PAD blames officials for allowing clash near temple

A leader of the Bangkok-based People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Friday blamed government officials for failing to prevent a clash between members of his group with local residents a Thai province bordering Cambodia due to differing opinions regarding the disputed ancient temple.

Pipop Thongchai, a core leader of the PAD, claimed that the clash which took place Thursday between members of his group and local people in Si Sa Ket province near the Preah Vihear temple occurred because politicians in the province wanted it to happen.

"It is the duty of the Si Sa Ket provincial governor and police to prevent the clash in which a number of persons from both sides were injured," Mr. Pipop said, adding that the authorities must find the instigators and take legal action.

The PAD protesters on Thursday traveled in a cavalcade of over 100 vehicles heading for Preah Vihear temple to protest against Cambodia's listing of the 11th century temple as a World Heritage Site, awarded by UNESCO World Heritage Committee earlier this month.

But the intending protesters were confronted with local people before reaching the temple and the clash ensued.

Referring to three Thais who were briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers after they had crossed into Cambodia, Mr Pipop said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej should not see the issue as an insane matter and former governments and senior military officers were to blame for not solving the border demarcation problem.

Mr Samak, also defence minister, on Thursday publicly admonished those three Thais -- two Buddhist laymen and a monk -- who purposely crossed the disputed Thai-Cambodian border at Preah Vihear of thoughtlessly inciting a military standoff, while adding that the PAD is behaving in a similar manner in attempting to provoke a military coup.

"Up till now the prime minister hasn't shown any policy towards solving the disputed 4.6 square kilometres surrounding the temple to the UNESCO or to the Cambodian government, even after the court issued an injunction against the cabinet resolution endorsing the Thai-Cambodian joint communiqué," Mr Pipop said.

It is now about time for the Thai military to confer with the government that the barbed wire installed by soldiers must be moved closer to the border and away from the disputed zone otherwise the government in Phnom Penh will consider that the area belongs to Cambodia, Mr Pipop said. (TNA)