Cambodia's response to the "perfidious" Thai media report

Sunday, 07 February 2010
Press and Documentation Dept.
Source: Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

PRESS RELEASE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia wishes to make clarification in response to Thailand’s reaction as published in the media concerning the visit of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen to the border area as follows.
1-The Bangkok Post published a distorted report online on 7 February 2010 that Thailand’s Second Army Area Commander Veewarith Chornsamrit led a delegation to welcome Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen on his visit to the Preah Vihear Temple. However, contrary to the claim, it was Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen who allowed the Thai Commander to come to meet him at Preah Vihear Temple, where Samdech Techo Prime Minister unequivocally stressed that it is the Temple of Cambodia and it is Cambodian territory.

2-The Bangkok Post also reported that Thai Commander Veewarith Chornsamrit was assigned to welcome Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen to send a message that Thailand is firm on its ownership claim over the disputed territory of 4.6 km2 near the Temple of Preah Vihear. However, in fact the Thai Commander did not raise anything as distortedly reported by the Bangkok Post.

Such untrustworthy report clearly shows that the Bangkok Post is perfidious and falsely reporting to blindly mislead the public.

3-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand again issued a press release on 7 February 2010 which stated that during his visit to the border area, Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen “might enter into Thai territory......the Cambodian side must first inform and request prior permission from the Thai Government”. On this point, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia already issued a statement on 5 February 2010 that Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit is only within the Cambodian territory.

4- The Bangkok Post also reported today that Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will use Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen’s comment to explain the World Heritage Committee that the area around Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Thailand. Such a statement clearly shows the ambitious greed and duplicity of the Thai Prime Minister, who wants to annex Cambodian territory, blatantly and illegally.