Cambodia’s ruling party hopes new Thai gov’t to build close co-op on temple issues

   PHNOM PENH, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) expressed high hope that the upcoming new Thai government would create close cooperation with Cambodia to solve out the simmering border row, according to a communiqué released on Thursday afternoon after the party’s 36^th annual congress.

   “The CPP is optimistic that the new government of Thailand to be formed from the results of the July 3’s elections will closely cooperate with Cambodia in solving the issues basing on friendly neighboring spirit,” said the statement.

   The would-be new Thai government will be formed by the Fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party, which won a landslide victory -- 265 seats out of the 500 parliamentary seats in the general elections on July 3. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, will become Thailand’s first female Prime Minister.

   The two-day congress also expressed support for the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 that ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple and urged the two nations to allow ASEAN observers to have access to the provisional demilitarized zone.

  “We hope that these measures will be brought into action the soonest possible,” it added.

   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

   Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides. 

   The two-day annual congress had chaired by the CPP’s President Chea Sim, President of the Senate, the party’s honorary president Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, and the party’s vice president Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia.

   It was taken part by more than 2,000 key members and officials of the party.