Bangkok Post
Members of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday clashed with a group of local people in Si Sa Ket who set up tents to block them from heading to the Preah Vihear temple. The PAD protesters, whose procession with over a hundred carloads was about two kilometres long, confronted a group of some 200 locals who blocked a road in tambon Saothongchai of Kantharalak district, about 8 km away from the temple ruins, with tents at around 7 pm.
Police barriers were also set up in the area with about 200 police officers standing guard. The PAD wanted to march to the temple ruins to protest against Cambodia's listing of the temple as a World Heritage site.
Leading PAD figures ordered their security guards to break through the police barriers. This prompted angry local residents to throw wooden objects at the PAD protesters, who used flag poles to hit back. Police rushed to intervene. The clash left several PAD demonstrators and local residents injured.
After the clash, the PAD protesters marched toward Preah Vihear national park, the entrance to the temple, in Kantharalak district. Officials had to barricade it with barbed wire and wooden barriers to keep them out.
Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Nettarakawaysana said he has been in the border area for three days awaiting negotiations with Cambodian authorities about the overlapping zone between the two countries.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej lashed out at three Thai protesters who crossed the border into the overlapping zone on Monday and were detained, saying the three wanted Cambodian soldiers to arrest them in a bid to ignite violence.
The crossing of the three Thais - two Buddhist lay people, one a man, another a woman, together with a Buddhist monk - resulted in both countries reinforcing troop levels in the border area, he said. The three Thais were detained and later released on Tuesday.
A source said the three yesterday returned safely to the Thai side of the border after meditating in the disputed area near the temple ruins for a while after being released.
Mr Samak also accused the PAD of trying to instigate another coup.
Air force chief ACM Chalit Phukpasuk said Royal Thai Air Force aircraft are on standby, prepared to evacuate Thais living in Cambodia if tensions flare over the disputed Thai-Cambodian border and Preah Vihear temple.
So far, the prime minister, who also serves as defence minister, has not yet issued any orders to the air force, he added.
''If the situation worsens, the air force can assist around the clock and airlift out Thai people to repatriate them within one hour,'' the air force chief said.
He said Thai security officials - including Mr Samak, military commanders, the supreme commander and the permanent secretary for defence - are conducting ongoing discussions on ways to defuse the tensions.
In response to the PAD move, ACM Chalit said that people have the right to express their opinions but they must be based on the truth and that protesters must strictly follow orders issued by the Suranaree Task Force.
He also said that PAD members and supporters should refrain from intruding into the disputed area because it is dangerous.
Police barriers were also set up in the area with about 200 police officers standing guard. The PAD wanted to march to the temple ruins to protest against Cambodia's listing of the temple as a World Heritage site.
Leading PAD figures ordered their security guards to break through the police barriers. This prompted angry local residents to throw wooden objects at the PAD protesters, who used flag poles to hit back. Police rushed to intervene. The clash left several PAD demonstrators and local residents injured.
After the clash, the PAD protesters marched toward Preah Vihear national park, the entrance to the temple, in Kantharalak district. Officials had to barricade it with barbed wire and wooden barriers to keep them out.
Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen Kanok Nettarakawaysana said he has been in the border area for three days awaiting negotiations with Cambodian authorities about the overlapping zone between the two countries.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej lashed out at three Thai protesters who crossed the border into the overlapping zone on Monday and were detained, saying the three wanted Cambodian soldiers to arrest them in a bid to ignite violence.
The crossing of the three Thais - two Buddhist lay people, one a man, another a woman, together with a Buddhist monk - resulted in both countries reinforcing troop levels in the border area, he said. The three Thais were detained and later released on Tuesday.
A source said the three yesterday returned safely to the Thai side of the border after meditating in the disputed area near the temple ruins for a while after being released.
Mr Samak also accused the PAD of trying to instigate another coup.
Air force chief ACM Chalit Phukpasuk said Royal Thai Air Force aircraft are on standby, prepared to evacuate Thais living in Cambodia if tensions flare over the disputed Thai-Cambodian border and Preah Vihear temple.
So far, the prime minister, who also serves as defence minister, has not yet issued any orders to the air force, he added.
''If the situation worsens, the air force can assist around the clock and airlift out Thai people to repatriate them within one hour,'' the air force chief said.
He said Thai security officials - including Mr Samak, military commanders, the supreme commander and the permanent secretary for defence - are conducting ongoing discussions on ways to defuse the tensions.
In response to the PAD move, ACM Chalit said that people have the right to express their opinions but they must be based on the truth and that protesters must strictly follow orders issued by the Suranaree Task Force.
He also said that PAD members and supporters should refrain from intruding into the disputed area because it is dangerous.
14 comments:
If things go on like this there is going to be another war in the region, but I think it's too early to talk about war. There are a number of things that the Cambodian government can do here to counter the blatant Thais' aggression, it's the economic and trades. If things worsen the Cambodian government should look at the agreement with the Thais airlines that fly the route Bangkok and Siem Riep……void this agreement, block entrance to Preah Vihear from the Thais side permanently, ban all Thais products to the Cambodian markets…….strengthen businesses with other nations in the region they are more than willing to replace the Thais products in this globalization age.
I think the Cambodian government should do this regardless of the outcome to show the Thais that they cannot bully Cambodia any time they want. This episode clearly demonstrates and shows the Thais' ambitions and intentions not just over the Preah Vihear issue, but the whole Cambodia. We have long suspected that they have been educated and fed their people and youth false histories and now we are starting to see the results. They never consider and respect us as their neighbour. I think this should be a wake up call to all Khmer.
There is no places for pad thai at khmer built preah vihear temple. The only place for pad thai belong to is at the restaurant. hehehehehe
No the PAD is no Thai. Chinese people doesn't value Hindu's shit. Otherwise, you will see China jumped in already.
PAD – People's Alliances for Democracy. They shouldn't use this name, it's too good to represent them these protestors. They should change it to People's Alliances for Dictatorship. It suits their purposes more since they have no respect for International Law.
Hhahah Poster 9:31 AM said it so correctly. That is right. Pad Thai only belongs in the restaurant. So take your restaurant issue to the consumers, fool. Hhahha.
Let me put this blunty; both sides Khmer and Thai ultranationalists are clueless about their governments. They have already made a deal to do the business together. Their stratrgies is how to clear a road and let the troops on both sides stand off looklike they are ready too shoot at any perceived threat. Then the poor Khmers and poor Thais make sure their governments do the jobs.
Armies are not designed to make the peace but to make wars, but these two government Khmer and Thai just fooled their own people; and now both sides Khmer and Thai people are happy.
Today tyranies are no longer a thing to be despised but just a place every nation needs to invest more cash into the pockets.
Hun Sen just hijacked the celebration of Preah Vihear and now he has his army deployed to Preah Vihear and Thai do the same.
It is a way the Thai government helps to keep Hun Sen in power, because of the deal the two made.
Understand politics more then you all know that the governments are mafias.
non-khmer/thai
idiot 10:39 AM, it is the idea you got from your dream last night?
If you go to check the rifles of both sides and can prove that those rifles have no bullets, I will apologize.
I tended to agree some with 10:39AM. It is politic game. This year Rainsy has too many supports and many youghts. Hun Sen was nervous then he asked the Communist Vietnam for help to monitor the election. It could be China who altered that decision: if Vietnam agreed China will support Rainsy.
To show that he wins a fair election Hun Sen used this Preah Vihear issue to elevate himself hero, but the world already knew King Sihanouk was the one who won the Preah Vihear.
Thai PM was in Cambodia then his opponent used this Preah Vihear to beat him.
I think Hun Sen and Thai Government may have made a deal already, but to calm the ultranationalists, the two have their own troops stand off face to face. Sure armies have to have bullets, if not they cannot fool the ultranationalists.
You know Thailand invests a lot in Cambodia with oil and sell products to Cambodia. They can't afford to go bankrupt, can they?
The majority of Thai people are too poor only a few elites are rich.
Many nations invest with Cambodia, and China is also too.
Small people like soldiers may have to be sacrificed their lives by both sides, but the big guys will collect big bugs.
No, The majority of people in Thailand are middle class people. Issan Province is the poorest, however, but that is because of harsh climax. They can't produce enough like other part of Thailand. And that is why the temple is so important to them.
I used to live in Thailand. The majority of Thais look good but empty pockets.
Yes The Temple is important to them because of Tourists, but since the Khmer nation still exists, the Khmer Temple goes with them.
Thai government has to stop their knee jerks but do the business with Cambodia so everyone can have food to eat.
Khmer nation does exist but there are no Khmer in there. Even the king is foreigners, and foreigners can't own Khmer Temple.
Let them kill themselves.
3:57AM....I am Khmer and our king is Khmer. Go and ask the world where does Khmer nation locates. UNESCO would not have ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia if Cambodia does not represent Khmer nation. Let me ask you which nation on earth represents Khmers? Khmers in Thailand? Give me a break. You don't even have your own government, don't even speak Khmer as official language. You have Khmer blood, but your country Thailand is Siams and it has nothing to do with the Khmer temple.
12:51AM use your brain dude! don't fight with dog by drow stone to your brother who stand on another side!
Can you see what happen in the acticle the Khmer Sisaket are not supporting PDA, fool!!@!!
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