Original report from Phnom Penh
03 October 2008
At least one Cambodian soldier was injured Friday afternoon in an exchange of gunfire between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Preah Vihear provincial border, in the first reported act of military violence in a prolonged standoff, a military official said.
Thai soldiers fired a grenade at a group of Cambodian soldiers, injuring a Cambodian in the leg, while a Thai soldier was wounded in the abdomen in the return gunfire, according to a reliable military officer in the area, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
"At 3:35 pm, around 10 [Thai soldiers] entered the Cambodian position, and Cambodian soldiers called to them not to enter, and they did not listen," the officer said. "And then they shot with the M-79 [grenade]."
The soldiers were nearly 200 meters from the Cambodian position on Phnom Troap, more than 1 kilometer from the Preah Vihear temple complex, the officer said.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told the Associated Press the Cambodian was “slightly wounded” when Thai troops fired an M-79 grenade from their own territory. Khieu Kanharith confirmed the Cambodian side had returned fire, AP reported.
A report from Ministry of Defense information office obtained by VOA Khmer Friday coroborrated the statements of the military officer and said both sides remained at a standoff at 5 pm.
The exchange of violence, which lasted only moments, was the first reported in an 11-week military standoff over Preah Vihear temple. Officials had cautioned that prolonged proximity between the troops could end in bloodshed.
Both Cambodian and Thai officials have said they are committed to peaceful resolution of the impasse, which began following the inscription of the temple, which abuts a disputed border area, onto a Unesco World Heritage list in July.
Defense Minister Tea Banh could not be reached for comment, and a person answering the phone of the Thai Embassy's first secretary said he was unavailable.
Thai soldiers fired a grenade at a group of Cambodian soldiers, injuring a Cambodian in the leg, while a Thai soldier was wounded in the abdomen in the return gunfire, according to a reliable military officer in the area, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
"At 3:35 pm, around 10 [Thai soldiers] entered the Cambodian position, and Cambodian soldiers called to them not to enter, and they did not listen," the officer said. "And then they shot with the M-79 [grenade]."
The soldiers were nearly 200 meters from the Cambodian position on Phnom Troap, more than 1 kilometer from the Preah Vihear temple complex, the officer said.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told the Associated Press the Cambodian was “slightly wounded” when Thai troops fired an M-79 grenade from their own territory. Khieu Kanharith confirmed the Cambodian side had returned fire, AP reported.
A report from Ministry of Defense information office obtained by VOA Khmer Friday coroborrated the statements of the military officer and said both sides remained at a standoff at 5 pm.
The exchange of violence, which lasted only moments, was the first reported in an 11-week military standoff over Preah Vihear temple. Officials had cautioned that prolonged proximity between the troops could end in bloodshed.
Both Cambodian and Thai officials have said they are committed to peaceful resolution of the impasse, which began following the inscription of the temple, which abuts a disputed border area, onto a Unesco World Heritage list in July.
Defense Minister Tea Banh could not be reached for comment, and a person answering the phone of the Thai Embassy's first secretary said he was unavailable.
11 comments:
The Thai clearly wished to come in and take over more land. they deliberately provoke it. If the Khemr soldiers didn't stop it this time, they would have occupied another piece of land.
So I say let take our firm stance. See if we shoot back they sort of scared too. They keep testing Khmer gut. So far Khmer leaders have no gut and the Thai habe been winning more land from khmer. It is more likley Hun sen will give away Takrabey, Ta Moan, because once the Thai are alrewady in there, it is hard to kick them out.
If it bloodshed to protect what we have , let do it. It won't spill into big war, but skirmishes, ebnough to show the Tahi we arew serious.
time rolling ball and let it play.
If Khmer Gov. has not done anything why don't Khmer Gov. go to UN to get help?
If there were any secret agreement with Thai that Khmer Gov. cannot tell Cambodian.
Come on Khmer people get up and ask & invastigate our Gov.
If there any fraud with Thai.
Some Cambodian ministers have a lot of investment and money in Thai banks and business with Thai.
No wonder why ah kvak and it clans take it so easy,Cambodian ppl in and out know this government Hun Sen not for the people and work for it people ,it work for it own pockets and personal bank account.
Dear brothers and sister what you sold out your live for? Enrich Hun and it ministers and you die for them?
Rethink it a gain.
We are lucky to have PM Hun Sen for Cambodia, otherwise, Thai darenot to shot and kill the Khmers.
Don't worry samdach psethacho will screw siam soon. Watch and see. He'll do what he did not say.
Patience has its limit. Time to act, Mr. PM. Time for you to show khmer people that you are a true leader, real peace comes after this war: Muy chom en kropeus! Give them lesson for their greedy action. We just protect our land what we have left. Show the world that we do not let agression taken place again.
Okay, but don't protect SiemReap because that belongs to Siem. It even got the word Siem on it. Get the picture?
Siem Reap named given by our ancestors when we "Vai Siem Leung Reab bak sbat".
Don't try to explain a stupid squatter who does not understand what Siem Reab means.
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