Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw troops from disputed temple

By BNO News

PHNOM PENH (BNO NEWS) -- Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to withdraw their troops from the area surrounding the disputed Preah Vihear temple, the Thai MCOT news agency reported on Thursday.

The two countries agreed to implement the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order to establish a "provisional demilitarized zone." A joint working group will be set up to oversee troop withdrawals from the newly defined demilitarized zone, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh said after meeting with Thai Defense Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

Gen Tea Banh also said the withdrawal of troops will be carried out as soon as possible. It will be done under the supervision of the joint observers from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In July, a ruling by the Hague-based International Court of Justice asked both nations to withdraw military personnel from around the Preah Vihear temple complex.

Both Cambodia and Thailand claim the 4.6 square kilometer (1.7 square miles) area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on their shared border, which has never been formally established. However, the military tension has eased since former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in July's general election.

Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council urged both sides to establish a permanent ceasefire after at least 10 people were killed.

Clashes resumed earlier this year as both nations claim the lands surrounding the ancient Hindu Temple, which has been damaged due to the conflict. The Preah Vihear temple dates back to the 11th century.

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Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 at 10:53 pm | BNO News | Leave a Comment

Source: http://wireupdate.com/thailand-and-cambodia-to-withdraw-troops-from-disputed-temple.html

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