Hunsen insists on Thai troop withdrawal

Cambodia's prime minister warned Thailand yesterday that "armed clashes" would erupt if Thai troops continued to trespass over the border.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's comments came after he met the Thai foreign minister in the latest effort to ease tensions over a territorial dispute that earlier this month sparked a brief exchange of gunfire at the border.

"We told them that if they do not stop [trespassing], armed clashes will break out," Hun Sen told reporters. He warned Thailand to immediately withdraw troops from the disputed border area after the two nations failed to reach an agreement.

"We have tried to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister today that the area is a life-and-death battle zone," Hun Sen told reporters.

The prime minister's comments came after talks were held with Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat in Phnom Penh. Sompong's first official visit to Cambodia failed to settle disputes at the border, which Cambodia says were intensified when 500 Thai troops tried to invade its territory.

Immediately after the meeting with Sompong, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that any provocation could trigger a border conflict.

Three Cambodian soldiers and two Thai paramilitary rangers injured in a brief clash on October 3 in the area claimed by both sides, which is a kilometre west of Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia's Deputy Defence Minister General Neang Phat said more troops were heading to the area after 500 Thai soldiers tried to cross the border, which triggered clashes.

Sompong was on a one-day self-introduction visit to Phnom Penh and promised to continue negotiating to settle border disputes, which erupted in July. The foreign minister was initially supposed to visit Cambodia together with Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who had to cancel due to domestic political difficulties.

Upon returning, he said: "The disputed area is being claimed by both sides, so we cannot withdraw our troops immediately.

"I have told Cambodia that we need to talk and exercise restraint to prevent military clashes. The minister [Hor Namhong] said the regional border committee, jointly chaired by ground commanders of both sides, would discuss the issue on October 21."

Former foreign minister Tej Bunnag had met his Cambodian counterpart twice in July and August in an attempt to solve border disputes in areas near the Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temples, but many of the details remained to be discussed further.