Thai Protests Resume Outside Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok

Thai protesters once again de­m­on­­­strated outside of the Cam­bodian embassy in Bangkok on Monday and demanded RCAF troops leave the disputed boundary zone near the Preah Vihear temple, officials said.

The rally began about 10:30 am with between 20 to 30 participants and grew to roughly 300 strong until the nonviolent protest disbanded on its own at 3 pm, Cam­bodian Foreign Min­istry spokes­man Koy Kuong said.

He said the rally outside the em­bassy—the second in under two weeks—was peaceful and has not given the ministry cause for alarm.

“At 3 pm, everyone dispersed. Everything is fine,” Mr Kuong said yesterday. “We are not concerned at all. The Thai authorities have assured the security for us.”

Mr Kuong said it was unclear if the demonstrators belong to one particular political movement or another, though he said it is be­lieved most of the Thai demonstrators belong to the People’s Alliance for Democracy, which is opposed to ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The first protest occurred on Oct 27 when about 100 demonstrators gathered at the embassy to express their anger over Prime Minister Hun Sen’s offer of sanctuary to Mr Thaksin. Mr Hun Sen’s favorable remarks for Thailand’s fugitive ex-premier have drawn criticism from Thai officials although, according to The Bangkok Post, Mr Thaksin has declined the invitation.

The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh remained closed yesterday for the third day of the Water Festival and officials did not res­pond to phone calls seeking comment.

At the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, Major General Srey Dek, commander of RCAF Division 3, said his Thai counterparts in­formed him that about 100 so-called yellow-shirt protesters from the PAD also attempted to reach the temple on Monday. He said Thai border police were able to stop the majority of the protesters about 10 km outside from the temple though 15 arrived at a nearby Thai village.

“If they cross the border we will shoot, and it is the order from Pre­m­ier Hun Sen. We do not want our territory lost, even one millimeter,” he said.

 

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