Thai army chief visits Cambodia to seek better relationship between two countries

via CAAI

December 21, 2010

Thai army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha promised on Monday afternoon that his government won't allow any group to use Thai territory to mistreat Cambodia.

Prayuth Chan-ocha made the remarks during his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Thai army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha arrived here on Monday for two-day visit in order to expand and strengthen cooperation between the two countries and to discuss some issues with his Cambodian counterpart.

Prayuth Chan-ocha said that his visit to Cambodia is to introduce himself since he had taking office in September and to receive advice from Prime Minister Hun Sen, Eang Sophalleth, the spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen, told reporters after the meeting.

Prayuth Chan-ocha also thanked the premier for his efforts made during the last two months for the easing of the situation between Cambodia and Thailand and promised to Hun Sen that his government won't allow any group to use Thai territory to mistreat Cambodia.

In response, Hun Sen said that Cambodia will insist the stance to seek peaceful negotiation with Thailand to avoid weapon clashes, military confrontation, and to prevent disputes from spreading throughout the border and to push for good cooperation between troops, police and people.

"Up to now, we can say that the situation between Cambodia and Thailand have been returned to normal," Hun Sen was quoted as saying.

"Now what we have to do together is to push for better cooperation through joining forces to crack down on crimes, drug trafficking and so on, in order to build our border as a peace, development and cooperation one," said the premier.

Prayuth Chan-ocha, accompanied by the commanders of Thailand's First and Second Army Areas who are in charge of the territory adjacent to Cambodia, is scheduled to discuss with his Cambodian counterpart on the issues of the long-established relations between the two neighboring countries and the current disputes.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just one week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008.

Since then the conflict started, military standoff has been on and off along the two countries' border and several military clashes have already happened with recorded small causalities from both sides.

The border issue, however, has been eased as the top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have held four meetings since September.