Buddhist monks file up the stairs at Preah Vihear during a prayer ceremony for peace at the temple last weekend. Although Thailand’s cabinet has approved the withdrawal of some troops, Cambodian commanders say Thai soldiers have crossed the border at several other points since the temple standoff began on July 15. (Photo: AFP)Friday, 08 August 2008
Written by Sambath Teth
The Phnom Penh Post
ANOTHER round of crisis talks over the military standoff at Preah Vihear are expected later this month, but Cambodian troops along the de facto frontline near the 11th-century temple say they are hunkering down for a protracted dispute.
"Our soldiers are digging trenches because the Thai soldiers are digging trenches," General Srey Doek, commander of Brigade 12, told the Post on Thursday. "We have to take precautions, this is a frontline," he added.
While Thailand's cabinet has approved the withdrawal of troops from Preah Vihear temple, Srey Doek said that the Thai military appeared to be bringing in reinforcements to strategic Cambodia-controlled positions along the border.
"They are digging more bunkers and building large encampments to settle on the frontline at Preah Vihear temple and Trop mountain," he said, referring to a mountain near the temple that Cambodia claims Thai troops tried to occupy last weekend. "We absolutely have to prevent them getting up ... Trop mountain because it is right in the middle of the disputed area," Srey Doek said.
In Phnom Penh, officials remained optimistic that the Thais would re-deploy, with Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith telling the Post that "some of Thailand's soldiers have withdrawn from the pagoda [in the Preah Vihear temple complex] and they have withdrawn all their troops from Ta Moan Thom temple."
"If they increase their armed forces in their territory along our joint border, it is their business," he said.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong is scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart Tej Bunnag in Thailand on August 18 for a second round of talks aimed at defusing the situation at Preah Vihear, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.
"Our soldiers are digging trenches because the Thai soldiers are digging trenches," General Srey Doek, commander of Brigade 12, told the Post on Thursday. "We have to take precautions, this is a frontline," he added.
While Thailand's cabinet has approved the withdrawal of troops from Preah Vihear temple, Srey Doek said that the Thai military appeared to be bringing in reinforcements to strategic Cambodia-controlled positions along the border.
"They are digging more bunkers and building large encampments to settle on the frontline at Preah Vihear temple and Trop mountain," he said, referring to a mountain near the temple that Cambodia claims Thai troops tried to occupy last weekend. "We absolutely have to prevent them getting up ... Trop mountain because it is right in the middle of the disputed area," Srey Doek said.
In Phnom Penh, officials remained optimistic that the Thais would re-deploy, with Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith telling the Post that "some of Thailand's soldiers have withdrawn from the pagoda [in the Preah Vihear temple complex] and they have withdrawn all their troops from Ta Moan Thom temple."
"If they increase their armed forces in their territory along our joint border, it is their business," he said.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong is scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart Tej Bunnag in Thailand on August 18 for a second round of talks aimed at defusing the situation at Preah Vihear, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.
6 comments:
Err.. Hun Xen's soldiers are in yellow? May be granade is tied up at the tigh.
Hey Ah Hun, How long are you going to wait for this crisis? You are such stupid, idiot, brainless animal I'v never seen. Come on Ah Khvack, you already win the election,dosomething with your country.
Look at this site:
http://www.angkor-planet.com/UK-hase.html
You can begin from Start to End to see how the region has involved for these century.
12.01 AM
Do you mean the soldiers put on
the monk's robe?
trick?
Did Thai cabinet approve their soldiers to invade Preah Vihear? If not, why they need approval from cabinet for withdrawal? This is the trick to cheat the soft position of Cambodian government. Thai and Cambodia is not brother and sister country, but they are independent states.
Look at ours Cambodians Yellow Clad, they are well fed and disciplined than the Thais Black Clad, you agree?
Watch out Thais, now you see, now you don't.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, No ..it's not going to happen
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