Monday July 21, 2008
Bangkok Post
Wassana Nanuam on some unlikely friendships on the border
Thai and Cambodian soldiers are wearing both smiles and weapons while keeping a watch on each other in the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
The contentious 4.6-square-kilometre zone is in Si Sa Ket province, to the west of the ancient temple that Cambodia has successfully listed as a World Heritage site.
The centre of the dispute is the makeshift Wat Viharn temple that Cambodia built in the disputed area in 2001, despite opposition from Thailand.
Soldiers from both sides remain there on condition that all of them must be unarmed.
Outside the self-proclaimed "temple" but inside the 4.6-sq-km area, about 1,000 armed Thai and Cambodian soldiers have set up their camps.
Beyond the disputed area, into both nations' soil, some 4,000 more soldiers of both sides remain on standby with heavy artillery.
"Thai and Cambodian soldiers staying together in the wat and the area pending demarcation remain on friendly terms," said Chayant Huaisoongnern, deputy commander of the Suranaree Task Force.
Sixty-five Cambodian monks have also stayed at Wat Viharn since Buddhist Lent began on Friday. About half the monks appear to be newly ordained. These "new recruits" are believed by Thailand to be Cambodian soldiers in disguise who have been ordered to protect the temple.
Thai soldiers entered Wat Viharn and the disputed area last Tuesday after three Thai protesters, including a Buddhist monk, set foot on it and were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.
However, Thai soldiers could not reach the Cambodian community inside the disputed area because the establishments are only safely accessible through the Preah Vihear temple, where some 700 Cambodian soldiers are standing guard.
Access to the community is also blocked by landmines and a pond.
"We are not encroaching on Cambodian soil, as we are staying in the area pending demarcation. We will remain here until negotiations are completed," Col Chayant said.
Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakawesana, commander of the sixth infantry division and the Suranaree Task Force, has been staying at Wat Viharn with his subordinates.
"We are here to show that we have the right to be in the disputed area," he said.
"As Cambodian soldiers are here, Thai soldiers must be here too. But do not say we are encroaching on Cambodian soil, because this area belongs to us as well."
The Thai press received the green light from army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to enter the disputed area yesterday as Cambodian authorities had brought local and foreign media there first and told their side of the story.
"Cambodia allowed in reporters so they could tell their side of the story," said Capt Katanyu Ruansamran, company head of the 26th ranger regiment from Buri Ram province.
The Thai and Cambodian soldiers' confrontation line at the disputed area stretches about two kilometres. Some 1,000 soldiers from both countries stand with guns, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades.
But despite the heavy weaponry, both sides are exchanging smiles to relieve tensions.
Niphan Uthaitham, 45, of the 23rd ranger regiment in Si Sa Ket, has been camping next to Cambodian Prom Sokpieb, 55, from Siem Reap.
Ranger Niphan can speak Cambodian, while his counterpart can speak a little Thai, so they have been chatting and exchanging jokes.
"It's not a problem. We are okay together," said Private Prom Sokpieb. "We are brothers [as we are both soldiers], but I am here to protect my territory as ordered."
Thai and Cambodian soldiers are wearing both smiles and weapons while keeping a watch on each other in the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
The contentious 4.6-square-kilometre zone is in Si Sa Ket province, to the west of the ancient temple that Cambodia has successfully listed as a World Heritage site.
The centre of the dispute is the makeshift Wat Viharn temple that Cambodia built in the disputed area in 2001, despite opposition from Thailand.
Soldiers from both sides remain there on condition that all of them must be unarmed.
Outside the self-proclaimed "temple" but inside the 4.6-sq-km area, about 1,000 armed Thai and Cambodian soldiers have set up their camps.
Beyond the disputed area, into both nations' soil, some 4,000 more soldiers of both sides remain on standby with heavy artillery.
"Thai and Cambodian soldiers staying together in the wat and the area pending demarcation remain on friendly terms," said Chayant Huaisoongnern, deputy commander of the Suranaree Task Force.
Sixty-five Cambodian monks have also stayed at Wat Viharn since Buddhist Lent began on Friday. About half the monks appear to be newly ordained. These "new recruits" are believed by Thailand to be Cambodian soldiers in disguise who have been ordered to protect the temple.
Thai soldiers entered Wat Viharn and the disputed area last Tuesday after three Thai protesters, including a Buddhist monk, set foot on it and were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.
However, Thai soldiers could not reach the Cambodian community inside the disputed area because the establishments are only safely accessible through the Preah Vihear temple, where some 700 Cambodian soldiers are standing guard.
Access to the community is also blocked by landmines and a pond.
"We are not encroaching on Cambodian soil, as we are staying in the area pending demarcation. We will remain here until negotiations are completed," Col Chayant said.
Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakawesana, commander of the sixth infantry division and the Suranaree Task Force, has been staying at Wat Viharn with his subordinates.
"We are here to show that we have the right to be in the disputed area," he said.
"As Cambodian soldiers are here, Thai soldiers must be here too. But do not say we are encroaching on Cambodian soil, because this area belongs to us as well."
The Thai press received the green light from army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to enter the disputed area yesterday as Cambodian authorities had brought local and foreign media there first and told their side of the story.
"Cambodia allowed in reporters so they could tell their side of the story," said Capt Katanyu Ruansamran, company head of the 26th ranger regiment from Buri Ram province.
The Thai and Cambodian soldiers' confrontation line at the disputed area stretches about two kilometres. Some 1,000 soldiers from both countries stand with guns, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades.
But despite the heavy weaponry, both sides are exchanging smiles to relieve tensions.
Niphan Uthaitham, 45, of the 23rd ranger regiment in Si Sa Ket, has been camping next to Cambodian Prom Sokpieb, 55, from Siem Reap.
Ranger Niphan can speak Cambodian, while his counterpart can speak a little Thai, so they have been chatting and exchanging jokes.
"It's not a problem. We are okay together," said Private Prom Sokpieb. "We are brothers [as we are both soldiers], but I am here to protect my territory as ordered."
17 comments:
always accusing with no evidence, always abusing with evidence.
Right now the Thai government has no solid arguments to support their invasion, and need it to reply to the UN letter.
If the Thai don't want to withdraw their troops they want the situation to persist so they can find alibis to overturn the situation.
The lingering of the standoff will be a strong alibi, this will justify the so called dispute.
Cambodia must ask for the assistance of the UN this will stop their scheme and send their troops home.
I do a agree.
The Thai will try to justify their argument at all cost.
Giving more time is not good at all.
The Cambodian government should call the assistance quickly the abuse come to and end.
" The contentious 4.6-square-kilometre zone is in Si Sa Ket province"
This sentence is really wrong. You bangkok post must correct this centence to avoid confuse of the history.
The monkeys has no base to be in Issan Province. They have virtually no one lived in that area, no school, no electricity, no hospital, no post office, no food, no market. Get out of here, you greedy monkeys. Who are you trying to fool?
To 10:38 AM, your comment is short and simple but meaningful my brother...
Well, We still see a fool siem hanging around in this forum..But so far I didn't hear word Khmer Issan from him again...hehehe..Soon you will see the real Khmer Issan, they will stand up and you will see another Issan Unrest in your local news such as Bang Cock Post....
there is no Issan fool, it is just the same rabid vietcong who has been here antagonising everypone.
It doesn't matter. There are Khmer who lived there for centuries and they are not Cambodian citizen.
And what you got beside the dumb Franco treaty with out a single French to defend it? Issan or not, just get the fuck out of there motherfuckers.
...you, shut up mother fucker vietcong! get your personality strightened out.
11:20 AM
Khmer Surin, we are Thai citizen not Combodian. Why Khmer Surin must fight for the poorer Cambodian in Phnom penh. Very ridiculous!
No surprise, soldier and spy disguised as monks is one of the most popular tactic learned from Ah Khmer-Yuon in Vietnam.
I believe in Samdach Iron/Steel fists as he 's done with domestics people....'
How to settle Preah Vihear Dispute ?
No Problem with Preah Vihear issue-- we will win-win
Because-
1. We have much more Army Generals than Thailand has( we have a lot of Generals from 1 stars to 4 Top Gold stars
2. We have more Excellencies than Thailand has
3. We have more Samdachs, Oknha, Bandits (Phd.), Prime ministers (in 1995), Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, provincial Governors.... that Thailand has/ or than other counties world wide...
4. We have a lot of Military equipment such as Military trucks which are used to Transport illegal Loggings and Military Vehicles used countrywide to anywhere such as to restaurants and Bars...... We have a lot of Guns/pistols which are used every day in the cities and county sides to fire on people in ladies affairs disputes.
5. We have much more Luxury Cars-Lexus Landcruisers with Army & Police Plate Numbers that represent Our Top Generals and Excellency countrywide.....
6. The best way to settle such a problem is to send some hundreds of Cambodian Generals to the Disputed Borders.....Thais will be afraid of our numerous Multi-Generals which increase from day to day.
7. Send the so-called Development Army (the main Army troop playing Roles in Land dispute in Kampong Speu to Preah Vihear... they have experiences in illegally Occupying people's Land ... now let them to occupy our Preah Vihear.
8. But is the National Embarrassment that our Army (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) have used a lot of forces to fight with Local unarmed-Cambodians in Land grabbling... so our Armed forces (Army, Police Economy Police, and military Police-PM) may be too weakened now...
9. It is a National Embarrassment that most of our Generals just attack in the Cities and with Local Cambodians in Land disputes, small Disputes in Night Clubs, Traffic Accidents, Karaoke and any unnecessary Fire shots.
Note: when I saw the Cambodians army in Dispute with Thai Army ..It reminds me about the Royal Cambodian Army disputing with Unarmed People in Land Disputes in Cambodia; They can protect their land But for Preah Vihear how will it be going on....?
"Thai uses the same Trick as Cambodia uses in Land dispute with Local Khmer People-- as of when the empowered men deploy army to illegally occupy people's land... ".
From Excellency Phd. Bandit, General 7 Diamond Stars, Oknha Achar Knoy
Just want to ask Bangkok Post...Who is this "Pridiyathorn"? Can he/she prove his statement that "significant parts of the Preah Vihear temple site were in Thai territory". Prove it here, little tricky siam!!! or else, close your smelly mouth...
Dear all,
Let's not fighting with each other, khmer and khmer. This is the time that we should together as one. Let's focus on helping our troop who are protecting our land at the border around the country. We should ask ourselves, are we contributing enough to our heros who stand along the border to protect our motherland from all invaders... Are we doing enough to keep those hero healthy? are we providing enough food for them? Are we providing them enough weapons and moral and psychological support to face with invader's psychological warfare? Let's be as one... One khmer, one nation and one spirit!!!!
My brother and sister around the world:
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand. If we can be together on this matter, we will partly win this war... The Siam will turn to fight each other once they start to lose their individual benefits... Let's use this strategy to help fight this war with our soldiers along Khmer Thai border.
A friendly reminder to all thai readers:
if you don't know that issan people has in their body, khmer blood, you better wait to see khmer issan take back the khmer empire. it won't be long... Thailand will be just like salt in the water... it is only the curse from buddha... it is predicted that thailand will be disappear from the world map... you wait and see... it won't be long... it will be within your lifetime.
Bravo...all khmer comes together as one!
Stop bragging ur shit 5 38pm.
Why new young Khmer monks just ordained are here in this disputed area? Monks with granades or soldier monks of the monkeys Hun Sen? It is so disgusting the monkeys in Cambodia use monks clothes to be their uniform to fight.
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