PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet (pic) has dismissed criticism from foreign-based Cambodians who he claimed have misrepresented his desire for peaceful dialogue based on international law as the best mechanism for resolving the current border conflict with Thailand.
Addressing the 19th Anniversary of Veterans and Retirees Day on Friday (May 15), Manet stressed that Cambodia will choose a peaceful way to resolve the border conflict, even if just 1 per cent of the door is left open. He also noted, however, that Cambodia will not kneel and offer its land to others.
“Cambodia’s history has been filled with war, and we seek to avoid it. We want to defend our land, without losing our people’s lives. But let me be clear: When we try to solve a problem without fighting, this does not mean that we are kneeling or agreeing to give land to them. We must solve it based on law and diplomacy until the very end,” he said.
“Let me make it clear again: Even if we have just one per cent of the door open for peaceful resolution, we must use it rather than fighting. Some people don’t understand when I talk about this; they claim that they are ‘pundits’ and go off on a rant on social media.
“I did not say I expected one per cent of success. Success is the result of what we are trying. One per cent — I meant the opportunity of taking peaceful means for a peaceful solution,” he added.
Manet noted before Khmer New Year that even if just one per cent of the door remains open for peaceful negotiations over the border, he would choose it rather than fighting, which would only leave casualties. His message has been misinterpreted by critics abroad as Manet opting for talks even if just one per cent of success is anticipated.
It has been nearly five months since the Dec 27 ceasefire, and no high-profile border negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand, mainly thanks to Thai delays of meetings of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).
The Thai military has placed around 1,000 shipping containers and razor wire barricades along the border, while over 32,000 Cambodian civilians remain in temporary displacement shelters in several provinces, unable to return to their homes. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
