in the premises. There was, nonetheless, no reinforcement of deployment in the area.
Despite a seemingly relieved situation, a community head still warned Kantharalak residents to remain on alert for possible evacuation.
Meanwhile, Cambodians living along the border of Thailand’s Chanthaburi province feared possible robberies and banditry might occur after the firefight thus have already evacuated to Cambodia’s Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Siem Reap provinces. (TNA)
