Thai-Cambodian border resolution meeting postponed

BANGKOK, Oct. Cambodia has postponed the meeting to resolve the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand without giving any reason, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday.

Thailand's Second Army Chief Wibulsak Neepal was scheduled to lead Thai delegates for bilateral talks at Cambodia's Siem Reap province next Wednesday and Thursday.

Thailand's ministry of foreign affairs revealed that it was informed by the army that Cambodian deputy prime minister and defense minister Tia Banh asked to postpone the Regional Border Committee meeting between the two countries.

According to reports from the Thai News Agency, it is believed that the postponement resulted from concern that the meeting, if held according to the original schedule, won't be able to reach any agreement to settle the border dispute focused on the 11th century Preah Vihear temple without a negotiation framework approved by the Thai parliament.

Bilateral talks to discuss withdrawing troops from around the temple were postponed late August amid political turmoil in Thailand.

In early October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during sporadic exchange of gunfire and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine at the border area.