Thai soldiers patrol at the entrance of the Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket province near the Thai-Cambodia border, 03 Apr 2009By Daniel Schearf
Voice of America
Bangkok
03 April 2009
Thai officials say border clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers have left at least two Thai soldiers dead and seven others wounded. There were conflicting reports of casualties on the Cambodian side.
The casualties came after Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fire in two incidents Friday in a disputed border area.
The first clash was early Friday morning. Thailand's foreign ministry issued a statement saying there were no casualties on the Thai side from the morning fighting.
But, more fighting broke out during the afternoon and Thai officials later confirmed the casualties.
There were conflicting reports of casualties on the Cambodian side.
Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong says Thai soldiers were to blame for starting the fighting on what he called Cambodian territory.
"This is a disgraceful and intentional aggression without any legal ground by the Thai soldiers," he said.
Thailand's foreign ministry in turn blamed the Cambodian side for starting the fighting and encroaching on what it said was Thai territory.
Thailand's government spokesman, Panitan Wattanyagorn, says there were casualties on both sides, but he could not give exact numbers as the situation was still under investigation. He sought to play down the clashes, saying the incidents were possibly sparked by a misunderstanding.
"This is not a war. This is not a sharp conflict," he said. "This is just a border incident, a small incident that has taken place."
A Thai soldier lost his leg Thursday after stepping on a landmine in the area. The Thai foreign ministry statement says the landmine was believed to be laid recently and that Thai soldiers were in the disputed area to investigate the incident.
Both sides confirmed their military commanders in the met soon after the fighting to discuss the incidents.
The fighting took place near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, where both sides claim territory.
An international court in 1962 declared the temple to be in Cambodian territory but Thai nationalists dispute the ruling.
Border clashes first broke out last year after the UN granted world heritage status to the temple.
Fighting has periodically broken out since then, with casualties on both sides.
The casualties came after Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fire in two incidents Friday in a disputed border area.
The first clash was early Friday morning. Thailand's foreign ministry issued a statement saying there were no casualties on the Thai side from the morning fighting.
But, more fighting broke out during the afternoon and Thai officials later confirmed the casualties.
There were conflicting reports of casualties on the Cambodian side.
Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong says Thai soldiers were to blame for starting the fighting on what he called Cambodian territory.
"This is a disgraceful and intentional aggression without any legal ground by the Thai soldiers," he said.
Thailand's foreign ministry in turn blamed the Cambodian side for starting the fighting and encroaching on what it said was Thai territory.
Thailand's government spokesman, Panitan Wattanyagorn, says there were casualties on both sides, but he could not give exact numbers as the situation was still under investigation. He sought to play down the clashes, saying the incidents were possibly sparked by a misunderstanding.
"This is not a war. This is not a sharp conflict," he said. "This is just a border incident, a small incident that has taken place."
A Thai soldier lost his leg Thursday after stepping on a landmine in the area. The Thai foreign ministry statement says the landmine was believed to be laid recently and that Thai soldiers were in the disputed area to investigate the incident.
Both sides confirmed their military commanders in the met soon after the fighting to discuss the incidents.
The fighting took place near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, where both sides claim territory.
An international court in 1962 declared the temple to be in Cambodian territory but Thai nationalists dispute the ruling.
Border clashes first broke out last year after the UN granted world heritage status to the temple.
Fighting has periodically broken out since then, with casualties on both sides.
7 comments:
Thai thieves dead
Thai solders and all aggressors....
Be fair and respect the international law. Stop your encroachment on Cambodian territory. You will be punished in your next life after your dead in this war...
Don't listen to your superiors..they send you to die on their behalf. Our khmer people are all for this temple even a newborn baby will not let you step into our land... Don't have day dream anymore...wake up and fight back to you superiors. Tell them to respect Cambodia's sovereignty.
Try to spend your energy in protecting your South and solving your internal problem instead....
A message from a very good friends of yours....
It's good to stand up and fight for yourself and for your country! don't just sit around and waited for them to keep on invading your home and killed your livestocks! for along time Thai think that we are too weak to fight them! that's why they keep on doing whatever they wanted, teach them some lessons!!
Khme military don't forget thailand will used their softy words and it's tricky!!
Khme military don't forget thailand will used their softy words and it's tricky!!
Ah Hun Sen,
What are you going to do now about Thai invasion ? Stupid and chicken.If you are afraid, you must step down from your current position as a PM of Cambodia.
Ah chicken HunSen/CPP.
I support our Khmer soldiers 100%, but I don't support Hun Sen's policy on dealing with the border issue with Thailand. He should have gone to seek UN help from the beginning.
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