Saturday, October 04, 2008

Cambodia protests 'armed provocation'

October 4, 2008
AFP

Cambodia's foreign ministry has formally protested to Thailand over a border skirmish which left at least three soldiers injured, warning that Thai troops risked "full scale armed hostility".

One Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded when units briefly clashed near an ancient temple along their disputed border. They have swapped accusations of trespass and firing first.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly protests against this deplorable and intentional armed provocation by Thai soldiers," said Cambodia's foreign ministry in a letter to the Thai embassy obtained by AFP.

The letter said Cambodian troops had only returned fire in self defence and went on to warn that "armed provocation by Thai soldiers could lead to very grave consequences, including full scale armed hostility".

Thailand's foreign ministry earlier blamed its neighbour and said the three-minute exchange of gunfire came after Cambodian troops had crossed into Thai territory.

Cambodian officials said the area was calm and an investigative committee was inspecting the area to determine how the incident occurred since troops on both sides had been ordered not to fire.

The skirmish comes as the countries attempt progress in talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute.

Tensions flared in July after the ancient Khmer temple of Preah Vihear was awarded world heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Those tensions turned into a military standoff, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What happen to all those five stars Cambodian generals who suppose to run the Cambodian military to protect Cambodian sovereignty?

Give it up all you fucken stupid Cambodian politician piece of shit! Let the five stars Cambodian general run the military so the Cambodian army is free to wage the fucken war on the Thai to protect Cambodian people and Cambodian sovereignty!

All of you stupid Cambodian politician always say Cambodia can't afford to go to war even if Thai army invade the whole Cambodia because the fucken war will bring hardship for Cambodian people and will destroy Cambodia economically! And for those Cambodian people who are arguing vehemently in favor of the fucken war will flee Cambodia to safety in the third world country! Now let assume this is a valid argument then the Thai will gain all the Cambodian territories with their occupation of the three ancient Cambodian temples! NO matter how much the stupid Cambodian politician claimed that they get back those ancient Khmer temple through bilateral talk but didn't Cambodia has three bilateral talks already which yield nothing!

Go talk some more you stupid Cambodian politicians while Cambodian soldiers are a sitting duck for the Thai M-79 and their machine guns! How can Cambodian military wage the fucken war when their hands and legs are tied? Do the stupid Cambodian politicians want to see more casualties or the killing of Cambodian soldiers and Cambodian civilian before something can be done?

Anonymous said...

The foreign ministry on Saturday issued an official protest to the Cambodian government over an alleged border incursion and subsequent clash that left three soldiers injured, Thai officials said Saturday.


On Friday a Thai military patrol encountered Cambodian troops allegedly situated about one kilometre inside Thai territory near the Phreah Vihear temple.


"According to the Thai military the Cambodians were definitely inside Thai territory, and the Cambodian side opened fire first," said foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.


Two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian were wounded in the brief firefight on the border.


The foreign ministry's permanent secretary Virsakdi Footrakul plans to submit a formal letter of protest to the Cambodian charge d'affaires in Bangkok over the incident at 5 p.m. Saturday, said Tharit.


Both countries claim a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land adjoining the temple.


The spat escalated from a diplomatic row to a potential military conflict in mid-July when three Thais were detained for entering the disputed temple territory, and both sides dispatched military troops to the area.

Anonymous said...

Thai's claim seemed to be unreasonable since specific location i.e. names of the places and how the incident took place were not menioned. Anyone can make such claim.

Anonymous said...

Insurgents kill two soldiers in South

(BangkokPost.com) - Insurgents opened fire at an army patrol in the southern province of Pattani on Saturday morning, killing two soldiers.

Six troops were patrolling on a local road when an unknown number of insurgents started firing at them at around 6am.

The two groups then exchanged fire before insurgents broke off the engagement and retreated.

Anonymous said...

Let's get readyyyyy to Rummmmblllllle!

Anonymous said...

The deeper the Siam dogs enter Cambodian territories and they will be outnumbered and outgunned!

The hunters become the hunted in the land of the killing field!

Anonymous said...

Don't listen to Ah Fake-Oversea who got their PHD from KI Media and can't fill out their own job application.

Anonymous said...

Hey stop barking unconstructively, 4:33 AM! Before existence of many middle class in Cambodia, it was the khmers oversea who also helped their relatives/friends in Cambodia enormously amounted to 1/4 of global aid money to Cambodia every year and some aid money which came from tax payers including also khmers abroad. You get it now! Even they cannot fill their job application as you said, they also contribute lots to the country, through helping their relatives or friends, not only you khmer knong srok. Let's think positively about khmers anywhere they live. We all are khmers.

Anonymous said...

To 4:33AM
Dear ah smart 4:33 Am really sorry to you man ,that your mother got rape by over sea ppl. but the real fact is the overseaPPL try to get on your sisters but your mom pretending to be one of your sisters ,why you so piss with oversea ppl. I'm not blame on you ,that common human reaction but on that day when the News get in your mother has said that adult consensus no one rape the others she pleased to do that .
Cool down man if you mad with oversea ppl .you should talk with ya mama first ,don't play the blame game ?