Border tensions rise

Thousands of Yellow Shirt protesters in Bangkok have called for the
Thai government to take a stronger stance against Cambodia, though
military officials said today that a stand-off along the countries’
contentious border had been averted.

Some 3,000 police officers
have been deployed in the Thai capital to control the estimated 5,000
activists who took to the streets of central Bangkok on Tuesday,
threatening to occupy the prime minister’s office as they did for three
months during unrest in 2008.

Cambodian officials near Preah
Vihear temple said about 40 Thai troops had traveled to the nearby
border area this morning, though they withdrew after talks between
commanders of the respective forces.

Following the meeting,
Cambodian troops agreed to remove a sign placed near the temple on
Tuesday that declared the area Cambodian territory.

“Now we have
no more confrontation and both sides have returned to their camps,”
said Om Phirum, heritage police chief of the Preah Vihear National
Authority.

“The withdrawal of the Thai troops came after Cambodia agreed to take away the sign.”

The
offending sign, which read “Here! is Cambodia”, had replaced a similar
sign placed last month that accused Thai troops of invading Cambodian
territory.

Thai military commanders and Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva had publicly complained about the message.

Thai
military deputy spokesman Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak acknowledged that
the protesters in Bangkok had increased the tension surrounding the
border issue, though he said Thai and Cambodian troops “are in contact
at all levels” and will not let the situation spill over into violence.

Recent
military exercises conducted by Thai troops in the area, he added, were
routine procedure and were unrelated to relations with Cambodia.

“We try not to do anything provocative, and we still believe everything can be settled with talks,” Veerachon said.

The
oft-strained relations between Thailand and Cambodia were upgraded last
year following the resignation of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin
Shinawatra, a bitter rival of the Abhisit administration, from his
position as economics adviser to the Cambodian government.

Tensions
returned last month, however, following the arrest of a Thai
parliamentarian and six other Thai nationals for allegedly trespassing
on Cambodian territory.

Five of the Thais, including ruling party
MP Panich Vikitsreth, were released last week on suspended sentences,
though two others are being held on espionage charges and are set to be
tried next week.

Panthep Puapongpan, a spokesman for the Yellow
Shirts, said those protesting in Bangkok were angered by the arrests
and other alleged Cambodian provocations along the border.

“We don’t want [to] invade their territory, but we want to protect our land,” he said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP AND JAMES O’TOOLE

Phnom Penh Post