PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE ROW

Troop levels to be cut sharply

Thailand and Cambodia agreed yesterday to sharply reduce troop levels near the controversial Preah Vihear temple to ease tensions at the border.

The two countries will have only 10 soldiers each stationed at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the ruins and 45 more within around a one sq km area of the pagoda, a source said.

They will patrol the pagoda and its surroundings to ensure there are no violations of the deal, the source added.

The pagoda is located within the 4.6 sq km area which the two countries claim ownership of. Thailand and Cambodia have sent about 500-600 soldiers to the disputed zone between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear after tensions rose early last month.

The agreement was reached in talks in Surin. Second Army commander Lt-Gen Suchit Sitthiprapa and Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakawesana acted for Thailand. Deputy Defence Minister Gen Neang Paht and Fourth Army commander Lt-Gen Chea Mon represented Cambodia.

Thailand requested Cambodia to reduce its forces atop Preah Vihear to no more than 500 and replace soldiers with police as a gesture of goodwill, the source, who attended the meeting, said.

The two countries will leave the issue of the number of back-up forces inside their territory untouched.

Lt-Gen Suchit and Gen Neang Paht said after the meeting that the aim of the talks was to defuse the tensions over the Preah Vihear temple, avoid military confrontation and solve the thorny problem through a peaceful approach.

The reduction in troops would be a show of bilateral commitment and mutual trust, they added.

Lt-Gen Suchit said Thailand acted according to the Foreign Ministry's suggestion that troop numbers should be adjusted when necessary and they should be sufficient to defend Thai sovereignty.

After the morning talks, the Thai and Cambodian delegation heads visited Ta Moan Thom temple, a second disputed ancient site, in Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin in the afternoon.

Gen Neang Paht said Thailand and Cambodia agreed to open the border gate at 8am today when Thai people would be allowed to visit Ban Jan temple in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, around one kilometre away from the border.

The two countries agreed to cut troop numbers in a meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Siem Reap on July 28 in talks between Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.

The next meeting is set for next Monday and Tuesday in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi.

The source said the forthcoming talks would focus on attempts to demarcate the border line near Preah Vihear.

Attempts to solve the border dispute were boosted after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said last Wednesday to resolve the issue peacefully through existing bilateral mechanisms.