A senior Thai military official is visiting Cambodia with plans to meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and possibly discuss the two countries’ military standoff near the border-hugging Preah Vihear temple, according to Thai media.
The Bangkok Post reported last week that General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Thailand’s deputy chief of security affairs since the military took control of the country in May, was scheduled to be in Cambodia on August 30 and 31 to meet with Mr. Hun Sen “possibly to discuss issues related to the Preah Vihear temple.”
The article does not provide a source for the information or provide any details about the potential temple talks.
Defense Ministry Secretary of State Neang Phat on Sunday said he knew nothing about a visit from Gen.
Tanasak and referred questions to Defense Minister Tea Banh, who could not be reached. Thailand and Cambodia have fought several brief but deadly skirmishes over disputed land adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple in recent years.
In November, the International Court of Justice ruled that the promontory on which the temple sits belongs to Cambodia and ordered all Thai forces to leave immediately.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed, however, not to implement the order until the political turmoil in Bangkok at the time had settled down.
