PHNOM PENH, April 4 (Xinhua) -- What happened between Cambodian and Thai troops at the border area on Friday was only armed clash, but not war, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday.
"It was only accident and it was not a serious one," he told a meeting for disabled soldiers in Kampot province.
After the armed clash, both sides talked with each other and negotiated, and we should not spill oil over troubled water, he said.
"We also appeal that the conflicts should not be expanded to other areas," he added.
Meanwhile, the premier confirmed that no Cambodian soldier was killed or injured during the confrontation on Friday and on Saturday, the Thai side had asked the Cambodian side to return thebodies of its soldiers who died under the gunfire.
"We don't want to see such accident to occur again. We told the Thai side that they should not enter the border area because there are mines, which were planted in the civil war," he said.
Also on Saturday, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement to press, saying that "Cambodia has good will and has exercised the utmost restraints in order to find a peaceful solution to the border issues with Thailand through bilateral mechanism. However, Cambodia reserves its rights to self-defense and to protect its national territorial integrity."
According to the statement, two rounds of gunfire exchange took place on Friday after well-armed Thai troops intruded on Cambodian land near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, respectively around 07:12 local time (0012GMT) and 14:00 local time (0700 GMT), and the first clash lasted 7 to 8 minutes and the second 35 minutes.
Four Thai soldiers were killed and 10 arrested by the Cambodian side during the two rounds of fighting on Friday, said Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.
Since July 2008, troops from both sides have stationed near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and two armed confrontations last year sparked brief concerns of war.
The two neighboring countries have never fully demarcated their disputed border, partly due to the landmines left over from decades of civil war in Cambodia.
"It was only accident and it was not a serious one," he told a meeting for disabled soldiers in Kampot province.
After the armed clash, both sides talked with each other and negotiated, and we should not spill oil over troubled water, he said.
"We also appeal that the conflicts should not be expanded to other areas," he added.
Meanwhile, the premier confirmed that no Cambodian soldier was killed or injured during the confrontation on Friday and on Saturday, the Thai side had asked the Cambodian side to return thebodies of its soldiers who died under the gunfire.
"We don't want to see such accident to occur again. We told the Thai side that they should not enter the border area because there are mines, which were planted in the civil war," he said.
Also on Saturday, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement to press, saying that "Cambodia has good will and has exercised the utmost restraints in order to find a peaceful solution to the border issues with Thailand through bilateral mechanism. However, Cambodia reserves its rights to self-defense and to protect its national territorial integrity."
According to the statement, two rounds of gunfire exchange took place on Friday after well-armed Thai troops intruded on Cambodian land near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, respectively around 07:12 local time (0012GMT) and 14:00 local time (0700 GMT), and the first clash lasted 7 to 8 minutes and the second 35 minutes.
Four Thai soldiers were killed and 10 arrested by the Cambodian side during the two rounds of fighting on Friday, said Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.
Since July 2008, troops from both sides have stationed near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and two armed confrontations last year sparked brief concerns of war.
The two neighboring countries have never fully demarcated their disputed border, partly due to the landmines left over from decades of civil war in Cambodia.
9 comments:
BOTH SIDE ARE KHMER BLOOD EXCEPT SOME THAI LEADER ARE EXTRIMELY AND AGRASIVELY AS YUON VIET MINH.
Yep! we all knew that, but they don't or never wanted us to live in peace with them or next to them? no body wanted this way! they are the one to blame, they had steal so much of lands from the past! and still greedy...for more and more!
Khmer in Thailand never considered us the same blood or family at all! they always considered a FOE! but for us is different...
correction = considered us a FOE!
Khmer military must use our long range artillery too, don't let them take advantage on us...
according to RFA, 22 siameses dead and about another 30 were wounded
All are Ah Hun Sen chicken style.
Ah chicken kwak Hun Sen must step down asap.
Like or not, but you are not the one, who decided.
Mr. Hun Sen is the PM of the Kingdom of Cambodia and elected by the Khmer.
Please be a gentleman and don't use that kind of language.
Yes, agree with your suggestion 11:48AM. Should not use bad words to insult our PM. At least he has done some good things for khmer. Noone perfect in this world. In contrary, he risked his life to fight with the Americans loosing his eye. You should respect the people, especially the handicapped, but in this case, the PM has worked hard with his only one eye, you have never ever abled to do the same as he did. Why don't we just be together, united for once. This is a start of the new era for all khmers regardless where you are, but if you side yourself with siams, and intrude the banned area guarded with arms, the same fate either a leg on e-bay or killed. Real khmer soldiers welcome you there. If you khmers from surin or sisaket feel that you don't want to come to fight with your khmer blood, and consider that you are still khmer, just don't come, go back home, abondon the order, don't let them, the siams use you as human shield for their interest to destroy your khmer. Khmers always act with respect, patience, and tolerance and we are so generous, but there is a limit. Bear in mind, those intruders!
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