Cambodian PM gives ultimatum to Laos over 'invasion'

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Cambodia's prime minister on Friday issued a six-day ultimatum to Laos to pull back troops who have allegedly trespassed into a border area or face a military response.

Around 30 Lao soldiers have been stationed in Cambodia's northern Stung Treng Province since April despite repeated requests by Phnom Penh for them to leave, according to Cambodian Premier Hun Sen.

"I appeal to Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to withdraw troops from Cambodian territory without any conditions," Hun Sen said during a ceremony in Phnom Penh.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen /Reuters Photo

Military commanders have been ordered to deploy troops along with multiple rocket launchers to the border area, he said, giving Laos the "ultimatum" of pulling out by August 17.

"We are not waging war, but we just want our land back," the Cambodian premier said, adding that he was running out of patience with "the invasion" by Lao troops.

According to Hun Sen, the Lao soldiers crossed into Cambodia to halt the construction of a road.

"We construct the road in our land, and our Lao friends have come to prevent us. They crossed Sekong River to our territory," he said. "We are friends, but a friend cannot step on (our) head."

He added that to maintain niceties with Laos, he ordered the engineering unit to halt construction of the road, but the Lao troops have not withdrawn.

Later on Friday Cambodia's Foreign Ministry announced that Hun Sen would fly to Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday to meet with his counterpart to hash out a solution.

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith /AFP Photo

Lao official: We have border dispute

Cambodia and Laos share a 540-kilometer land border but large tracts have not been officially demarcated, leading to territorial squabbles.

The two countries have a territorial and border demarcation dispute, an official at the Laos embassy in Phnom Penh told Reuters.

"We have not yet agreed the border line with each other," said the official, who declined to be identified. "A border commission has not come to check it."

The border is hard to police, with increasing amounts of drugs – mainly methamphetamine and heroin – being moved from Laos into Cambodia.

Cambodia should stop clearing the area for road-building activities, in order to allow checks by inspection panels from both countries, the Lao official said.

A Cambodian soldier guards the Thai-Cambodia border in Samrong in Oddar Meanchey Province on May 1, 2011, a day after Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire over their disputed border. /AFP Photo

For years Cambodia was locked in a bitter territorial dispute with Thailand over the ancient Preah Vihear temple near their shared border, with 28 people killed in the worst clashes in 2011.

In 2013 the UN's top court ruled that the area belonged to Cambodia and ordered Thai troops to leave.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency