Troop movements
July 29, 2008
In meetings yesterday in Siem Reap, Thailand and Cambodia both agreed to pull back their troops from the Preah Vihear temple area.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed Monday to pull back 1,200 troops stationed near a historic temple, but failed to end the long-running border dispute that has stirred up nationalist anger on both sides.
Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian neighbors agreed to hold further meetings on how to demarcate a slice of land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, but no date was set for the next meeting.
About 800 Cambodian troops and another 400 from Thailand stationed inside and around a pagoda near the temple complex will be pulled back. It is unclear, however, where those troops will be moved and when it will take place.
That yesterday’s talks achieved anything is a bit of a small miracle. Separating the troops, who mingle daily, will go a long way toward ratcheting down the possibility of clashes. It’s a good first step.
July 30, 2008 at 11:41 pm
[...] Who Blinks First? 30 07 2008 Thailand and Cambodia agreed, if on nothing else, on the important step of withdrawing the military troops from the border. This is a critical step to avoiding a military confrontation between the two countries. [...]
July 31, 2008 at 8:57 am
Why should Cambodia withdraw troops from Preah Vihear. I thought Preah Vihear is in Cambodia land. What going on here. Oh! I know why Thailand probably gave Hun Sen government millions of dollars to shut up and agree with the deal. So that’s how Cambodia lose land. Now since Hun Sen (CPP) won the election by a landslide, Cambodia land will split between Vietnam and Thailand.