Army to take good care of unsettled area along Thai-Cambodian border

BANGKOK, January 7 (TNA) - Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha says that the Royal Thai Army is ready to protect an unsettled area near the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border in accordance with the laws. General Prayuth told journalists on Monday that all parties are doing their duties and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military are cooperating with each other, with no party to evade its responsibility. In response to reports that Cambodia has deployed soldiers on its side of the border near the temple, General Prayuth said the reinforcements were routine defence procedures and the army did not consider it as a challenge to Thailand. He said Thai soldiers were also put on standby along the border in the Thai side but that was not a preparation for a battle. Atmosphere and trade along the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket province in the Thai Northeast have, however, remaind normal. Today, authorities and business operators in Si Sa Ket and those from adjacent Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces even attended the opening ceremony of a fair at the Preah Vihear provincial stadium in Cambodia, where Thai business operators bring their products for sales to boost bilateral relations. (TNA)