By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent
The Telegraph (UK)
Thailand and Cambodia have sent more troops to the scene of a tense border confrontation, as hundreds of villagers fled the area.
At the centre of the dispute is Preah Vihear, the 900 year old ruin of a Hindu temple that stands spectacularly on a mountain ridge between the two countries. It is officially in Cambodia, but many Thai nationalists do not see it that way.
The latest confrontation started on Tuesday, when three Thai protestors managed to cross barbed wire to reach the ancient site. The military escalation quickly followed.
Yesterday there were 400 Thai troops facing 800 Cambodians – twice as many as the day before.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, wrote an open letter to his Thai opposite number demanding a withdrawal.
"The situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military," he wrote, calling for the two parties to "resolve the problem through negotiations." Hun Sen faces re-election next week.
Cambodia claims Thai soldiers have entered its territory, although Thailand denies it.
"If any order comes from the top, I can launch my rocket immediately," said a Cambodian soldier, Lorm Trouk. "I am protecting my territory and temples." The holy ruins are now occupied by troops toting AK-47s and RPGs.
Samak Sundaravej, the Thai prime minister, is in an even tighter spot politically.
His government is only five months old but is facing a strong challenge from conservative nationalists who have latched on to the Preah Vihear issue as a pretext to overthrow it.
The issue was re-awakened when Mr Samak's government supported a Cambodian application to list the temple as a world heritage site.
Although an international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 nationalists accused the government of ceding territory. The foreign minister has been forced to resign and the whole cabinet faces impeachment.
Mr Samak accused Thai nationalists of "trying to ignite a conflict."
"Those crazy three people who crossed the border [on Tuesday] sparked the problem," he said "They nearly achieved their aim by causing the military on each side to face one another."
Anti-government protestors clashed with local Thai villagers and police in the area yesterday, who accused them of fermenting trouble.
But more anti-government protestors were heading to the scene.
At the centre of the dispute is Preah Vihear, the 900 year old ruin of a Hindu temple that stands spectacularly on a mountain ridge between the two countries. It is officially in Cambodia, but many Thai nationalists do not see it that way.
The latest confrontation started on Tuesday, when three Thai protestors managed to cross barbed wire to reach the ancient site. The military escalation quickly followed.
Yesterday there were 400 Thai troops facing 800 Cambodians – twice as many as the day before.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, wrote an open letter to his Thai opposite number demanding a withdrawal.
"The situation is worsening due to a continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military," he wrote, calling for the two parties to "resolve the problem through negotiations." Hun Sen faces re-election next week.
Cambodia claims Thai soldiers have entered its territory, although Thailand denies it.
"If any order comes from the top, I can launch my rocket immediately," said a Cambodian soldier, Lorm Trouk. "I am protecting my territory and temples." The holy ruins are now occupied by troops toting AK-47s and RPGs.
Samak Sundaravej, the Thai prime minister, is in an even tighter spot politically.
His government is only five months old but is facing a strong challenge from conservative nationalists who have latched on to the Preah Vihear issue as a pretext to overthrow it.
The issue was re-awakened when Mr Samak's government supported a Cambodian application to list the temple as a world heritage site.
Although an international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 nationalists accused the government of ceding territory. The foreign minister has been forced to resign and the whole cabinet faces impeachment.
Mr Samak accused Thai nationalists of "trying to ignite a conflict."
"Those crazy three people who crossed the border [on Tuesday] sparked the problem," he said "They nearly achieved their aim by causing the military on each side to face one another."
Anti-government protestors clashed with local Thai villagers and police in the area yesterday, who accused them of fermenting trouble.
But more anti-government protestors were heading to the scene.
17 comments:
HUN SEN : Please write a letter to the opposition members before you assasinate them.You seem to be an expert on the subject.
LET KILL THESE SIAM DOGS , THEY KILL A LOT OF US IN 1979 and 80 , LET SHOW THIS FUCKING SIAM SOME LESSION , THEY THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER WAR HARDWARE ? WHO CARE THEY DON'T HAVE A BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN LIKE WE DO , WE KNOW THEIR WEAKNESS , SIAM MEN THEY LIKE TO FUCK EACHOTHER ASS , SO WHEN THEY BUSY WITH THEIR FANTASY WE MOVE IN AND KILL THEM ALL .
True,
A better war weaponry but lack of braveness that will not do anything to us.
I am up, and will defend Cambodia as well.
HUN SEN just needs to say YES lets do it!! I bet everyone will go.
Lets DECLARE WAR ON THOSE GAY SIAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I personally don't like Hun Sen.
But this issue I have to support him. My suggestion to HS to fight in diplomatic ways:
- To call Cambodian Embassador from Thailand and Thai Ambassador in Phnom penh to hand him a petition in protest against Thai aggression.
- To file a petition with Asean Association.
-To launch a Press conference. the goal is to tell the world that Cambodian can't accept the Thai incursion.
To sit down with Thai will make the aggressors to be more misunderstanding and reward them unless Cambodian Government has clear goal that the Thai has to withdraw from the pagoda before any negotiation will be taken place.
I am a Khmer living in Issan region and a Thai citizen. I do agree with those Khmers living Preah Vihear Province. I think Preah Vihear Temple belongs to people living in Preah Vihear province. No body else who does not live in Preah Vihear province has a rights on deciding the ownership of the temple. Keep in mind the Preah Vihear Province do exist. It is in northern region of Cambodia. But, Issan do not exist. Only the region does. But, mostly Loas people live there. We khmers are small numbers compare to others in the region. I hope this is clear to my brother who claims to be Khmer Issan in Issan province. You don't represent all the Khmers living here. So, stop using the name Issan.
We should start to shoot Thai land's robber first when they enter our teritory to protect our sovereignty. we can not wait for them to occupy our land and invite them gently to leave and now are waiting for them to start shooting at us first.If we talk with them too much over and over again they don't understand, they keep repeat the same act again and again and kill our people. now it time to start shooting them,the thai bastard. I support the idea to start chasing thai robber from our land right now.
Sic
Thank you Khmer brother of Issan for clarifying for us the real Khmer people's feeling. I never thought our brothers who live in Thailand would betray the only Free Khmer land left on this earth. I always suspected those people using Khmer Issan name were pure Thais who wish to discredit Khmer and create disunity among our people.
Khmer everywhere unite in our heart, Khmer Krom, Khmer Thai , Khmer Kandal, Khmer Loue and Khmer overseas to help protect our heritage and culture. We are descendants of builders of Angkor always proud to speak our language and practice our tradition no matter what country or who holds sovereign over us. They can never hold sovereign over our hearts.
This kind of proplemwould not be happen if those greedy learders follow through the process of Paris agrrement in 1993!
The UN force should came after the election to help secure and draw the frontier for Cambodian!
But the fucking shit heads say no need it thank!
What! do you think about it now! Shihanouk
Hun Sen
Ranarith
If my say is wrong sorry, Sirs!!!
If my say is right , Fuck you mother fuckers and go to hell!!!
UN can you see ,how you still keep a mess for Cambodoa poor honest people after 3 billions spending!!!
UN you help only the crook, power shirsty, dictator, ex fucking Khmer Rouge!
Should I thank you UN before I go to war again and die?????????
I say no to War, why everybody here want to go to war? You are lucky to have a opportunity to sit in front of PC and share your comments. Try to think about hundreds of lives at temple ground and the affects of cruel fightings to the temple. Use diplomacy! that is why we go to school for! file complaint to UN! if it doesn't work, Then let's make the temple site called Thai Reap!
Khmer must settle all border disputes themselves without relying on infidels. That is the only way we can have peace like everyone else. No one will recognized the French's or Japanese's decisions in this region.
2:23am, I am down with your idea. I am Khmer born scientist living abroad, and I can supply Chemical bombs if there is a conflict.
All those Khmer nationalists here that want war, if you are abroad make sure you all return back to fight if there is one occur. I prefer diplomacy first, in case they attack us first, I want to say to 2:28am that I am ready to go back to deliver all your bombs to opponent military bases. They might have a better weapons but we use our nationalism way, I am not terrorist, I only target armed opponent. Say No to civilian casualties.
Good, just make sure no infidel is interfering with our affair. That way, we can live in peace together once and for all.
iNFIDEL OF WHAT 3:17aM , IS YOUR MOTHER WAS A WHORE?
Pol Pot knew that he couldn't defeat the Vietcong and so he open Cambodia to Vietcong military force so the Vietcong can claim their victory! But what the Vietcong didn't know that Pol Pot military force make the Vietcong spent $1 million dollar a day just to maintain their troop in Cambodia and with the Russian help they manage to stay in Cambodia for 10 years! Now the Vietcong claimed that back then they were young, inexperience, and arrogant because they were intoxicated by all their military success against the French, the Jap, and the American and China. They think that they can conquer Cambodia easily and now they know realize their military capability and just want to be good neighbor! Ahahhahah
It is time to open Cambodia to the Thaicong military occupation so that the Thaicong can realize their military capability! Ahahhah
I never thought that the Thaicong can be so stupid!
If the diplomatic failured, my belove Khmers soldiers please kill only Siameses if you have to! SAVE LIVES of my Brothers & Sisters those who live in SI SAKET, SURIN, BORIRAM, NOKOREACH SIMA, it migh be some among Ah Siamese Troopers occupied our land in the last three days. How to identify them? asks if they are able to speak Khmer language with you; I'm doubtfull Ah Siamese migh have to used our relative to fight agaist us. Dear compatriots you're under Siamese occupation though your life and family are not safe, turn to embrace our Khmer Nation in( Cambodia is more brighter future for all, then our Khmer Nation will glorify one more time on earth( Khmer Mohanoko ). At this day the darker cloud is over Ah Siameses head!that mean the peaceful Nation will become a trouble hot spot in Souteast Asia. We Khmer( Cambodia) don't wanted to trouble with you because you have save many Cambodians lives between 1975-1980, but Ah Siameses did not, they killed many Khmer Nations, and raped many Khmers women and then Khmer wives befor they put us in Jail or during detaining period. My eyes is teared when I remind it, BRAVO MY KHMERS BELOVE SOLDIERS I AM WITH YOU ALL THE TIME!!!THAKS YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY!!!. Down to you Ah Siams!!
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