Border skirmish raises tensions
Updated
Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia are tense, after troops from both countries exchanged gun and rocket fire yesterday Phnom Penh says two of its soldiers were killed and that it has captured ten Thai soldiers.
The fighting was contained to a small area where the militaries have been facing off for several months in an old dispute over a border zone near a picturesque Hindu temple. It follows an outburst by Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, on Monday warning of a 'death zone' if Thailand did not pull its troops out. While the Thais are holding their ground .. there are concerns about just how far the situation might deteriorate.
Presenter: Karen Percy
Speaker: Associate Professor Panitan Wattanayakorn, Political Analyst, Chulalongkorn University
KAREN PERCY: Over more than four decades there's been plenty of bad blood between Thailand and Cambodia about Preah Vihear.
Yesterday there was spilled blood yet again as both sides engaged in a brief exchange of gunfire and rockets.
The Cambodians claim the Thais fired the first round.
The Thais deny it.
It would seem more likely that it was instigated by Cambodia given the Prime Minister Hun Sen's bravado on Monday just after the foreign ministers of both countries had held a meeting in Phnom Penh trying to resolve the conflict.
He didn't actually make a formal declaration of war - but he came pretty close.
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN: That is quite unusual coming from a friend and neighbour.
KAREN PERCY: Panitan Wattanayagorn is a political analyst from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN: Indeed, that is quite unexpected from him. We don't know why.
KAREN PERCY: It could be that neither side intended for the battle to take place.
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN: It doesn't make sense because they stand to lose for both countries. In reality, in the overlapping areas, when you have the military and paramilitary troops patrolling in this areas, accidents can happen.
KAREN PERCY: Cambodia is understandably frustrated at the slow progress of the talks which hark back to an international court decision in 1962 which put the temple in Cambodia but made no ruling on a four and a half square kilometre plot of land around it.
Thailand has had four foreign ministers in the past year alone and three prime ministers.
That means new bureaucrats to deal with as well.
While each side is pushing more soldiers and munitions into the area, it's unlikely to become a full-scale confrontation.
Associate Professor Panitan Wattanayagorn from Chulalongkorn University.
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN: Not to mention the forces of the Thai military are much more superior than the Cambodians so that should not pose any threat to the Thai, to the Thai security in the short and medium term.
KAREN PERCY: Professor Panitan says Hun Sen might just be flexing his muscle around the region.
While national pride is certainly at stake, it would seem that development rights for the area might also be an issue.
The Preah Vihear temple is eight hours by road from Bangkok and even further from Phnom Penh. It is perched on a dramatic escarpment which straddles the two countries. It could become a major tourist earner - if the fighting ever stopped.
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