Hun Sen insists on troop cut

       Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is renewing calls for troops to withdraw from the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple and insists the matter should be settled through negotiation.
       Hun Sen yesterday told opposition Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in Phnom Penh Cambodia wanted the Joint Boundary Commission to come to an agreement on the area claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.
       "Thailand and Cambodia are friends and will always be friends," Gen Chavalit quoted Hun Sen as saying.
       The JBC could begin negotiations once the troops withdrew, including possible talks on how to jointly develop the overlapping area, Gen Chavalit said.
       The former prime minister held talks with Hun Sen during a one-day visit ahead of the Asean summit which starts tomorrow.
       Hun Sen's position contradicted that of his foreign minister. Hor Namhong
       last week said he would seek help from Asean to settle the land dispute.
       Asean Affairs Department director-general Vitavas Srivihok yesterday said the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia would not join the summit opening ceremony tomorrow but they would join the meeting later in the day.
       Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was caught up with the formation of his new cabinet and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had to present his budget policy to the parliament, he said.
       The summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin will be held amid tight security as a result of concerns about antigovernment protests.
       The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has said it would decide today whether its members would rally at the summit.
       GAINING ACCESS
       Motorists passing through Cha-am and Hua Hin over the next four days while the Internal Security Act is in effect for the Asean summit are required to carry a special sticker.
       1 To register online before travelling go to www.15thaseansummit-th.org
       2 Motorists registering in Bangkok can pick up their sticker at the Cha-am national park office, tel 032-433661. Those travelling from the lower South can pick up the sticker at Hua Hin Vitthayalai School, tel 032-51123.
       3 Travellers who have not registered in advance can register and receive a sticker from the above-mentioned outlets.
       4 Those registering at the above outlets will need to present their car licence book, ID card and driver's licence.
       5 Travellers are advised to use the Cha-am-Pran Buri bypass highway.