SISAKET 18 April 2013 – An activist group has gathered at the Thai-Cambodia border in Sisaket province to put up a Thai flag in the area of Khao Phra Viharn national park, but was turned away by Thai security officials.
The activists, who had an agenda of “reclaiming Phra Viharn”, were intercepted by policemen, soldiers and local security volunteers at a checkpoint. The group tried to convince the security officials to let them up to Mo-e-daeng cliff so they could put up the flag, but the negotiation was unsuccessful due to officials’ concern for their safety.
In the end, the activists gave the flag to the officials and asked that soldiers help to put the flag up instead.
Afterwards, Army Area 2 commanding-general Chirasak Chomprasop said much consideration has to be made before deciding whether to put up the flag at Mo-e-daeng cliff. He also asserted that neither Thailand nor Cambodia has ever put up a flag within the disputed 4.6-square-kilometer area around Phra Viharn Temple.
