Fire engulfing the market following Thai troops shelling (Photo: Deum Ampil)
Cambodian soldiers examine a burnt market near an ancient Hindu temple where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaAFP
PREAH VIHEAR (Cambodia) - LIFTING out blackened jewellery and bottles of whiskey, Cambodian troops comb through the wreckage of a village destroyed in a bitter battle with neighbouring Thailand.
Villagers have fled the area near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple since troops from both sides traded gun and rocket fire on Friday, leaving two Thai soldiers dead and another nine wounded.
'Thai soldiers fired many rockets into the market so that it was burned down,' said Cambodian soldier Kim Chantha, 49, as he sat next to the smoldering site at the base of the temple, cradling his AK-47 rifle.
'We rushed to put out the fire when it first started on the thatched roof of a house, but we didn't have time because Thai soldiers kept firing machineguns and a lot of rockets toward the market,' he added.
Many troops sifted through the scattered corrugated steel that remains of the gutted market and homes.
Hundreds of villagers who lived here were evacuated to a school 20 kilometres away from the site.
Villagers have fled the area near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple since troops from both sides traded gun and rocket fire on Friday, leaving two Thai soldiers dead and another nine wounded.
'Thai soldiers fired many rockets into the market so that it was burned down,' said Cambodian soldier Kim Chantha, 49, as he sat next to the smoldering site at the base of the temple, cradling his AK-47 rifle.
'We rushed to put out the fire when it first started on the thatched roof of a house, but we didn't have time because Thai soldiers kept firing machineguns and a lot of rockets toward the market,' he added.
Many troops sifted through the scattered corrugated steel that remains of the gutted market and homes.
Hundreds of villagers who lived here were evacuated to a school 20 kilometres away from the site.
5 comments:
Now you "Barbaric Thai" have, what you alway wanted. This attack before the Khmer New Years will strong and unit all Khmers. We Khmer will pay you back, but not the same way.
Cambodian should raise this matter to the ASEAN. They can't just fired rockets to where the community gather such as market.
What about if Cambodian fires rockets or missiles into Bangkok, how would they feel?
They are not humans, so they wouldn't feel anything...
well, something has gotten to give. these things can be replace or rebuilt, you know! god bless cambodia.
Hi everyone, despite the lost of some soldiers, Siem thinks that it wins because it destroyed all khmer houses an market along the border. If we don't support those people to build their houses and the market again, there will be no one there anymore. This is what Siem really wants. Please help our Cambodia and Cambodian!!!
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