Wednesday October 15, 2008
WASSANA NANUAM and ANUCHA CHAROENPO
Bangkok Post
Thailand yesterday shrugged off Phnom Penh's ultimatum for its soldiers to leave disputed areas near the Preah Vihear temple and accused Cambodia of laying new landmines on the border.
The decision to maintain troop levels in readiness for a confrontation to defend the country was reached in talks between supreme commander Gen Songkitti Jakkabat, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, navy commander Adm Kamthon Phumhiran and air force chief ACM Ithaporn Supawong.
They met after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday for Thailand to withdraw its troops by yesterday or risk a "large-scale armed conflict".
Prior to the meeting, the military leaders also held talks with Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat, both stressing the importance of using dialogue to solve the problem.
Security sources said Gen Anupong approved two military operation plans, Chakkri Phuwadol and 512, under which troops from the 6th Infantry Division would be used as the main force.
The navy has despatched its ships to patrol Thai waters off Trat province while the air force has put jet fighters and C-130 aircraft on stand-by.
"The military leaders insist the armed forces are prepared in terms of troop deployment in the areas, back-up forces and weapons capabilities to protect our sovereignty," army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal has been assigned to take charge of the border situation and cooperate with Suranaree Task Force chief Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakhavesana.
Col Sansern said the military was ready to evacuate Thai nationals in Cambodia, but any such decision would be made by the government.
The Foreign Ministry yesterday urged Thai travellers to Cambodia to closely monitor the situation and advised Thai nationals already there to contact the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh for advisory and situation updates.
Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat also sent a stern warning to Cambodia, saying: "If Cambodia does resort to the use of force in accordance with its so-called ultimatum, Thailand will exercise its right of self-defence to protect our de-mining personnel and Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The spat is over a 4.6 sq km disputed area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and the Preah Vihear temple.
The latest border incident occurred on Oct 6 when two Thai paramilitary rangers stepped on landmines while patrolling at Phu Ma Khua, about 2.5km west of the ancient Hindu temple.
Phu Ma Khua Phnom Troap, which is in the overlapping area Cambodia, was the spot where Thai soldiers on patrol clashed with Cambodian troops on Oct 3.
The ministry said Thai de-mining personnel had found Russian-made PMN2 landmines in the area, which the Thai armed forces have never used or possessed.
"The royal Thai government believes that the landmines were planted after the incident [on Oct 3]," the ministry said in a statement. "Thailand views this development with great alarm."
The decision to maintain troop levels in readiness for a confrontation to defend the country was reached in talks between supreme commander Gen Songkitti Jakkabat, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, navy commander Adm Kamthon Phumhiran and air force chief ACM Ithaporn Supawong.
They met after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum on Monday for Thailand to withdraw its troops by yesterday or risk a "large-scale armed conflict".
Prior to the meeting, the military leaders also held talks with Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat, both stressing the importance of using dialogue to solve the problem.
Security sources said Gen Anupong approved two military operation plans, Chakkri Phuwadol and 512, under which troops from the 6th Infantry Division would be used as the main force.
The navy has despatched its ships to patrol Thai waters off Trat province while the air force has put jet fighters and C-130 aircraft on stand-by.
"The military leaders insist the armed forces are prepared in terms of troop deployment in the areas, back-up forces and weapons capabilities to protect our sovereignty," army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal has been assigned to take charge of the border situation and cooperate with Suranaree Task Force chief Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakhavesana.
Col Sansern said the military was ready to evacuate Thai nationals in Cambodia, but any such decision would be made by the government.
The Foreign Ministry yesterday urged Thai travellers to Cambodia to closely monitor the situation and advised Thai nationals already there to contact the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh for advisory and situation updates.
Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat also sent a stern warning to Cambodia, saying: "If Cambodia does resort to the use of force in accordance with its so-called ultimatum, Thailand will exercise its right of self-defence to protect our de-mining personnel and Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The spat is over a 4.6 sq km disputed area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and the Preah Vihear temple.
The latest border incident occurred on Oct 6 when two Thai paramilitary rangers stepped on landmines while patrolling at Phu Ma Khua, about 2.5km west of the ancient Hindu temple.
The ministry said Thai de-mining personnel had found Russian-made PMN2 landmines in the area, which the Thai armed forces have never used or possessed.
"The royal Thai government believes that the landmines were planted after the incident [on Oct 3]," the ministry said in a statement. "Thailand views this development with great alarm."
16 comments:
Forget about bilateral talk, just take the case to UN or ICJ. Negotiation with the Thais is going nowhere and will be like this forever.
5:58am
If a jo dump din hun sen could take the case to U.N or ICJ, he would do it already. You should know that hun sen has no support in the U.N. He hate and rude to U.N representatives. Can you tell me which five U.N permanent security councils support hun sen?. And how many 15 rotate councils?
Oooooo.... We are so scare. Yeah...show your claws. Lets face it thieves...I mean Thailand....you are not going to do jack. The world is watching you. This is 2008 not 1600.
It is evidently inevitable. The battle of good vs. evil will start, and the siam will lose big.
6:45
Whether the UN members like or dislike Hun Sen is their personal affair. We're talking about Cambodia here.
we cannot afford war, its best to goto the international court and later re-arm and train anew.
7:01am
Thai know the year is 2008 that is why they upgrade and modernize their military weapon. While cambodian military still use weapon from 1600, a jo dump din hun sen use all his begged money for his personal wealth and mistress.
The short and long range S.G. missiles will fly and execute their ominous mission.
The evil will be demolished. The fragile arrogence will break in many pieces.
The U.N. will be running "to & fro" trying to extinguish the raging inferno in S.E.A.
The super powers will get involved to stabilize the region. The evil will be damned and down to the dust and then die.
The pilots and co-pilots will be beheaded without mercy.
Bangkok khjat khjaii, sabbaii Angkor Wat.
Will this be an up coming scenario a product of an arrogence and greed?
Will it transpire? Will it?
Death to the devil and its pets.
God bless Cambodia
If now is 1600s, Thai would be eliminated in a second!
Yeah, we Khmer scare of Thai. We fought anybody tramble our land, not like Thai alway kiss ass to others.
Normally, Hun Sen's Barking is Worse than His Bite.
Hun Sen must balance his words and deeds. Action Speaks Louder Than Words.
Actually Thai Troops did not withdrew. They just reduce the distance of their outposts.
Your barking does not affect any Thais. They are not afraid a bit. But you, Hun Sen, are being afraid of what you have barked.
No more political or diplomatic barking. This time it needs you to bark and bite, but be sure that your teeth are strong enough and will not break. If they break you will have no more teeth to bite and you will bark forever. EVERLASTING BARKING DOG, Hun Sen.
You should resort to the Former King or others with brilliant ideas no matter they used to be your political enemies ( but Not Your 104 Advisors) help to sharpen your teeth to bite deeper with the Thais, otherwise you will not be able to bark or bite any longer.
Believe me sharpen your teeth first.
I do not believe in your every strong army (former KR soldiers).
Do you trust that they will be faithful? Their stomach will determine their faithfulness and morale.
Do you ever think that they will sell their guns in exchange for foods or sell the military intelligenc just for food and medicines for their families at the rear line.
Human basic needs are important factors to determine Nationlism, patriotism, loyalty. If the basic needs cannot be filled, soldiers cannot shoot straight to the Thais, but shoot straight at you, Hun Sen.
Do not expect everyone is under your control. Do not always dream of being the strongest. It is just a pretending by everyone that you are the strongest in the group, but not the world over.
From Street Cafe Political Circle.
10:19 AM, what the fuck does it mean when you said "Actually Thai Troops did not withdrew. They just reduce the distance of their outposts. Are you retarded?
Hey 10:42am,
Check the Dictionary to see what OUTPOST means in military term.
Thanks for your interest in my Comments.
I know what an outpost mean, but what do you mean with "They just reduce the distance..."? Did you mean they reduce the distance to their side? Or, did you meant they intruded further to the Khmer side? If they reduced the distance to their side, that IS withdrawing.
This is a military tactics in an outpost patrol. I does not really means any widrawal. Thais will expand their patrol distance any day and turn back to their defence position.
Not really a widrawal.
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