Cambodia and Thailand on brink of war

Thailand and its down-at-heel neighbour Cambodia are literally on the brink of war in a bitter dispute over a 1,000-year-old temple that clings to the top of a 1,700ft escarpment separating the two Southeast Asian nations.

Ancient rivalries between the two Buddhist countries were ignited this month after UNESCO awarded World Heritage site status to the ruined Khmer temple ensemble, Preah Vihear, which was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962.

However, the only reliable maps of the jungle-covered region, drawn up by French colonial authorities 100 years ago, show that the temple ruins actually stand on Thai territory, and Thailand decided this week to stake its claim to the land around the site by moving in 1,500 troops and heavy artillery. Cambodia responded with a similar

show of force, and today the two sides stood eyeball-to-eyeball as the Cambodian government spoke of an "imminent threat of war".

Thailand's claim to the hilltop land surrounding the ruins, scarcely three square miles in extent, is based not only on the ancient maps but on the geography of the area. The Preah Vihear site is virtually inaccessible from the Cambodian plain that stretches out far below the escarpment, while a paved road leads directly to the ruins from the Thai side of the border.

The Thais grumbled for years about the International Court decision, while cashing in on their easy access to the ruins by charging tourists a road toll. The Cambodians set up a border post of their own at the entrance to the site and charged fees for viewing the ruins. Both sides lived happily enough with the arrangement - until the UNESCO decision threw the