Cambodia-Thailand Trade Recovering

By STAFF REPORTER
October 17, 2011

In the first eight months of this year the trade between Thailand and Cambodia went up by 8%. Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh said yesterday the trade between went up to $1.93 billion.

The export of Cambodia to Thailand was 125.6 million dollars, which is 17% lower compared to the same period last year, whereas the export of Thailand to Cambodia went up by 10% to 1.8 billion dollars.

Director of Thai embassy's Foreign Trade Promotion Office, Jiranan Wongmongkol said trade between the two countries is seeing better recovery since August when the Pheu Thai Party came to power led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

She added, "We project that through restoring good relations between the two nations, the bilateral trade will grow around 20 percent this year."

Director of statistics department at Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce, Kong Putheara also said that Cambodian and Thai trade would re-grow well henceforth after it slowed down due to border clashes between February and April.

The two countries have sporadic border conflict related to territorial dispute near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple since July 7, 2008 when UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site.

Both Cambodia and Thailand have built up military forces since then near the border area and clashes have taken place periodically killing civilians and troop both sites.

Since Pheu Thai Party won the general elections, the border tension has been eased. Leaders from both the countries have announced efforts in building "a new era of cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand."

11th century Preah Vihear temple

Map showing Cambodia and Thailand

Thailand's first female Prime Minister - Yingluck Shinawatra

Read More

October 17, 2011 | 0 comments

Thai To Review Ties With Cambodia In Wake Of Fresh Border Clash

By ONE Liners Agency

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva orders for a fresh review of the nations tie with neighbor Cambodia in the wake of re-clashes in the border between the two countries.

The proposal for the review came from Thailand Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Tuesday at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

According to government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn, the Cabinet resolved that border dispute will only be confined to dispute and not clashes as it is seen for past few days.

Wattanayagorn also added that Thailand government would cooperate with international organizations and all the relevant agencies. He said the military would take retaliatory action in pushing out the Cambodian soldiers from disputed areas and also diplomatic measures to be taken to bring Cambodian government to bilateral talks.

Spokesman believed further that after the two countries' meet in the sideline of ASEAN summit in Indonesia, the situation would improve. ASEAN will be held on May 7 and 8. Also, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to meet on April 28 the Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa.

It is learned from Wattanayagorn that Thailand and Indonesia may reach to an agreement on the deployment of Indonesian observers at the disputed border areas.

Meanwhile, for the fifth consecutive day fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodia soldiers along the mountainous disputed border.

Thai as well as Cambodia spokesmen said the fight broke out near the 11th Century hill-top Preah Vihear temple today.

Last four days the fight was around Ta Krabey temple, 160km to the west.

In the five days violence between the two countries at least twelve soldiers have been killed.

Due to recent fighting about 36,000 people have been displaced.

Calling for ceasefire, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that both the countries need to resolve the crisis through serious dialogue and not through military means.

In February about ten people were killed in violence around Preah Vihear temple.

Even after international court awarding the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, both the neighbors claim for the ownership of the surrounding area.

Read More

April 26, 2011 | 0 comments

Border Clash Between Thailand And Cambodia Resumes

By MALILA Harris

THAILAND NEWS – The clash between Thailand and Cambodia has once again ignited when in an incident four soldiers have been killed, increasing the number of death to 10 in two days.

The clash has started when both sides have exchanged fire in jungle around Ta Krabey temple, which both sides claim. The disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple is spread around 200 km and a place for fatal clashes between two nations. Since February, the scene has turned into a battleground and eventually people were evacuated from the area.

According to a news source, the reason of this immediate violence is still to be known and both sides blamed each other for the clash.

“Fresh fighting started at around 0600 (2300 GMT Friday) with rifles and mortar shelling," said Thai army spokesman Col Prawit Hookaew.

"We are negotiating to stop the fighting," he added.

Both sides blamed each for the killing, as Thai officials said one Thai soldiers had been killed and more than four injured whereas Cambodian officials claimed to lose three of their soldiers.

It is reported that some artillery shelling had also taken place and fighting became more intense in a week.

Indonesia has been playing a negotiator between two countries and appeal for immediate ceasefire.

In 1962, an international court had awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, however, the conflict between two neighbors have been continuing over the surrounding area. There are other parts of the Thai-Cambodian border, which have not yet been formally demarcated.

Read More

April 24, 2011 | 0 comments