Cambodia's Hun Sen visit helps Thai land case - Thai PM

Hun Sen's remarks and actions during his three-day tour would be sent to Unesco's World Heritage Committee to back Thailand's claim to the disputed land, the prime minister said yesterday.

The area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple belongs to Thailand, he said. Hun Sen had tacitly acknowledged it was not Cambodian property, which helped Thailand's case.

(...) Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said the Cambodian prime minister had accepted Thailand's demand to send its representatives to join him during his visit to the disputed areas.

He said Hun Sen had followed international principle and agreements on disputed areas, whereby each side would send its representatives to join the other side whenever it enters a disputed area.

"This mean Cambodia accepts that the area surrounding Preah Vihear does not belong to Cambodia," Mr Panitan said.

Hun Sen visits Ta Muen Thom temple today. Mr Abhisit said Thai authorities would greet him there because it is Thai territory.

He turned down Hun Sen's demand that Thai troops withdraw from the area for his visit.

Mr Abhisit said Hun Sen's tour of the border was motivated by political interests in Cambodia and the World Heritage decision on Preah Vihear temple.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry yesterday welcomed Hun Sen and confirmed that his visit would not affect legal claims over Thai territory.

"The government has no objections if the Cambodian prime minister wishes to enter Thai territory," it said in a statement.

"However, the Cambodian side must first inform and request prior permission from the government."

Thailand will then send a representative to welcome him.

"The visit would not have any effect in any way on the legal claims made by Thailand over Thai territory. Such claims remain valid and Thailand still fully retains all her rights applicable under international law," the statement said.Hun Sen was near the Chong Bok border pass in Ubon Ratchathani yesterday but had his subordinates meet Thai authorities at the border.