More troops sent in Thai-Cambodia temple dispute
KANTARALAK, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia senttroops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border,where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over anancient Hindu temple.
Despite the military build-up, both sides said they wereready to negotiate an end to the stand-off.
The dispute has raised investor fears of a majorconfrontation. Thailand's main stock index has fallen more than23 percent since anti-government street protests in Bangkokbegan in late May, and could drop further if border tensionsget worse, analysts said.
The Preah Vihear temple, perched on a jungle-cladescarpment that forms a natural boundary, has been a source oftension since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962it belonged to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles Thais.
The listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site thismonth triggered a political uproar in Thailand, stoked bygroups opposed to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej whom theyaccuse of being a proxy of former Prime Minister ThaksinShinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
The diplomatic sparring between Bangkok and Phnom Penh hasintensified ahead of high-level talks on Monday involving thetwo countries' defence ministers.
Thailand summoned Cambodia's ambassador on Friday torespond to Prime Minister Hun Sen's charge that Thai troops had"encroached" on Cambodian territory" and that the situation was"worsening".
In a letter to Hun Sen, Samak said Cambodian troops andbuildings on the disputed 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area were a"violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorialintegrity".
He added his government was "resolved to seek a just andpeaceful solution to the situation".
Cambodia has asked the United Nations' Security Council todiscuss the border dispute with Thailand, Thai GovernmentSpokesman Wichianchot Sukchotrat told Reuters.
"We have been informed by our ambassador to the U.N. thatCambodia has filed a complaint over the dispute to the U.N.,"Wichianchot said.
NATIONALIST FERVOUR
In Cambodia, Preah Vihear has become a key issue in therun-up to next Sunday's election as Hun Sen's ruling party andthe opposition vie for votes by stoking nationalist fervour.
"They should focus on issues like fighting poverty andcorruption instead of using Preah Vihear for their politicalinterests," said Kek Galabru, head of the LICAHDO rights group.
Lieutenant General Sujit Sitthiprapha, commander ofThailand's Second Army, said more troops were sent to theborder after Cambodia reinforced its forces at the temple.
A Reuters witness saw a convoy of eight Thai army trucksferry several hundred soldiers to the border. In anotherconvoy, trucks towed heavy artillery.
"If things escalate, we can use those troops right away,"Sujit said, although he added the soldiers at the temple "werestill talking to each other".
Thailand estimates it is facing 1,200 Cambodian troops inand around the temple, although Phnom Penh disputes thatfigure.
Chea Mon, Cambodia's military commander at Preah Vihear,said the situation was calm at the temple where his men facedabout 400 Thai soldiers.
"We are protecting our borders. We will leave it togovernment leaders to solve this issue," he said by telephone.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in Phnom Penh; Writing byDarren Schuettler; Editing by Matthew Jones)