Tourism Indochina: Cambodia to Develop Preah Vihear as Heritage Tourism Destination

2012-01-19 14:37:25 - In recent years, the Royal government of Cambodia has given priority to development of tourism industry, focusing on cultural and eco-tourism in order to promote the advancement of national economy and rapid poverty alleviation.

Cambodia to Develop Preah Vihear as Heritage Tourism Destination

(Tourism Indochina: Date : 2008-03-21):

Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon said that tourism plays a significant role in generating employment opportunities and expanding national economic base through its linkages with the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. The Minister pointed out that Cambodia's tourism sector is the key to the country's development, thus helping economic development and poverty alleviation.

In response to the government's decision, on March 16, 2008, the Ministry of Tourism, Preah Vihear National Authority, APSARA Authority, CATA, CHA and other tourism industry members conducted a Site visit to one of the greatest Khmer temples of all times Prasat Preah Vihear, an 11th century monument in Preah Vihear province, northern Cambodia.

The Cambodian government will develop the Preah Vihear temple into a cultural tourism destination in an effort to reach the goal of attracting 3 million tourists by 2010.

Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon, Mr. Hang Soth, General Director of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said that roads and infrastructure should be developed first so as to attract tourists.

Mr. Ho Vandy, CATA President also stressed the same as an important factor to develop the tourism in the northern region of Cambodia. The authorities have already outlined a plan to gear toward cultural and eco-tourism since Cambodia abounds with enormous potential in cultural and natural heritage, and most of which has not yet developed. Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon stressed that the ministry has accelerated its efforts in order to make a northern cultural tourist attractions, adding that in the mean time, the ministry also has done its best to set up other cultural sites for tourism development. To promote the development of cultural and eco-tourism the Ministry of Tourism, together with relevant ministries, authorities and international community, has made efforts to improve the efficiency of administration in tour operations and services, as well as to train human resources. In recent years, the government allocated more financial budget for rehabilitation of roads in order to facilitate tourists.

Depending on its enriched cultural and natural resources, the Cambodian authorities are determined to convert the country into the most preferred cultural and eco-tourist destination in the region. Preah Vihear Temple is located in a pleasant environment with an attractive countryside slightly east of the mid section of the Dongrek Mountains. It is perched on the edge of a giant cliff, about 525 meters above sea level in Preah Vihear Province, Northern part of Cambodia. It is also situated close to the Cambodia-Thai border Sisaket province.

The Preah Vihear temple was built from year 900 to 1150. Preah Vihear, which means sacred monastery in Khmer, was built over a span of about 300 years, starting in the 9th century. The Cambodian Government has proposed the sacred Hindu Temple Preah Vihear to the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to officially list as World Heritage site because of its outstanding historical, cultural and universal value. Posted by intelliex Media 

Cambodia vows to finalize Asean human rights declaration this year

By News Desk in Phnom Penh/Rasmei Kampuchea | Asia News Network – Sat, Jan 7, 2012

Phnom Penh (Rasmei Kampuchea/ANN) - Cambodia aims to finalize the drafting of an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration this year as it chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodian Human Rights Committee chairman Om Yin Tieng said.

"This is a big job and needs a lot of discussions. However, we are confident that we can finalize it by this year," said Om Yin Tieng, who is also a senior minister and chair of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights in 2012.

He said the commission would hold its first meeting on the declaration in Siem Reap on January 8 and 9, immediately ahead of a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers.

Human rights group Amnesty International called Friday for ASEAN institutions to make public and accessible a draft of the declaration.

"An inclusive drafting process, taking into account input from civil society and any other interested individuals or groups, is crucial for the Declaration. The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration concerns every woman, man and child in the region, and it is only natural that they should be given an opportunity to have their say," a statement said.

The group said it was "disappointed by the secrecy surrounding the drafting process so far. Not a single piece of substantive information on the process has been officially shared, and even the Terms of Reference of the Drafting Group have been kept confidential."

Om Yin Tieng said the upcoming meeting of the commission was an internal meeting.

Cambodia attempts to facilitate talks with Korea

By The News Desk in Siem Reap/Rasmei Kampuchea Daily | Asia News Network – Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Siem Reap (Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN) - Amid uncertainty in North Korea after the death of its leader Kim Jong-il last month, Cambodia said Wednesday it would try to revive six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula in its capacity as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong, who is also foreign minister, said Cambodia would encourage the foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to participate in an Asean Regional Forum meeting it plans to host in July.

"Cambodia will facilitate for bilateral talks between DPRK and Republic of Korea," he told reporters after a meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Siem Reap. "Cambodia will also make efforts to resume the six-party talks."

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks between China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States have been stalled since 2009 after North Korea conducted a missile launch over Japan.

Cambodia has close ties with North Korea. King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Kim Jong-il's father Kim Il-sung were very close and the king father also has a palace in Pyongyang.

Hor Nam Hong said the Asean foreign ministers also discussed progress towards democracy in Burma and agreed to call an end to the role of the United Nations Secretary General on the issue of human rights in Burma.

Given such rapid progress, he said the ministers agreed to Burma's request that it is no longer necessary to convene any international conference on Burma.

Among other issues discussed at the meeting were Asean community building, the South China Sea, progress in drafting an Asean Human Rights Declaration, protocols for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Treaty and disaster management.

COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Cambodian foreign minister may visit North Korea

January 20, 2012

Phnom Penh (Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN) - Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong may soon visit North Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Saturday.

"Hor Nam Hong met with Hong Ki Chol, the new ambassador of North Korea at the ministry on January 13. The two sides discussed a possible visit by Hor Nam Hong to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the future," a statement said.

Koy Kuong, the spokesman of the ministry, could not be reached to confirm a date for the possible visit.

The ministry said that as Asean chair, Cambodia would make efforts to improve the relationship between Asean and North Korea.

At a meeting in Siem Reap earlier in the week, Asean foreign ministers agreed that Cambodia should try to organize bilateral talks between South and North Korea and revive the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula.

Rice exports to be 'significant' source of revenue for Cambodia

By The Business Desk in Phnom Penh/Rasmei Kampuchea Daily | Asia News Network – Thu, Jan 19, 2012

Phnom Penh (Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN) - Rice exports have the potential to become a significant source of revenue for Cambodia, EU Ambassador Jean-Fran?ois Cautain says.

In an interview with The Cambodia Herald, Cautain said bilateral trade and investment relations had been "evolving in a very positive way" with Cambodia, as a least developed country (LDC), enjoying duty-free access benefits to the EU under its "Everything But Arms" (EBA) initiative.

"The importance of EBA benefits to Cambodia is likely to intensify further," he said, noting that the EU had proposed modifying the the list of 172 countries benefitting from its generalised systems of preferences (GSP) by taking out 96 countries from 2014.

"As a result, it would appear that countries like Cambodia and Laos, which remain entirely within the GSP/EBA system, will see their competitiveness further improved compared to the previous situation.

"While EBA carries, by definition, much lower tariffs than GSP, the fact that those benefiting from GSP might be less in the future will amplify the positive benefits of the EBA regime," the ambassador said.

Along with the recent enactment of rules of origin (ROO), this should have an "appreciable impact, in the mid-run, on trade between the EU, on the one hand, and Cambodia on the other."

The ambassador noted that Cambodian exports to the EU grew almost 40 per cent from a year earlier to slightly more than US$1.3 billion in 2011, accounting for 28.7 per cent of all exports.

Exports were highly concentrated in textiles and textile articles (78 per cent), footwear (9.5 per cent), other goods vehicle equipment (about 7 per cent) and rice (0.5 per cent).

The ambassador said rice had emerged as a "promising" export in recent years, especially since its coverage under EBA since September 1, 2009. Cambodian rice exports to the EU increased from about $2 million in 2008 to $31.5 million in 2010 and $66 million last year.

"This positive trend is expected to continue over the next years, as the production capacity improves and quality standards can be met," the ambassador said.

"In addition, Thailand's new rice pledging scheme passed by the Thai new Government is likely to increase Thailand's rice export prices and possibly, make Cambodia's rice exports even more competitive.

"Under the EBA, Cambodia, thanks to the duty and quota free access, is estimated to makes savings of about $150 /tonne. Given Cambodia has an estimated rice surplus of 2.5 million tones, rice exports have the potential to become a significant source of revenue. The impact of the October floods on rice production, however, is likely to considerably reduce these estimates."

COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK

EU investment in Cambodia remains small

By The Business Desk in Phnom Penh/Rasmei Kampuchea Daily | Asia News Network – 4 hours ago


Phnom Penh (Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN) - EU investment in Cambodia remain small since 2005 even though it is the second largest market for Cambodia export.

"Overall, EU investments have represented a very small share of total foreign investments (around 5-7 percent)," Ambassador Jean-Fran?ois Cautain, Head of the EU Delegation to Cambodia told the Cambodia Herald.

The ambassador added that as regards with the EU investments into Cambodia, from 2005 until the second semester of 2010, the Council for the Development of Cambodia approved US$472 million worth of investment projects from EU Member States . In the first semester of 2010, 7.4 percent of all CDC-approved investment projects originated from EU Member States (0.5 percent from US; 50.6 percent from China).

Most recent export figures for Cambodia (2011) show that the value of exports (FOB) leaving Cambodia to the EU registered at slightly more than 1.3 billion USD, making EU the second largest market for Cambodia's export.

The United States was the largest market for Cambodia's export as the Cambodian products, mainly garment and footwear, of over $2 billion entered the US market last year.

Jeju students take Cambodian adventure for charity

Volunteer and organizer gives us a first-hand account in this two-part series

Friday, January 20, 2012, 11:30:14

Kenneth McLeod  contributor@jejuweekly.com

▲ SCI volunteer "Panda" gives an English lesson to eager students at Kok Chan Primary School, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo courtesy SCI


Since 2011, a local English academy has been sponsoring a small, rural elementary school in Cambodia — Kok Chan Primary School in Siem Reap. Partnered with Language Friends, a Jeju organization that teaches English to the community, Scholar’s Choice International (SCI) owner Ken McLeod, Language Friends Director Ginnie Ko, and 11 students traveled to Cambodia over the Christmas break to volunteer at the school. The students were Jeju elementary, middle, high school, and university students. They helped deliver school supplies, uniforms, soccer and basketballs, and skipping ropes as well as taught English.

The following is Ken McLeod’s first-hand report. It has been lightly edited. — Ed. 

This was my third trip and Ginnie Ko’s second trip to the school. The children were literally playing with sticks in the dirt on the school grounds because they had nothing else to play with. The classrooms were in desperate need of resources. Kok Chan has 380 students and only four teachers. 

“This is the school we need to help. These are the children we need to help,” said Ginnie. 

I completely agreed. 

Our goals included support for a proper curriculum, to provide essential school supplies, and for Jeju students to deliver English lessons and activity programs. When interviewing Kim Kun, the school’s principal, about their school needs, we were perplexed by his requests. 

“We need bicycles,” said Kim. 

“Bikes? I want to help your kids study,” I said. 

“Many walk over three kilometers to get to school,” answered Kim. “A bicycle will keep them in school.” 

Our learning curve went up dramatically about keeping kids in school here. More than half of the students will drop out before high school in rural Cambodia. 

Back in Jeju, we organized fundraising for school supplies through our SCI school activity programs and then appealed to the public. Supporters of Language Friends sponsored 15 of the poorest Kok Chan families with school uniforms and a year of school supplies; worth two months income for some recipients. 

The donations by Jeju citizens were tremendous and motivated us to make a difference to these impoverished Cambodian children. 

The real miracle happened, however, when our students rose to the challenge of the mission. Our students travelled a gruelling nine hours, overland, through Thailand into Cambodia, and then early the next morning took over the English teaching program at Kok Chan. 

Yes, Korean kids can teach English! Set up in teams, and partnered with dedicated Cambodian high school and university student volunteers, our Jeju students taught, played, befriended, ate with, and even cried with Cambodian students. A family from New Zealand staying at the same villa as us joined our group one morning after they learned of our program. 

Highlights for students included making friends with their Cambodian team partners, a treasure hunt in the night market, seeing the famed Angkor Wat, riding in tuk-tuks (motorcycle taxi), eating Cambodian food, and not just seeing but working in poverty conditions. Their English requirements were challenging: teaching, making a video, keeping a daily diary, group discussions, and writing a final essay describing their experiences. 

Through the generosity of the Jeju people, we were able to supply the entire sixth grade class with all their textbooks, donate 1,000 notebooks and supplies, purchase all the teachers’ textbooks and aids, and built bookshelves in every classroom. It is a joy to now to hear the teacher say: “Today, we will study math, science, language, and social science. We can open our textbooks and study! Let's begin...” 

For more information or to make a donation to Kok Chan Primary School, go to Scholarschoice.net or call 064-723-0579.

Cambodia asks 5 states to sign SE Asian nuclear free zone by 2012

Xinhua

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia, as ASEAN chair, on Friday sent letters to the five nuclear powerful countries, asking them to sign the protocol on the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) by this year.

The five countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and France.

The letters were delivered to the ambassador of each country by Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of the foreign affairs.

"As ASEAN chair, Cambodia wants the five nuclear weapon states to sign the protocol by July this year in order to build a nuclear- free regime in Southeast Asian nations and to contribute to strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," the ministry' s spokesman Koy Kuong told reporters after the letter deliveries.

He said that ASEAN signed the protocol on the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty in 1995 and it took effect two years later.

The negotiations between the ASEAN and the five nuclear weapon states on the protocol have been subsequently held since May 2001, he said, adding until last November in Indonesia's Bali, the five countries had agreed in principle to sign the protocol.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Editor: Yamei Wang

Tensions Resurface at Phu Makhua over Thai-Cambodia Border Dispute

Thai-ASEAN News Network

UPDATE : 18 January 2012


Tourists and vendors were warned to evacuate from the Mor E-Daeng cliff after Thai and Cambodian troops faced off in the Phu Makhua mountain on January16.

Although the situation has eased, the atmosphere at the disputed 4.6 square kilometer area around Preah Vihear Temple remains quiet. 

Thai and Cambodian troops faced off in Phu Makhua mountain on January16. 

Cambodia alleged that Thailand has encroached some areas of the mountain and that Thailand has built a Buddha statue at the western area of Preah Vihear Temple in Palanyao area. 

However, military representatives from both countries have negotiated and resolved the matter. 

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Preah Vihear National Park in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak District is quiet, as there were only few villagers passing the entrance to do their farming.

Villagers said they have no fear to enter the areas nearby Preah Vihear Temple since it is not close to Thai-Cambodian border, where Thai and Cambodian troops are settled. 

At the area of Mor-E Daeng cliff, all shops are closed but army personnel still remain to strictly secure the area. 

Reports indicate that the cause of the dispute was that the Thais refused to comply with the Cambodians' request to remove the Buddha statue in the Palanyao area.

The Thais said the Buddha statue was built to boost morale for the soldiers who are monitoring the disputed 4.6 square kilometre area around Preah Vihear Temple. 

This caused great dissatissfaction to the Cambodians, who claimed that the area where the Buddha statue was built belonged to them.

VN poised to topple Thailand

Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation January 17, 2012

Vietnam will eclipse Thailand as the world's biggest rice exporter this year as the government's pledging scheme artificially inflates Thai prices, exporters predicted.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association projects exports will drop to 6.5 million tonnes - their lowest level in a decade - this year. The country's share of the global market will fall to 20-25 per cent from 30.2 per cent last year, it said.

Other negative factors facing Thai rice exports include an expected increase in shipments from India as export quotas there expire in February; Vietnam's announcement that it would double jasmine rice exports to 800,000 tonnes this year; an increase in the number of countries exporting rice, including Brazil and Uruguay; Cambodia's projection that it will export 1 million tonnes this year; and an acceleration in exports from Burma, particularly of parboiled rice.

A few years ago, concerned private-sector groups had warned the government that there was a risk Thailand would lose its No 1 position if the government continued to subsidise rice prices, creating unreasonably high prices both domestically and for export.

Defending the policy, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday that he did not believe rice exports would drop to 6.5 million tonnes. He insisted the government would not revise the rice-pledging scheme, because demand for Thai rice in the world market remained high.

"We believe in our bargaining power and have great confidence in the quality of Thai rice, which brings a high price, so Thailand should not worry about what export volume our rivals can achieve. Buyers will still have to buy Thai rice," Kittiratt said.

Thai exporters do not appreciate the country's bargaining power, he said. He also pointed out that Thai rice production was damaged by last year's floods, and insisted that exports by India will not affect Thailand's exports.

Exporters association president Korbsook Iamsuri said yesterday there is a strong possibility that Thailand will lose its No 1 ranking because the pledging policy was making Thai rice uncompetitive.

"Thai prices are too high compared with those of our rivals. The government's inflexibility in terms of adjusting the pledging project in accordance with the changing trading environment after India announced a return to exports has caused difficulties for Thai rice exports," she said.

The government will lose several billion baht through the price-subsidy programme, Korbsook said, adding that it will create a domino effect as farmers grow rice they cannot sell.

The total estimated export volume of 6.5 million tonnes of rice this year represents a drop of 38.1 per cent from last year's 10.5 million tonnes. Of the total exports this year, white rice is expected to account for 3 million tonnes, jasmine rice 2 million tonnes, parboiled rice 1 million tonnes, and other grains, sticky rice and Pathumthani Rice the remainder.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the association, said the government should revise its pledging policy in accordance with the current trading situation. He advised the government to turn back to a price-guarantee subsidy rather than proceed with the rice-pledging programme. A price guarantee would set a suitable price for Thai rice and ensure that farmers benefit, he said.

"Thailand accounts for only 7 per cent of global rice production; the country will not be able to set the price of rice and direct global trade as the government expects," he said.

Somkiat Makcayathorn, who sits on the association's board of directors, said association officials had tried to seek an appointment with Kittiratt, but were ignored. The private sector wants the government to find efficient ways to promote Thai rice exports, Somkiat said.

Association vice president Charoen Laothamatas said Thai jasmine rice exports could drop to 1 million tonnes this year due to expected price increases. Although the pledging project has not yet driven up the price of jasmine rice to US$1,300 (Bt41,366) per tonne as projected, the current trading price of $1,000 has reduced Thailand's competitiveness; Vietnam's price has been quoted at $700 per tonne.

ASEAN-EU OFFICIALS, BUSINESS REP MEET IN SIEM REAP TO DISCUSS FTA CHALLENGES

Bernama Media


SINGAPORE, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Officials and business representatives from

the 10 Asean Member States and the European Union came together today in Siem

Reap, Cambodia, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of free trade

agreements, as well as ways that Asean would benefit from free trade agreements.

Organised by the EU-Asean''s "Enhancing Asean FTA Negotiation Capacity

Programme", the event focuses on Asean and the European Union (EU) trade

policies, as well as on new and emerging trade issues.

The event also includes a stakeholders dialogue, designed to enable

participants to share their knowledge and experience related to key issues such

as the political economy of free trade agreements, the challenges of trade

agreement implementation and post-trade agreement adjustment.

Director General of Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia and as Asean SEOM

Chairman, Pich Rithi, has expressed his deep appreciation to the EU for

providing technical assistance on the Enhancing Asean FTA Negotiating Capacity

Programme to government and private sector representatives of the Asean Member

States and Asean Secretariat officials.

"With a series of 10 workshops all over Asean, starting here today in Siem

Reap, the EU-Asean cooperation will provide a forum for Asean trade

practitioners and officials to reflect on trade issues, which really matter.

"We expect a meaningful contribution to enhance mutual understanding on

trade matters and the negotiation processes, because trade is such an important

affair," he said in a statement released by the EU delegation here.

Rithi said free trade was not only essential for economic development and

growth in support of competitiveness, consumer welfare and poverty reduction, it

brought together people and ideas.

Meanwhile, Head of Economic and Regional Cooperation of the Delegation of

the European Union to Asean, Andreas Roettger, said: "Asean and the EU are

already keen and important trading partners – the EU being the largest export

market for Asean."

He said both regional blocks could only benefit if this partnership

prospered further.

During the event, participants will also engage in negotiation simulation

exercises that focus on trade negotiating techniques, methodologies and tools.

The four-day event coincides with Cambodia’s hosting of the Asean Senior

Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) in Siem Reap beginning tomorrow till Jan 19.

The "Enhancing ASEAN FTA Negotiating Capacity Programme" is a 2.5 million

euros technical cooperation programme funded by the EU for the benefit of

ASEAN’s Member States.

It supports Asean economic integration and facilitates Asean’s preparedness

for participating in FTA negotiations.

The programme is designed to provide high-quality training, cutting-edge

research and analysis, and bilateral FTA negotiations simulations for government

and private sector representatives of the Asean Member States and Asean

Secretariat officials.

It covers a broad range of trade and investment issues and addresses

traditional and non-traditional issues and newer 21st century challenges.

In addition, the "Enhancing ASEAN FTA Negotiating Capacity Programme" will

conduct awareness-raising seminars on a wide range of international trade,

investment, globalisation and related political economy and socio-economic

issues, which will be opened to the public, private and civil society sectors.

Issues were chosen to reflect the interests and needs of the ASEAN Member

States.

ASEAN as a whole represents the EU''s 3rd largest trading partner outside

Europe (after the US and China) with more than 175 billion euros of trade in

goods and services in 2010 (according to ASEANstats data).

The EU represents ASEAN''s largest export partner with exports with more than

90 billion euros in 2011 and ensuring an annual trade surplus to ASEAN of nearly

25 billion euros.

EU and Asean started regional negotiations in 2007 which were also designed

to contribute to Asean''s process of regional integration.

Although these negotiations are currently suspended and the process is

following a bilateral track, the EU still believes that a region-to-region free

trade agreement between both regions makes political and economic sense in the

long term and the strategic objective of concluding an agreement with the Asean

as a region is retained.

-- BERNAMA

TNS JR

US President Could Attend Asean Summit Later This Year

VOA Voice of America
Monday, 16 January 2012



Photo: Reuters

U.S. President Barack Obama makes remarks after an "Insourcing American Jobs" forum at the White House in Washington, January 11, 2012.

“So we have a really exciting year ahead.”

President Barack Obama is expected to attend an Asean summit in Phnom Penh in November, officials said Monday.

Following a meeting between Joseph Yun, the US State Department’s chief of East Asia and Pacific, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, Yun said the US expects to have the president at the Asean summit in November, as well as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“So we have a really exciting year ahead,” Yun said.

Cambodia is currently serving a rotating presidency for Asean.

Cambodia owes the US more than $400 million in wartime debt from the Lon Nol era, money the current Cambodian government has said it should not have to pay.

Meanwhile, the US is making diplomatic efforts to improve its relationship in the region. Clinton paid a visit to Cambodia on a Southeast Asian swing last year and recently made an unprecedented visit to Burma, also known as Myanmar, in December.

Ouch Borith, secretary of state for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said a US presidential visit would demonstrate a strengthened relationship between the two countries.

Tensions resurface at Preah Vihear

Bangkok Post

• Published: 16/01/2012 at 08:38 PM
• Online news: Security

• About the author

  

  Writer: Wassana Nanuam

  Position: Reporter

Thai and Cambodian troops faced off in Phu Makhua in the disputed 4.6 square kilometer area around Preah Vihear temple on Monday, sparking fears of renewed border clashes as neither side would retreat, reports said.

About 20 Thai troops were patrolling the Phu Makhua mountain on the border when they ran into a group of Cambodian soldiers who were reconnoitring the area late in the afternoon.

Both sides claimed territorial rights to the area and despite negotiations, refused to retreat, a military source familiar with Phu Makhua said.  

``The two units held their positions about 10 metres apart after talks failed to resolve the impasse,'' the source said.

``Both sides have reinforced their positions with back-up troops.''

The source said Col Thanasak Mitopanon, commander of the 26 Ranger Regiment, had ordered the immediate closure of Pha Mor I Dang cliff, the disputed border area next to Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket province, in case clashes break out and tourists are caught in the middle. 

But Col Thanasak denied the move had anything to do with the confrontation. He claimed the regiment was on manoeuvres and closing the area was necessary as tourists had not been warned about the exercise.  

The source was adamant the area was closed off because of the tense situation at Phu Makhua. He said Army Region 2 commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn had blamed Col Thanasak for closing the area and causing panic among the public.