Traditional annual buffalo-racing ceremony held in Cambodia

www.chinaview.cn

2009-09-19

A Cambodian boy rides his buffalo during an annual buffalo-racing ceremony at Virhear Sour village in Kandal province, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Phnom Penh September 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A Cambodian boy rides his buffalo during an annual buffalo-racing ceremony at Virhear Sour village in Kandal province, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Phnom Penh September 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Cambodian men ride buffaloes during an annual buffalo-racing ceremony at Virhear Sour village in Kandal province, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Phnom Penh September 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Cambodian men ride buffaloes during an annual buffalo-racing ceremony at Virhear Sour village in Kandal province, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Phnom Penh September 19, 2009. The ceremony, which started more than 70 years ago, is held to honour the Neakta Preah Srok pagoda spirit. After the ceremony, the buffaloes are auctioned off to the highest bidder.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Thai PM orders peace talks with yellow-shirts protesters

www.chinaview.cn
2009-09-19

BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Saturday afternoon ordered police and the military leaders in Si Sa Ket province to hold talks with yellow-shirts protesters there to prevent possible violence in the Thai-Cambodian disputed border area, Thai media reported.

Abhisit issued the order after he received a report on violent clash between yellow-shirts' security guards and the local people in Phumisarol village as the latter blocked them from passing through to Preah Vihear national park.

The clash occurred as many local villagers did not agree with the protest, viewing it would damage the country's reputation as well as economic and relations with the neighboring country. Some villagers were injured in the conflict.

"The PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) leaders could be allowed to go to Pha Mor I-Daeng to read out their protest statement in order to end the anti-Cambodia demonstration in the border province," Abhisit said on Saturday afternoon.

Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, another core leader of PAD, suggested Abhisit send his representative to hold talk only with Veera Somkwamkid, a core leader of PAD who led the protest rally.

Suriyasai Katasila, PAD coordinator, called on the premier to hold talks with Veera to prevent unrest. He insisted that PAD's five core leaders had nothing to with the rally in Si Sa Ket province, where Thailand shares border with Cambodia.

About 4,000 yellow-shirts, or supporters of the PAD, headed toward the Preah Vihear temple Saturday to protest and to demand Thai government push the alleged Cambodian intruders out before they met with blockage by local villagers and about 1,000 anti-riot police.

Veera said they plan to go near the temple to read out PAD statement demanding the Cambodian villagers and troops to move outof Thailand's territory.

In a petition they filed to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Wednesday, the yellow-shirts claimed the governments in the past and present have been allowing Cambodian troops and people to encroach on an area of over 3,000 rai (1rai is equal to 1,600 square meters) around the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The international court ruled the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia more than 40 years ago, but border dispute over areas around the temple has remained a fuse in the two countries' relationship.

The Thai-Cambodian border has never been fully demarcated, in part because the border is littered with landmines left during the Indochina war between 1960s and 1970s.


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