Cambodia, Thailand to withdraw troops

Cambodia and Thailand have set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to work towards troop withdrawal from the demilitarised zone at the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.
Cambodia and Thailand have set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to work towards troop withdrawal from the demilitarised zone at the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

The Xinhua News Agency quoted Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh as saying said on Jan. 17 that the Cambodian side is waiting for an invitation from Thailand to convene a meeting in Thailand this year in order to discuss the plan for troop redeployment from the provisional demilitarised zone (PDZ).

JWG, which comprises nearly 20 border affairs and military experts, will work for the complete and simultaneous pullout of the two countries' military personnel from the PDZ under the observation of the Joint Observer Team, including Cambodian, Thai and Indonesian monitors.

The talks on troop pullout from the PDZ was opened after the International Court of Justice on July 18, 2011 ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their soldiers from the PDZ and allow ASEAN observers to access to the PDZ to monitor ceasefire.

In a press conference on Jan. 16, Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiatoro said that the country plans to send its military observers to Thailand – Cambodia disputed border area on May 2./.

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