Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK2187
2009-08-28 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER DISPUTE: THAI ARMY ASSESSES
how-toVZCZCXRO3380 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #2187 2401123 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281123Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8114 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 7407 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9923 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 5739 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 1872 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0077 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002187
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS TH CB
SUBJECT: THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER DISPUTE: THAI ARMY ASSESSES
NO REDUCTION IN CAMBODIAN TROOPS AT PREAH VIHEAR
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002187
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS TH CB
SUBJECT: THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER DISPUTE: THAI ARMY ASSESSES
NO REDUCTION IN CAMBODIAN TROOPS AT PREAH VIHEAR
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Thai and Cambodian press reports over the past week
indicated that Cambodia would reduce the number of troops in
the Preah Vihear area after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
August 22 announced a troop reduction, possibly by much as
fifty percent. Hun Sen's announcement preceded a visit by
Thai Chief of Defense Forces General Songkitti Jaggabatara to
Cambodia that included a meeting with Cambodian armed forces
leader Pol Sarouen. Songkitti was reported to have said that
there would be no more problems between Thailand and Cambodia
after his meetings in Phnom Penh.
2. (C) At this point it is unclear whether the reduction, if
true, would apply to the number of troops within the temple
grounds (reported to be about 10 on each side),troops
located in the disputed territory, or to the larger numbers
in the vicinity of the disputed territory. While estimates
of troops numbers vary, Colonel Werachon Sukondhapatipak,
Director of the Royal Thai Army's Foreign Liaison Division,
had told us earlier that Thailand had 3,000 troops in the
area and that the RTA assessed Cambodia to have approximately
5,000 troops in the vicinity of the disputed territory.
3. (C) Colonel Saranyu Viriyavejakul, Aide de Camp to RTA
Commander General Anupong Paochinda, told us late August 28
that the RTA had not observed any troop reduction on the
Cambodian side. Thai Army observations from the disputed
area were that Cambodian troops had shifted positions in and
around the disputed territory, but that there had been no
change in the number of Cambodian troops. Saranyu told us
that the RTA believed that Cambodian statements over the past
week were posturing in regard to a deadline imposed by the
World Heritage Committee for Phnom Penh to institute an
International Coordinating Committee for the Preah Vihear
temple. The original deadline for establishing the Committee
was February 2009 but Cambodia had received an extension.
The RTA believed Phnom Penh would miss the deadline again and
was trying to make public statements of troop withdrawals to
garner support from the international community, Saranyu
said.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS TH CB
SUBJECT: THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER DISPUTE: THAI ARMY ASSESSES
NO REDUCTION IN CAMBODIAN TROOPS AT PREAH VIHEAR
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Thai and Cambodian press reports over the past week
indicated that Cambodia would reduce the number of troops in
the Preah Vihear area after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
August 22 announced a troop reduction, possibly by much as
fifty percent. Hun Sen's announcement preceded a visit by
Thai Chief of Defense Forces General Songkitti Jaggabatara to
Cambodia that included a meeting with Cambodian armed forces
leader Pol Sarouen. Songkitti was reported to have said that
there would be no more problems between Thailand and Cambodia
after his meetings in Phnom Penh.
2. (C) At this point it is unclear whether the reduction, if
true, would apply to the number of troops within the temple
grounds (reported to be about 10 on each side),troops
located in the disputed territory, or to the larger numbers
in the vicinity of the disputed territory. While estimates
of troops numbers vary, Colonel Werachon Sukondhapatipak,
Director of the Royal Thai Army's Foreign Liaison Division,
had told us earlier that Thailand had 3,000 troops in the
area and that the RTA assessed Cambodia to have approximately
5,000 troops in the vicinity of the disputed territory.
3. (C) Colonel Saranyu Viriyavejakul, Aide de Camp to RTA
Commander General Anupong Paochinda, told us late August 28
that the RTA had not observed any troop reduction on the
Cambodian side. Thai Army observations from the disputed
area were that Cambodian troops had shifted positions in and
around the disputed territory, but that there had been no
change in the number of Cambodian troops. Saranyu told us
that the RTA believed that Cambodian statements over the past
week were posturing in regard to a deadline imposed by the
World Heritage Committee for Phnom Penh to institute an
International Coordinating Committee for the Preah Vihear
temple. The original deadline for establishing the Committee
was February 2009 but Cambodia had received an extension.
The RTA believed Phnom Penh would miss the deadline again and
was trying to make public statements of troop withdrawals to
garner support from the international community, Saranyu
said.
JOHN