Cambodia, Thai border gate opening delays for another month [-Why would Cambodia share revenue with Thailand?]

December 01, 2010
Xinhua

The plan to open Preah Vihear temple border gate with neighboring Thailand will be delayed for another one month, said a top official at the Cambodian Preah Vihear National Authority on Wednesday.

"After the bilateral meeting on Tuesday between Cambodia and Thai officials, the Thai side has asked us to delay the opening of the border gate for another month instead of opening the gate on December 5," Hang Soth, director general of the Preah Vihear National Authority, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

He said the delay suggestion from the Thai side was made as both sides could not reach agreement on the issues of sharing entry ticket fees and letting Thai vendors to sell in Cambodian market nearby the temple.

The border gate has been closed since July 2008, when Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage site that triggered a military build-up along the border and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers.

Since then, tourists have been allowed to enter the hilltop temple only from the Cambodia side, preventing a large influx of visitors from Thailand.

The tension between the two countries were eased after four meetings between leaders of the two countries and subsequent meetings between commanders of both sides' armed forces.