Suthep says temple not up for talks
Visit is private matter among two friends
By: BANGKOK POST and AGENCIES
Published: 26/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: NewsDeputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is insisting his visit to Phnom Penh on Saturday will go ahead despite Cambodian leader Hun Sen's refusal to discuss the Preah Vihear temple.



"If he [Mr Suthep] wishes to discuss Thailand withdrawing its troops from our soil, then we will talk about that." HUN SEN, CAMBODIAN PRIME MINISTER
Mr Suthep, who will be accompanied by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, said the trip would be in a private capacity with neither the listing of the temple nor the dispute about overlapping territory on the agenda.

Mr Suthep was originally assigned by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify Thailand has taken a fresh stance against the listing of the temple by the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which was approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

"There will be no talks on the disputed territories or the Preah Vihear temple or anything of that sort. I am going there because we are good friends," Mr Suthep said, referring to Hun Sen.

The deputy prime minister will hold talks with Hun Sen at the Cambodian prime minister's house near Phnom Penh.

Gen Prawit echoed Mr Suthep's comments, saying Preah Vihear would not be discussed. He said he had no message for Cambodia.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has been in Seville, Spain, voicing Thailand's opposition to Cambodia's unilateral listing of the temple with the WHC and Unesco.

The Thai decision to raise the Preah Vihear issue has upset the Cambodian prime minister, although Mr Abhisit said the Thai campaign was to express its opposition only to the WHC and Unesco without mentioning Cambodia.

Thailand and Cambodia remain locked in a dispute over the overlapping territory near the temple.

"It is not necessary for us to discuss this plan because this is a Thai suggestion and has nothing to do with Cambodia," Hun Sen said yesterday in a speech at a university graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

"But if he [Mr Suthep] wishes to discuss Thailand withdrawing its troops from our soil, then we will talk about that. This is my message for him before he decides to visit Cambodia."

Hun Sen said Cambodia would hold national celebrations on July 7 to mark the first anniversary of the Unesco ruling.

"I will call on monks throughout the country to beat drums to celebrate this occasion. There will be a concert in Phnom Penh and similar celebrations in the provinces."

Social critic Prawase Wasi yesterday voiced support for the government's objection to Cambodia's listing of the temple, but warned the conflict might escalate and asked the government to use diplomacy to avert violent confrontation.
He also suggested that nationalism be dropped from the Education Ministry's history curriculum.

"We need to change the way we teach history. Our approach has bred hatred and hostility towards our neighbours," Dr Prawase said.

Tension at the border near Preah Vihear has risen after the Thai decision to raise the temple issue again. There have been reports of troop reinforcements near the temple and the disputed area.

Commander of the 2nd Army Wibulsak Neepal said the army was monitoring the Cambodian troop movements closely and would arrange Thai security forces to match them.

"Our troops are ready to respond to any situation," Lt Gen Wibulsak said. "However I have instructed soldiers to exercise utmost patience to any sign of provocation."

Boonmee Buaton, chairman of the Sao Thong Chai Tambon Administrative Organisation in the area, said Thai and Cambodian troops were a few metres away in the stand-off but they were still on friendly terms.

"But villagers are advised not to go into the forests along the border. They could step on landmines or be arrested by Cambodian troops," he said.

Due to the border tension, the Khao Phra Viharn National Park will remain closed to tourists indefinitely, said Kasemsan Jinnawaso, chief of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

The park's closure will continue for safety reasons as Thai and Cambodian troops are beefing up security, he said.

heheheeh Since Khmer people are good friends with thais? of Course thais have fake history They LIE LIE LIE LIE

since when they began to acknowledge the might of our mines.

what they want this time ? .....sweet talk to hun sen for sex privately, maybe. they better bring some yama pills along with them.

I think they're trying to change Hun Sen's mind by sucking his d!ck.

no,i think, they are coming back to collect the statues money from hun sen.

Plain argument from the thai elite class. Even though you're mentioning Cambodia directly, but the main issue that you're up against is Preah Vihear. Going around campaigning against the decision made by the Unesco to list the temple as the World heritage site is like up against Cambodia directly.

If Thailand comes out telling the world and their citizens that they have Khmer ancestry, and that they also have a blood reation with the peoples that built those temples in history. Then I will reconsider.

It is blantantly obvious that the Thais in part, do have Khmer Ancestry, culturally, geographically, historically = logically. But is Thailand brave enough to shatter its macho nationalistic insecurities for a piece of the rock?

Like I said it once! Khmer is khmer, Siam is Siam and Lao is Lao! It's simple!

Tell that to a Khmer living in Thailand. Its not so clear cut.

I just can't wait for Thailand to admit that Khmer people do exist in Thailand and Preah Vihear is built by Khmer people. Wouldn't that be interesting? I will see many of my so-call pure Thai relatives have a nervous break down. "What! We are Khamen Padong? Thay leav, thay leav!" However, that's just a thought. Don't hold your breath.

its doesnt matter it belong to the cental khmer. khmer in thailand can only visit it they cant own it

I happened to people on both sides of the borders. They can't make the differences between ethnicity and nationality. What people failed to realized is that the concept of nationality is very relatively new.

So, only Khmer people in Cambodia can own it? How about the Chinese, the Viets, the Champs who are Cambodian citizen, don't they own it too? How about Khmer in Vietnam and Khmer in America or other Khmer in other land. Don't their ancestors have a part in its construction too?

its inside cambodia so it belong to cambodia. there are lots of temples inside thailand,we dont claim them as our because its not in our territory or boundry. why cant the thais do the same thing. they wont because they know our govt and law are very weak to them. thais will not back down, they know hard work will pay off. soon or later khmers give in and let thais share the owner ship of the temple,you watch. hun sen is not that smart to solve this kind of problem, at home he use his anger and his loud voice tone to win the auguement. if khmer give in then khmer is very stupid and i will never consider myself as khmer, i will change my identity.

You're right about Hun Sen. He always talking tough toward his oppositions in Cambodia , but when comes dealing with foreigner leaders, he came soft. Also, Its doesn't if Sim knows that Khmer law is weak, all Hun Sen needs to do is be tough against those Thai idiots. The Thai is trying to tests Hun Sen 's government.

another visit this saturday,same people. i think, either hun sen paid them too much or they love som-lar-kako that was made by hun sen wife

both lemongrass and menghuy has a point.

in poipet and aran, everyone's the same. it's just the invisible border line that divide us but everyone can speak khmer.

preah vihear is in cambodia territory.