Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2294
2008-07-29 09:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

PREAH VIHEAR: THAI MFA ON JULY 28 TALKS, DAO VISIT

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS ASEC CASC UNESCO SCUL PBTS 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002294 

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION UNESCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS ASEC CASC UNESCO SCUL PBTS
UNSC, TH, CB
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR: THAI MFA ON JULY 28 TALKS, DAO VISIT
TO TEMPLE AREA

REF: A. BANGKOK 2276 (NEW FM APPOINTED)

B. BANGKOK 2111 (FM RESIGNS)

BANGKOK 00002294 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002294

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION UNESCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS ASEC CASC UNESCO SCUL PBTS
UNSC, TH, CB
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR: THAI MFA ON JULY 28 TALKS, DAO VISIT
TO TEMPLE AREA

REF: A. BANGKOK 2276 (NEW FM APPOINTED)

B. BANGKOK 2111 (FM RESIGNS)

BANGKOK 00002294 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Embassy Bangkok's Defense Attache visited the vicinity
of the Preah Vihear temple on July 28; the atmosphere was
calm, and there were no signs of a significant military
build-up on the Thai side. The Foreign Ministry described
the atmosphere of the July 28 Thai-Cambodian talks on Preah
Vihear as "warm and cordial" and said both sides agreed to
"exercise utmost restraint" and continue working bilaterally
toward a peaceful settlement. Prime Minister Samak was
reportedly pleased with the talks; the next round of talks
has not yet been scheduled. A leading anti-government
activist from the People's Alliance for Democracy told us his
group did not intend to engage in further protests in the
vicinity of Preah Vihear. We are optimistic that further
bilateral discussions can result in a diplomatic solution.
End Summary.

DAO VISIT TO THE BORDER AREA
--------------


2. (C) Escorted by Thai military personnel, Embassy Bangkok's
Defense Attache and 10 other members of the Attache Corps,
visited the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple on July 28.
The group flew by helicopter to the local command center
established in the border region by the Suranaree Task Force.
The Thais briefed the group on the historical issues
surrounding the Thai and Cambodian claims to Preah Vihear
temple and the surrounding area. The Thais claimed that the
Cambodians had violated the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding
on boundary demarcation by maintaining a settlement of
Cambodians in Thai territory, and by building a road into

Thai territory.


3. (C) The atmosphere in the vicinity of the temple appeared
calm. The DATT observed a group of typical paramilitary
border patrol soldiers (not Army troops per se, but more like
a militia operating under Army auspices). These troops,
armed with M-16 rifles, were established in tents in the
disputed territory, intermingled with their Cambodian
counterparts. Thai officials explained that the two sides
had agreed not to increase the number of troops in the area
above 500, although they agreed each side could rotate fresh
troops in as replacements. The DATT saw no tanks or
artillery in the border area, and observed only a few
military vehicles operating on local highways. Arriving by
air, he saw no signs of a major military build-up. Villagers
in the area appeared to be going about their daily business
without special concerns, although the Thais maintain a
series of checkpoints on roads in the area close to the
temple area. (DAO will provide further reporting on this
visit through military channels.)

MFA READOUT
--------------


4. (C) The MFA published on its website a statement
characterizing the bilateral talks in positive terms (see
para 8, below). In private conversation on July 29, MFA East
Asia Department Director for Division II Kallayana
Vipattipumiprates told us that the Thais preferred not to
issue a joint statement with the Cambodians, partly because
of the ramifications that had flowed from the June Joint
Communique on the temple's inscription (ref B). Kallayana
indicated there were no glaring points of disagreement
between the two sides, and he characterized the Cambodian
side as flexible, having made critical last-minute
concessions. He confirmed that the bilateral Foreign
Ministers' meeting would remain the primary mechanism for
progress in the near term, although no date was set for the

BANGKOK 00002294 002.2 OF 003


next round of talks.

MISCELLANY
--------------


5. (C) A Bangkok-based Ambassador told us that Prime Minister
Samak told him privately at a reception on the night of July
28 that he was very pleased with the results of the talks.
An Australian diplomat told us on July 29 that King Bhumibol
had directed the hurried appointment of palace advisor Tej
Bunnag as Foreign Minister (ref A),and this appointment
reflected the King's serious concern over both the Preah
Vihear tension and Thailand's chairmanship of ASEAN.

PAD NOT RETURNING TO THE BORDER
--------------


6. (C) Separately, Poloff met on July 28 with Somkiat
Pongpaiboon, one of the core leaders of the People's Alliance
for Democracy (PAD). (The PAD recently engineered protests
in the vicinity of Preah Vihear and requested both
impeachment and criminal proceedings against government
officials involved in formulating Thailand's policy toward
the temple's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.)
Somkiat said the PAD did not intend to engage in further
protests in the vicinity of the temple; he emphasized that
the core issue for PAD remained the disposition of former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom Somkiat expected
would soon be convicted of criminal offenses unrelated to
Preah Vihear.

COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) It does not appear that the Thais and Cambodians made
a major breakthrough in their July 28 talks, but the tension
between the two countries appears to have lessened somewhat
in the wake of the election in Cambodia, and we are
optimistic that further bilateral discussions can result in a
diplomatic solution. Our DATT's visit to the area debunks a
number of overblown press stories on Thai military escalation
around the temple with tanks, large artillery, etc. End
Comment.

TEXT OF MFA'S STATEMENT
--------------


8. (U) On July 29, the Thai MFA put the following statement
(labeled as a "story") on the MFA's website, www.mfa.go.th:

BEGIN TEXT:

On 28 July 2008, Mr. Tej Bunnag, Foreign Minister of
Thailand, had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation of Cambodia, in Siem Reap to
discuss ways to resolve peacefully the situation in the
border area adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear.

The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, which
reflected the goodwill and sincerity on both sides.

The Foreign Ministers concurred that both countries should
exercise utmost restraint to avoid the possibility of armed
confrontation, so that the current problem may be settled
through peaceful means. They both shared the view that
existing bilateral mechanisms should be used, including the
Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Thai-Cambodian Joint
Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) which was
set up by the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey
and Demarcation of Land Boundary.

Both sides would recommend to their respective Governments to
convene the next meeting of the JBC as soon as possible to
discuss issues related to the survey and demarcation of the
relevant sector under the Terms of Reference and Master Plan

BANGKOK 00002294 003.2 OF 003


of the JBC (Khao Sattasom/Phnom Sethisom - BP 1),following
the next Foreign Ministers' Meeting, at which remaining
matters would be discussed.

The Ministers would also recommend to their respective
Governments, as a provisional arrangement pending survey and
demarcation by the JBC, to undertake:


1. De-mining of the area to be surveyed and demarcated by the
JBC in a concerted manner;


2. Setting up of a Temporary Coordinating Task Force
comprising the relevant agencies from both sides to address
problems related to the area, including the Pagoda;


3. Redeploying both sides' respective troops out of the "Keo
Sikha Kiri Svara" Pagoda, the area surrounding the Pagoda,
and the Temple of Preah Vihear.

The Ministers noted that this arrangement shall be without
prejudice to the rights of both sides regarding the survey
and demarcation within the framework of the JBC and their
legal positions.

The Thai Foreign Minister also noted that the Thai side's
undertaking would have to be in accordance with Thailand's
constitutional and domestic legal requirements.

END TEXT.
JOHN