Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thai casualties: 7 wounded, 10 missing (captured by Cambodia) / Cambodia: 2 dead, 2 wounded

Costly battle

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Bangkok Post

Here are details of Wednesday's border clash. Casualty toll: Seven Thai soldiers wounded, with 10 missing and believed captured by Cambodian forces. Cambodia admits to two dead, two wounded, as Army reinforces units near Preah Vihear.

Si Sa Ket - The army has brought in 500 reinforcements and heavy weapons and says it is ready for battle, while the Foreign Ministry claims it is prepared to take Cambodia to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice over sovereignty of the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

The separate army and ministry warnings came after skirmishes yesterday in areas between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Preah Vihear in Cambodia, which escalated border tensions.

Fighting broke out in the afternoon at two flash-points at Phu Ma Khua and Pha Mor E Daeng near the ancient Hindu temple.

Seven Thai troops were wounded while two Cambodian soldiers were killed and seven others injured, according to the army. Cambodia said it captured 10 Thai troops, a claim denied by Thai military officials.

Cambodian charge d'affaires to Bangkok Ouk Sophoin was summoned by permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul and handed an "aide memoire" accusing Cambodia of initiating the clashes.

The fighting has prompted the ministry to urge Thais in Cambodia to leave the country. Thai Airways International has prepared large aircraft to evacuate all Thais in Cambodia if the situation worsens.

There are about 1,000 Thais in Phnom Penh and about 500 in Siem Reap, according to the ministry.

Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal said Cambodia fired first into Thai bases, prompting Thai troops to retaliate. He said his unit has adjusted operational plans and redeployed troops to handle any situation, noting the military is ready to retaliate against any further aggression.

But army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has ordered troops to be cautious about retaliation.

"In regards to military retaliation, the army chief has instructed the troops not to escalate any fighting. That means if Cambodia uses small weapons, we will not retaliate with artillery to avoid escalating the fighting," he said.

Col Sansern said the fighting erupted about 2.30pm when Thai troops encountered Cambodian soldiers at Huay Ta Maria in Phu Ma Khua. The Cambodian soldiers were told to leave but they responded with small arms fire into a Thai base. Several kilometres away at Pha Mor E Daeng, Cambodian soldiers also fired into a Thai base.

Col Sansern said the fighting at both sites was brief.

Security around Ta Muan Thom temple and Ta Kwai temple in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district was being stepped up with more than 500 troops and artillery from the sixth infantry division based in Ubon Ratchathani..

Cambodian Foreign Minster Hor Namhong said in Phnom Penh that "the gunfire between Cambodia and Thailand was in Cambodia's territory. Thai troops opened fire at our troops first".

"Cambodia strongly protests against these repeated and very serious armed provocations by Thailand which will lead to large-scale armed hostilities between the two countries," he said, adding a complaint would be lodged with the UN Security Council.

Hor Namhong rejected Thai figures of the casualties, saying two Cambodian soldiers were killed and two wounded.

Tension at the border rose after Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat returned from a visit to Phnom Penh on Monday during which he met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Hor Namhong.

Afterwards, Hun Sen gave Thailand an ultimatum to leave the disputed area that day.

Mr Virasakdi said during the talks with Mr Sompong, Hun Sen had demanded Thailand withdraw all troops from the 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping area. He threatened to take the case to the Security Council and the International Court of Justice on grounds that Thailand had invaded his country.

Mr Virasakdi dismissed the threat. "Don't think that we are scared. We are ready to defend our position. A team of international legal experts has been hired and is ready," he said after meeting with the Cambodian diplomat.

The army spokesman said the situation was under control as Thai and Cambodian commanders in the areas remained in contact and were expected to negotiate to resolve the conflict.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

This arrogant Siem Thug bragged to settle the case through ICJ. Khmers should welcome them. But don't trust the Siem robbers. Smash them if they dare enter our sovereignty.

Anonymous said...

if thailand denied their ten service men is not missing,please cut their heads off then send them to their king and queen in [FEDEX]
See how they're look on a silver plater

Anonymous said...

This comment is rediculious. Bringing the case to the court is a legal way of solving the problem peacefully. No one should be scared if he/she did nothing wrong. In the 1950s, Thai collected one bath each from each citizen for this legal issue, but unfortunately .... This time, maybe a 100 bath each to hire the experts ...

Anonymous said...

It is the first time I have heard Siems entertained an idea to settle the border issue through the ICJ. Bring it on, a Chhke Siem ! Keep your words !

Anonymous said...

No not 100 bath...at least 1000 baths

Anonymous said...

The thai king has the power to stop this but he won't Bless those brave khmer soliders. We all know thai their weakness. This is only the start, KHMER USA KHMER CANADA KHMER Austrilia can send in donations to raise mutli millons. BRING IT ON.

Anonymous said...

The Thai King is also Khmer King.

Anonymous said...

no he is not. he is a sino-tai

Anonymous said...

6:51AM, I am totally with you. We, Khmers overseas, will not mind sending our supports for this national course. We are ready !!! Chheyo Khmer, Long live Khmer!!! Down a Chho Siem !!! Unite Khmer !!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, tell the siam that we welcome them to bring the case to the world court. They will loose again.

Regarding the captured siam soldiers, may be they too ignorant to read the news and photos of their comrades. I would say siam leaders are abandoning their own soldiers because it would be shameful to admit that their mighty troops being captured by Cambodian troops.

KhmerLowell, USA

Anonymous said...

The clash is not the first, nor the last. There will be more fighting. I am sorry to our two men who died in the clash. God blessed! I support this fighting even though it is not a good choice. We are dare in fighting.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE UNITED NATION, UNITED NATION SECURTY COUNCIL, ASEAN, USA, FRANCE, UK, GERMANY, ITALY, CANADA, RUSSIA, CHINA..... WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN ALL OF YOU KNOW CLEARLY THAT THAI MAKES CAMBODIA SUFFER AND SUFFER FROM TIME TO TIME (NOT ONLY BORDER ISSUES, BUT ALL CAMBODIAN PEOPLE)!!! You just know what to say "RESTRAINT" :-D :-D :-D!!!

I THINK ANY OF YOU IS NOT STUPID TO ANALYSE THIS SITUATION!!! WHO IS DOING WHAT!!! PLEASE BETTER STOP MAKING STUPID AND IDIOL! PLEASE HELP POOR NATION, AND PARTICULARLY THE POOR PEOPLES WHO ARE SUFFERING THE MOST!

Anonymous said...

ICJ?...Are you sure? Mr. Siem?
We are waiting for a long long time for that...why don't u talk early? we don't need to fight...

Yeah, go and bring your foreign experts coz your local experts are SHITHEAD!!!..Coz of that SHITHEAD of your soldier and local expert that is why you think Preah Vihear is urs!!!

Only ICJ overule its own verdict might help to save your face...but if ICJ reject its own verdict, it is like those judges go to eat their own shits...

Anonymous said...

8:10 AM, You are right! I'm also wondering Are all the Internationals real blind or they are blindfolded? Do they just learn the word " Restrain, peacefully negotiate,..." We know that's what we want but how can we do with the MOTHER FUCKER THAI?

FOR ALL NATIONS IN THE WORLD, I HATE THAI THE MOST, ESP. THOSE STUPID BLOOD SUCKER HEAD OF STATE AND OTHER BULLSHIT SENIOR OFFICERS.

Anonymous said...

"Foreign Ministry claims it is prepared to take Cambodia to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice over sovereignty"

THE ROBBER WHO CALL UPON THE LAW TO JUSDGE THE VICTIM WHOM THEY HAVE ROBBED AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR CENTURIES.

IS THERE SOME KNOWLEDGEABLE MEN/WOMEN IN SIAMESE RACE?

SHIT ALL OVER YOU, SIAM.

Anonymous said...

Calm Down everybody. Dehumanizing Thai and her King only adds the stupidy and madness to the situation.

Only through political and diplomatic dialogues, one can resolve border dispute peacefully, i.e,Israel and Lebanon.

Don't get me wrong, if it were up to me I'd like to blow up Thailand into oblivion. But, that would be too violent. Long live Khmer people

Anonymous said...

to admin: you should keep posting the photos of POWs (your front page) until Thais accept the fact. Internationa medias seemed to exclude this part minute by minute.

Anonymous said...

The thais are really professional liers who never admit simple facts:
- That their countries was part of KHmer Empire.
- That Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia.
- That the surrpunding area belongs to Cambodia.
- That it s them who start this shit.
- That they start to fire first.
- That Cambodian troops captured 10 thai soldiers.
Why so shit in the eyes? we don't have any problem with thai people who are our cousin. It is just that we need to nuke these thai leaders who misguide their people, especially that billionnaire of king. Modern world does not need king who always manipulate others for their own interest...

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen and some khmers are truly morons and liars.
ICJ verdict is that only the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, not the area around it.

Besides, khmer soldiers opened fire first after Hun Sen's idiot 24-hour ultimatum.

Khmer rulers have always been untrustworthy. They have always bite when a friend has problem. Like ancestor, like decendant.

Anonymous said...

No one in the world buid the temple without surrounding area, and no one build the house without stairs and especially the access. The Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia and it is the world heritage, so why don't use the logic that the surrounding land also belong to Cambodia, that 's it. It is temple and it a house, not the apartment, condo. If you are not greedy, back off. You just started to encroach this area after KRs dissolved and only after the 2000. Stop your greedy agression to the neighbor. You use the fake map to claim the land, it is not acceptabel. We cannot tolerate anymore.
You invade our border area and killed our soldiers at the place is very cruel action. And it is clearly showing the world that you are not fit to the position of Asean chair.
Khmer

Anonymous said...

Now you refered back to the building of the temple. Good! Look at it pal, the temple and stairs face the north. It is meant to be a temple for people who live in highland north of the temple.

Fake map? Hahaha! It is you khmers who use fake map drawn by the greedy french colonist who wanted to encroach Siam.

The only reason that ICJ gave the temple to cambodia was that thailand did not protest the map drawn by the french colonist. Fact is thais, at the time, did not know how to draw border map yet. khmers did not either. And even if the thais did, power of french colonist at the time was to much to handle (that was why cambodia became a french colony, isn't it?).

Stick to the truth pal. Do not inherit lies from your ancestors.