Cambodia-Thailand border conflict festers

Cambodia-Thailand border conflict festers: "THAILAND - Efforts to bring peace to the borders of Thailand and Cambodia have got nowhere as leaders of the two countries have yet to offer ways to settle the armed conflict, despite saying they are ready to talk.

Both nations claim they did not trigger the border skirmishes and have called on each other to stop shooting.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the House of Representatives yesterday that he would seek an opportunity to talk with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in early May in Jakarta.

Hun Sen's move

However, Hun Sen said he would raise the border conflict at the Asean meeting, rather than talking bilaterally with his Thai counterpart.

'Cambodia will raise the issue at the Asean summit next month, so Abhisit and I can negotiate during the Asean Summit,' Hun Sen was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.

'Even though there are no Cambodia-Thailand border issues on the agenda for the Asean Summit, I will raise them with Asean leaders,' he said.

Thailand and Cambodia have been in military conflict over the boundary in two major areas - Preah Vihear in Si Sa Ket, and Ta Muen Thom in Surin.

Hun Sen said Cambodia would talk to Thailand over the conflict at Ta Muen and Ta Kwai bilaterally, but needed a third party for the Preah Vihear dispute."