Cambodia released three Thais who were detained on Tuesday while apparently trying to "liberate" Preah Vihear temple. But 17 Thai border troops caught in the area will be held overnight, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.
Si Sa Ket provincial governor said that Cambodia released three Thai protestors who were detained by Cambodia earlier in the day for illegally entering the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
Governor Seni Chittakasem said Cambodian authorities released them unconditionally and the trio crossed the border into Thai side.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit said Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh promised to instruct his subordinates to secure their release.
But Cambodian authorities said that Thai border guards entered Cambodian territory after the release of the three - a man, a woman and a monk. Most quickly returned to Thai territory, but some did not leave.
"Let me stress this is a very small problem that can be solved by local officials," Kanharith said. "The Thais entered Cambodia and Cambodia detained them. This issue will be finished by tomorrow."
The first trio of Thais, identified as Phicharn Thapsorn, 35, Chanikarn Singnok, 64, and Buddhist monk Khamphor, were detained by Cambodian soldiers for trespassing in the Preah Vihear temple compound on the Cambodian side of the border.
They were reportedly members of a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group and had crossed into the temple area from Khantalak district, Si Sa Ket province, which abuts the temple and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, Monday night.
The three were reportedly members of the Dharma Yatra, which claims it is a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group.
The protestors made their way secretly through a barbed wire fence from the Thai side into the disputed zone at the entrance of Preah Vihear temple in an attempt to raise the Thai national flag over the disputed area.
Hang Soth, secretary general of the government's Preah Vihear authority said earlier that around 40 black uniformed Thai border guards with guns arrived at the temple, but was in negotiations when contacted for comment.
Kanharith said not all the Thai troops were armed and that the situation was contained despite their overnight detention.
Cambodia has had riot police and military on standby at the temple since Thai protests began earlier this month.
Residents of Si Sa Khet province, about 400 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, have been protesting the listing since early July, prompting Cambodia to shut access to the temple from the Thai side of the border.
Hang Soth said in an earlier interview that Cambodia believed the protesters had been paid by a political group in Thailand to remain.
Si Sa Ket provincial governor said that Cambodia released three Thai protestors who were detained by Cambodia earlier in the day for illegally entering the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
Governor Seni Chittakasem said Cambodian authorities released them unconditionally and the trio crossed the border into Thai side.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit said Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh promised to instruct his subordinates to secure their release.
But Cambodian authorities said that Thai border guards entered Cambodian territory after the release of the three - a man, a woman and a monk. Most quickly returned to Thai territory, but some did not leave.
"Let me stress this is a very small problem that can be solved by local officials," Kanharith said. "The Thais entered Cambodia and Cambodia detained them. This issue will be finished by tomorrow."
The first trio of Thais, identified as Phicharn Thapsorn, 35, Chanikarn Singnok, 64, and Buddhist monk Khamphor, were detained by Cambodian soldiers for trespassing in the Preah Vihear temple compound on the Cambodian side of the border.
They were reportedly members of a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group and had crossed into the temple area from Khantalak district, Si Sa Ket province, which abuts the temple and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, Monday night.
The three were reportedly members of the Dharma Yatra, which claims it is a Buddhist peace pilgrimage group.
The protestors made their way secretly through a barbed wire fence from the Thai side into the disputed zone at the entrance of Preah Vihear temple in an attempt to raise the Thai national flag over the disputed area.
Hang Soth, secretary general of the government's Preah Vihear authority said earlier that around 40 black uniformed Thai border guards with guns arrived at the temple, but was in negotiations when contacted for comment.
Kanharith said not all the Thai troops were armed and that the situation was contained despite their overnight detention.
Cambodia has had riot police and military on standby at the temple since Thai protests began earlier this month.
Residents of Si Sa Khet province, about 400 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, have been protesting the listing since early July, prompting Cambodia to shut access to the temple from the Thai side of the border.
Hang Soth said in an earlier interview that Cambodia believed the protesters had been paid by a political group in Thailand to remain.
7 comments:
The Thais are deliberately and intentionally provoking Cambodia. This is not an act of a friendly neighbor but a belligerent agressor.
Hun Sen, now is the time to earn your dirty money. Protect your people instead of assassinating them.
DO YOUR FUCKING JOB YOU SOB!!!!
I will never fly Thai airways ,enter Thailand , buy Thai goods again. They have shown their true colors. A country of pimps and prostitutes.
11:07 PM
Where is your boss KANHARITH? Now foreign troops invade khmer territory. Why he will not use his soldier to protect Cambodia people and it territory? Your boss Hun sen just use soldier to protect his own interest. But not khmer people & country. Cambodia must change this regime!
It is amazing to see AH KANHARITH have so much respected for the Thaicong monks more than they have for Cambodian monks! Cambodian monks are subject to kill and imprisonment!
Oh well! Cambodia must make way for the Thaicong monks and in fact the whole Thaicong military are made of personnel who used to be a monk!
The Thaicong militant monks will invade Cambodia soon!
Fucking Khmers lied that they released 3 Thais. You didn't....as of now.
1:01 AM...
I don't think Cambodia should release the three Thais for crossing illegally into Cambodia. Jail them.
I would ask Ki-media to send email to Bangkok Post and The Nation media to be neutral not bias to Thai.
I read many articles and found that they were favor to Thai and not neutral.
I really hat Thais with the unhuman head and low education.
Thais are cleaver to pretent ignorant.
Post a Comment