PHNOM PENH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Protection police will be allowed to station and guard in the would-be provisional demilitarized zone surrounding the 11st century Preah Vihear temple, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday.
“Protection police has to hold weapons in order to prevent drug trafficking, illegal logging, crimes in the newly defined demilitarized area of 17.388 square kilometers,” he said at the more than two-hour press conference to express Cambodia’s stance on the border issue with Thailand.
“Pistols and light guns such as AK will be allowed to use by police in the area,” he said. “But some places such as on the temple will be no need weapons.”
The International Court of Justice on July 18 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 also ordered both parties to continue cooperating within ASEAN and allow appointed observers access to the provisional demilitarized zone.
The World Court awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as 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.
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