PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (Reuters) - Fighting broke out along a disputed stretch of the Thai-Cambodian border on Wednesday, a Reuters photographer at the scene said, saying he had to take cover amid rocket and small-arms fire.
Thai and Cambodian forces exchanged fire for about 10 minutes, the journalist said.
"I heard gunfire all over the place in this area," Reuters photographer Chor Sokunthea said by telephone. "One rocket flew from Thailand over my head and landed. Now you can hear the fighting. They've opened fire."
"I have to find a safe place to hide," he said.
Thailand sent more soldiers on Tuesday to the disputed stretch of the Cambodian border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple that both sides claim, a Thai general said, hours after a Cambodian general said Thai troops had pulled back.
On Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" unless the Thais retreated by midday Tuesday.
The Thai military said it was ready for war and the Foreign Ministry told Thais to "think twice" before visiting Cambodia, only fives years after a nationalist mob torched the embassy in Phnom Penh in an argument about another ancient Hindu temple.
Tensions have been high since July, when 2,000 soldiers faced off only yards apart in trenches dug into a hillside that until 10 years ago was under the control of remnants of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot's guerrilla army.
At the heart of the dispute is 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the temple, which the International Court of Justice awarded to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
The dispute flared in July after protesters trying to overthrow the Thai government attacked Bangkok's backing of Phnom Penh's bid to list the Hindu ruins as a World Heritage site.
(Writing by Bill Tarrant; Editing by Paul Tait)
Thai and Cambodian forces exchanged fire for about 10 minutes, the journalist said.
"I heard gunfire all over the place in this area," Reuters photographer Chor Sokunthea said by telephone. "One rocket flew from Thailand over my head and landed. Now you can hear the fighting. They've opened fire."
"I have to find a safe place to hide," he said.
Thailand sent more soldiers on Tuesday to the disputed stretch of the Cambodian border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple that both sides claim, a Thai general said, hours after a Cambodian general said Thai troops had pulled back.
On Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" unless the Thais retreated by midday Tuesday.
The Thai military said it was ready for war and the Foreign Ministry told Thais to "think twice" before visiting Cambodia, only fives years after a nationalist mob torched the embassy in Phnom Penh in an argument about another ancient Hindu temple.
Tensions have been high since July, when 2,000 soldiers faced off only yards apart in trenches dug into a hillside that until 10 years ago was under the control of remnants of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot's guerrilla army.
At the heart of the dispute is 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the temple, which the International Court of Justice awarded to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
The dispute flared in July after protesters trying to overthrow the Thai government attacked Bangkok's backing of Phnom Penh's bid to list the Hindu ruins as a World Heritage site.
(Writing by Bill Tarrant; Editing by Paul Tait)
8 comments:
This war help survive Somchai's cabinet to alive.
This is a war started by the siem robbers. A war the siem have to have. That's the custom and tradition.
Khmer are not going to back down from siem invaders - no more.
Ex KR commander
Preah Vihear
This war will unite all Khmer of all parties. I appeal to all Khmer , Hun Sen, SDRP, royals to unite as one during this siem infidel invasion. We must keep our differences aside and join to kill the siems.
This is politcs between Hun Sen or Thaksin, This is real conflict.
The Cambodian government MUST NOT allow the Thai C-130 transport plane (s) land at our airport.
Fucking thieve you all will die. we have to get all our land back.
mann thai can not accept the freaky truth what the fuk wrong with them....
PROUD TO BE KHMER... BIG <3
3:37 PM. We are already united. Khmers everywhere in the world, please hear our voice of Unity. We are now like bunch of sticks. Not to let Thai cheat/steal from us again. Jaiyoo khmers.
Let's settle this the old way. I propose a match between the two kings.
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