Thailand, Cambodia reaffirm troop redeployment

– Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to continue troop redeployment and to step up efforts to mark the border around the disputed Preah Vihear temple, local media reported.

This was declared in a joint press conference after a meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin on August 19.

Both sides pulled out most of their soldiers on August 16, leaving only 10 troops from each country at the compound of a pagoda near the temple, according to the Thai news agency (TNA).

The two countries agreed to convene a second meeting between the head of the Cambodian Temporary Coordinating Task Force and the head of the Thai Regional Border Committee (RBC) on August 29 in Cambodia to discuss the second phase of redeployment.

They also agreed to adopt a provisional arrangement pending the survey and demarcation work to be carried out by the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which is expected to be convened in October.

Minister Hor Namhong said that he hoped the dispute will be addressed soon so as tourism activities can be conducted there.

Meanwhile, the Thai foreign minister said the dispute should be resolved in accordance with Thailand’s law.

Relations between the two neighbours flared up last month after the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Committee named the Preah Vihear temple as World Heritage site. –