Cambodia, Thailand deploy more troops

Border dispute to be talks' focus

Thai riot police tried to stop Thai nationalist protesters trying to break through a blockade yesterday on a highway to the disputed Hindu temple on the Cambodian border. (REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang)

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia - Cambodia and Thailand sent more troops yesterday to their disputed border region surrounding an 11th-century temple - despite agreeing to hold talks next week to avoid military action.

The standoff - now in its third day - is the latest escalation in a longstanding conflict over land that surrounds Preah Vihear temple, which is similar in style to the more famous Angkor Wat in northeastern Cambodia.

The confrontation came to a head last week when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application for World Heritage Site status for Preah Vihear. Protesters in Thailand have decried their government's decision to endorse the application, saying it undermines Thai claims to the territory.

They have also accused Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of bypassing Parliament and backing the UNESCO application in exchange for business contracts for the cronies of toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Constitutional Court has ruled in the protesters' favor.

To some extent, the demonstrators appear to be playing to nationalist sentiment to gain support for their larger goal of unseating Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy for Thaksin.

The border standoff began after three of the protesters crossed into Cambodia on Tuesday to visit the temple and were briefly detained.

Soon afterward, Thai troops deployed to the border. The army has been tightlipped about reasons behind the troop movements, saying only that it is protecting Thai sovereignty, though it's unclear why it thought it was threatened.

Cambodia has accused the Thai troops of crossing into its territory, but Thailand has publicly maintained otherwise.

However, a senior Thai military official acknowledged Wednesday that the troops are on "disputed" ground. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.

The two countries' defense ministers are to meet next Monday to ease tensions. More than 400 Thai troops - up from 200 on Wednesday - are now facing down 800 Cambodian soldiers - up from 380 - Cambodian Brigadier General Chea Keo said.