[Vietnamization: Border, Stung Treng, Indochina] Cambodia PM gives ultimatum to Laos over 'invasion'

Cambodia PM gives ultimatum to Laos over 'invasion'

Hun Sen accuses Laotian troops of trespassing into border area and threatens military response if they fail to withdraw.

Al Jazeera | 11 August 2017

[A political ruse: (i) to deflect accusation of treason by appropriating "patriotism" from opposition before elections; (ii) to parade military appearance and boost this threat of violence on Cambodian protesters; (iii) why not also address the elephant in the room, Vietnam's invasion along the eastern border, most blatantly in Ratanakiri?]

The prime minister of Cambodia has issued a six-day ultimatum to Laos to pull back its troops who have allegedly trespassed into a border area or face a military response.

Hun Sen said on Friday that about 30 Laos soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory in April in northern Stung Treng province despite repeated requests by his government for them to leave the area.

He said he had been in touch with the government of Laos.

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

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."

Calls and emails to the Laos embassy in Phnom Penh were not returned.

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

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