Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PM: No troop withdrawal from border

23 Feb, 2011
Source: Bangkok Post

The army will not withdraw any troops from the Thai-Cambodian border, even though Indonesia is about to send a team of observers there, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

He said Thailand has the right to protect its sovereignty and to retaliate if its rights are violated.

He believed the Asean observers would help deter clashes between soldiers of the two countries.

On the coming visit of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation representatives this Friday, the prime minister said preparations had been made to fully brief them on the real problems between Thailand and Cambodia, so they would understand.

The Unesco representatives would be asked to make suggestions on how to end the problems, he said.

Mr Abhisit said he did not know about reports the villagers of Phum Srol village in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district were planning to file a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice to demand compensation from Cambodia for property damage and loss of life during the fighting earlier this month.

The government's immediate responsibility was to help repair their houses, which were damaged by the cross-border fire, he said.

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