By Andrew Buncombe
The Independent (New Zealand)
Intense fighting involving machine guns and rocket launchers broke out on the border between Cambodia and Thailand yesterday as an old dispute over an 11th-century temple flared up. Up to four Thai soldiers were killed; others may have been taken hostage.
A Cambodian government spokesman, Khieu Kanharith, said that in addition to the four fatalities, 10 Thai troops had been seized after two separate clashes. But Thailand said just one soldier was killed and seven injured, and that none had been taken.
The fighting is the latest violence to break out near the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple. It is located on the Cambodian side of an ill-defined border that has led to conflict between the two neighbours for several decades.
The intensity of clashes in the area last year prompted fears the two countries could go to war.
Reports said that in the first round of fighting yesterday morning, Cambodian forces fired at about 60 Thai soldiers after they crossed the border. The ensuing firefight lasted about 10 minutes but there were no casualties.
In the second clash, Cambodia insisted that Thai soldiers fired rocket-propelled grenades into their territory, but Thailand's foreign ministry spokesman, Tharit Charungvat, denied the claim.
He also said the initial clash took place when Thai soldiers arrived to investigate the site where a land mine had blown the leg off one of their colleagues on Thursday. He said that as they approached the area, Cambodian soldiers had opened fire.
The border area around the Khmer-era temple has long been the subject of disputes. In 1962, the temple, used as recently as 10 years ago as a hide-out by Khmer Rouge guerrillas, was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice.
Tensions flared again last July after Unesco announced that it was awarding the temple World Heritage Site status. Cambodia hopes the new award will encourage tourism in a part of the country that is rarely visited by outsiders.
The border had been quiet for several months while the neighbours sought to jointly demarcate the jungle area where one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers died in last October's exchange of rifle and rocket fire.
The Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, said this week that his soldiers would fight if Thai troops crossed the disputed border again.
The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee will meet again tomorrow for three days of talks in the town of Siem Reap, located next to the ancient Angkor Wat site, to search for a solution to the ongoing row.
Even until recent years, the temple complex at Preah Vihear has had a strategic role. In 1975, it was used by troops loyal to the Cambodian government to make a last stand against the Khmer Rouge.
And in 1998, long after the Maoist fighters had been forced from power, the last remnants of their army holed up at the temple while ceasefire talks were held.
A Cambodian government spokesman, Khieu Kanharith, said that in addition to the four fatalities, 10 Thai troops had been seized after two separate clashes. But Thailand said just one soldier was killed and seven injured, and that none had been taken.
The fighting is the latest violence to break out near the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple. It is located on the Cambodian side of an ill-defined border that has led to conflict between the two neighbours for several decades.
The intensity of clashes in the area last year prompted fears the two countries could go to war.
Reports said that in the first round of fighting yesterday morning, Cambodian forces fired at about 60 Thai soldiers after they crossed the border. The ensuing firefight lasted about 10 minutes but there were no casualties.
In the second clash, Cambodia insisted that Thai soldiers fired rocket-propelled grenades into their territory, but Thailand's foreign ministry spokesman, Tharit Charungvat, denied the claim.
He also said the initial clash took place when Thai soldiers arrived to investigate the site where a land mine had blown the leg off one of their colleagues on Thursday. He said that as they approached the area, Cambodian soldiers had opened fire.
The border area around the Khmer-era temple has long been the subject of disputes. In 1962, the temple, used as recently as 10 years ago as a hide-out by Khmer Rouge guerrillas, was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice.
Tensions flared again last July after Unesco announced that it was awarding the temple World Heritage Site status. Cambodia hopes the new award will encourage tourism in a part of the country that is rarely visited by outsiders.
The border had been quiet for several months while the neighbours sought to jointly demarcate the jungle area where one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers died in last October's exchange of rifle and rocket fire.
The Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, said this week that his soldiers would fight if Thai troops crossed the disputed border again.
The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee will meet again tomorrow for three days of talks in the town of Siem Reap, located next to the ancient Angkor Wat site, to search for a solution to the ongoing row.
Even until recent years, the temple complex at Preah Vihear has had a strategic role. In 1975, it was used by troops loyal to the Cambodian government to make a last stand against the Khmer Rouge.
And in 1998, long after the Maoist fighters had been forced from power, the last remnants of their army holed up at the temple while ceasefire talks were held.
23 comments:
So if Khmer captured the 10 Thai soldiers and hold them and show on TV, would the Thai still denied that none are captured? Or is it that Khmer aren't being real and make this up? I really like to know who's right and who's wrong.
We we do captured them, we should hold them until their leaders admit that they are captured.
Very mysterious...like last time 10 Thais soldiers are captured and photoed them all, but Thai part still insisted to deny.
Now, show them to the world, the evidence of crossing our border and we have the rights to protect our land.
10 Thai soldiers are the best evidence.
Dear all Siamese GV'T always dnial as always thieves do. The evidence was last year flaired up, we have captured 10 of their troops they still denied as usual. This nation is theft it simple.
I will be sick when I hear the report from both side(Khmer and Thai). In fact, if Khmer captured the Thai Soldiers, please show them on the TV, making the World to be know (Are we living now in Internet World?).
Khmer oversea
To all my khmer empier army at the front line, good jobs! i'm glad Pouk Ah siamese got some bitter tasts from our khmer strong army fighter! Thailand must understand that cambodia is not the same anymore! this is 21st cent khmer empier army...
All my khmer military leaders get all modern weapons ready to the area, and be more cautious with their thai-tanks and jetfighter! and don't forget thai-long range artillery also!
Those 10 Thais captive should use for exchange with our khmer people in thailand(jail)..
Just like last time, thailand never admited that their solders were killed, remembered 10/15/08 fighting! Thai side kept dinal that they did not lost any of their soldiers, but there were 7 death and more than 13 injury, and khmer soldier capture more than 10 of thais soldiers, thailand never admited...they don't want their people to know and blame them, because their people love peace...
tricky bastard!
Thais must use border committee and respect all agreements with Cambodia. Thais should not use their troops to threaten this poor country. If thais win, the world will punish thais. So thai must stop move all kind of troops to Cambodia's sovereignty, and begin peace negotiation. if you want to live in peaceful all together.
Yes we should hold those 10 captured Thai solidiers until their commander came and admitted that their troop dead and captured .
And all weaponts seized from these 10 captured Thai solidier should not be released.
All this fighting that took place yesterday are coming at a bad timing and way too late for the Cambodian Pride. I am a Khmer know I am shame to call myself Khmer because I have no Khmer pride in me. I've read lots Khmer news all I was hearing was Khmer being evicted by Thai Soldier. Where is the Khmer soldier aren't they suppose to stop the Thai from slapping your own people on your own soil? We Khmer lost all our pride I think we might as well give in to the Thai. What are we fighting for? Since Thai can came into Cambodia stop the Monk from entering the vihear and evicted Cambodian farmer and no Cambodian soldier to stand for them and protecting Cambodian farmer and Khmer pride; if Cambodian soldiers step into Thai soil they're dead and Thai people are untouchable. WHAT A SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!! SHAME ON CAMBODIA/KHMER
8:56 AM
SO, what? You are just a traitor.
if Thai news said no Thai soldiers has been captured and if RCAF have taken those 10 Thai, We can show them on TV and we should put conditions to Thai side "If your news still hide the numbers of casaulties and hostage, Khmer will not realease them unless they confess that they were really captured and death".
Thai side always lobby the international views. They maybe think that all countries in the world are blind.
Dear our compatriote 8:56
All the problems are from Ah Hun Sen. Because he is the boyfriend with Thaksin, that is why he sold Koh Kong to Thaksin. The Thai has the guts to invade us becuase our leaders in CPP are STUPID/Ignorant.
They should bring up the problems to the Security Council at the U.N.
Based on the Paris resolutions and Thai was a signor on that agreement, therefore AH stupid Hun Sen should go to the UN. He should not drag the time like this.
WHY ?Becuase Ah Thaksin is Hun Sen boyfriend.
Think about that my compatriote
Example: When the owner of the house sold a piece of land to the neighbor, then the neighbor try to invade little by little.
I was a Navy officer from French Naval Academy. I know all our islands in the sea. Now, some has sold to VN, some has sold to Thai.
Thank you.
10:21 AM
Hun Sen is Thaksin's boyfriend? If you're a Naval officer in France, you should know better about manner and being a childish amateur.
Hey, why don't you go fight like the Khmer brothers in the frontline, mr. French Naval Academy? Or are you just a pussy and talk tough online?
Listen up, dudes.
Thai is encroaching on Khmer land for two reasons.
1) To divert their internal problem
2) To test Khmer and see how reactive we are. As long as we stand our ground, they can't do shit. We only try to provoke and see if we back off, but we haven't and that's what we need to do. STAND OUR GROUND.
The tactics Khmer government is using is to stand our ground and keep Thai from pushing in by open fire like this to let them know, you can poke us a few times but be careful because one of those few times will end up like this. While we're standing our ground, we let the political process to win this for us.
What it's taking us all this time to solve it is because Thailand has no real government for long enough to do that with us. You realize that?
All we can do right now is to stand our ground and open fire if needed be to push the Thai back and wait until the Thai can get their government together so the Joint Border committee can go to work on demarcation.
The problem we see right now is because Khmer use one map and Thai use other map. When the demarcation is done, this will be over.
N N O O
N N N o ^ ^ o
N N N o .. o
N N N o _ o
N N O O
Tresspassing!!!
Violator Will Be Shot!!!
By Khmer Soldiers.
Fuck you Thailand. Keep those 10 soldiers and show them on TV such as CNN or BBC. Long live Kingdom Of Cambodia.
The black clad Thai army are barbaric. They killed and evicted Khmer people along the common border. I am glad HunSen showed his toughness this time to these Thai tugs. My symphathy for our soldiers who defended the border and lost their lives.
Chayo Khmer Army
I support our Khmer soldiers 100%, but I don't support Hun Sen's policy on dealing with the border issue with Thailand. Hun Sen should have tried to sek UN help from the beginning. I don't want to see more Khmers killed under Hun Sen's leadership.
Agree with your comments above! UN help is the only way..
According to the Geneva Convention: you may NOT broadcast or displayed a pictures of a captive combatants.
We must abide by this rules! No exception!
Let's treat them in a humane way... war criminal. So in a later stage, it will played a positive psychological role to our benefit.
Thus, treating your enemy heartless, cruel and brutal only make your enemy stronger.
Let's displayed our affections to the world. After all, we are.... Khmer.
Thanks 2:21PM. In fact, A Siam send only khmers to fight khmers, that's why we did not harm them when captured last time and I am sure this time as well. The real khmer from that side blood would not dare to fight us, poor khmers sisaket or surin being put to fight khmer. A bloody siams!
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