Cambodia and Thailand to begin troop redeployment

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to a gradual redeployment of troops near an ancient border temple ahead of talks next week on territorial disputes, a Cambodian army general said Thursday.

The redeployment, slated to begin during the weekend, will first apply to Thai and Cambodian troops stationed inside the compound of a Buddhist pagoda near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, Cambodian Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Neang Phat said.

The number of troops from both countries will be reduced "to the lowest number possible," Neang Phat said, adding that security officials from the two countries had reached the agreement during a meeting on Wednesday in Thailand's Surin province.

Neang Phat said that both countries will pull troops back from Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda compound during the weekend before foreign ministers of both countries meet in Thailand next Monday.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6tp2tO94iKNqIquUil4we_HH52QD92I1B7G0

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Hooray!

Finally things seem to be heading in the right direction!

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. I suspect a lot of this had to do w. the approach of elections in Cambodia.

Not sure if they've taken place yet.... but provoking a crisis with an ancient, much larger and more powerful enemy is not exactly going to make Hun Sen... as wily an operator as they come... unpopular among the Cambodian populace.

[Coventina]

2. No, actually this was about Thai politics.

One of the temples in dispute was awarded status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is right on the border of Cambodia & Thailand. The IJC ruled in 1962 that it is indeed in Cambodian territory and the Thais are still pissed off about that. Well, they really went beserk when it was granted World Heritage Site status last month. They rushed their troops to the border & occupied the temple and the surrounding area. Of course, then Cambodia did the same.

This is a shortened, simplified version. I've been posting the news articles on this situation since it began if you want to get the details.

(And the Cambodian election is over, it took place during this whole crisis. And yes, you are correct, it did boost the popularity of Hun Sen.)