Cambodia closely watches Thai political turmoil: govt spokesman

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-12-3 21:57:16

A Cambodian government spokesman said Tuesday that the country is keeping a close eye on the political turmoil in Thailand.

"We are closely monitoring the issue in Thailand and cannot provide any comments on this matter at the moment," Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said in response to reporters' questions about the political trouble in Thailand.

He said the anti-Thai government protests had been triggered by the controversial amnesty bill, not by the border issue with Cambodia over the disputed land near the Preah Vihear Temple.

"This is an internal issue of Thailand," he said, referring to the anti-Thai government protests led by former Democrat Member of Parliament Suthep Thaugsuban.

In regard to the situation along Cambodia-Thailand border, Khieu Kanharith said it remained calm and both sides' troops have contacted each other as usual.

"There is no any troop reinforcement along the border and both sides' armies have promised to maintain good relations and avoid any clashes," he said.

Cambodia and Thailand has had a bitter border row since July 2008 when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization inscribed the Cambodia's 11th century Preah Vihear Temple on the World Heritage List, but Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple.

The temple had become a flashpoint of armed clashes between the two countries' troops since then.

Upon Cambodia's complaint, the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) ruled last month that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear Temple, and in consequence, Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw from that territory the Thai military, police forces, other guards or keepers that were stationed there.

Khieu Kanharith said Cambodia would not rush to start talks with Thailand over the implementation of the ICJ's ruling so as to give time to the Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government to resolve its internal issue.

Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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