Children play near a newsafety shelter in Sao Thongchai village in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district. The shelter has been built amid fears of a military stand-off between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear border dispute. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERDHunkering down at the border
Safety shelters are being built in Kantharalak district near Preah Vihear in case of fresh tension with Cambodia
23/09/2009
King-oua Laohong in Si Sa Ket
Bangkok Post
Workers are covering 10 large drain pipes with soil, grass and sandbags to create shelters at Dan Nuea village in tambon Phu Pha Mok in Kantharalak district of this northeastern border province.
It is part of a plan to ensure safety for villagers living near the disputed border area and the Preah Vihear temple.
Ban Dan Nuea is not the only place where the shelters are being built. The government has allocated 40 million baht to build shelters in three districts: Khun Han, Phu Sing and Kantharalak.
The areas deemed most at risk are five tambons in Kantharalak: Phu Pha Mok, Bung Malu, Sao Thongchai, Rung and Noan Samran.
The fresh money has been set aside for the project because of fears that protests by Thais against Cambodia could spark a fresh military confrontation between the two countries.
The latest rally by People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators took place on Saturday.
Nobody knows when the next protest will be while ownership of the 4.6 square kilometre area claimed by the two countries remains unsettled.
"We can't say bunkers aren't necessary. Problems could erupt at any time," said Col Warakorn Tukammi, head of a civil affairs unit attached to the 2nd Army.
Tambon Sao Thongchai is among areas in the three districts only 2.5km from the Preah Vihear temple ruins and is considered a high risk.
Village houses were once damaged by stray shells from Cambodia, said Col Warakorn, stressing the need to protect villagers' lives.
His unit is responsible for giving advice on how to build safe shelters while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation pays for their construction, Si Sa Ket governor Rapi Pongbuppakij said.
Construction worker Pornchai Asipong said the shelters would be erected in house gardens and the compounds of schools and temples.
He said the shelters were stronger than make-shift bunkers made by villagers and some could accommodate between 30 and 50 people.
"Safe bunkers have three sizes: small, medium and large. The large one will be built in public or community areas such as temples and schools. The small size is for houses considered to be in danger areas," the worker said.
Sai Thaethaisong, a former village head in tambon Sao Thongchai, said it was unpleasant to cram into a shelter. He and his neighbours once had to sit in water in a shelter for many nights over 30 years ago during Cambodia's internal struggles with the Khmer Rouge.
"Villagers fear fresh fighting," Mr Sai said.
"In fact, they have lived with Cambodians for so long no one cares if there is an overlapping area. They just earn their living and have never been interested in who invades whose land."
When the PAD rallied on Saturday near the disputed area to protest against Cambodians allegedly occupying the area, their attempts to enter the area were blocked by Si Sa Ket villagers and ended in a clash between the protesters, villagers and police.
"We ask the PAD not to come back here. Villagers have had enough trouble," said Banyong Tangsuk, village head of Ban Phumsarol, which has suffered shelling in the past.
23/09/2009
King-oua Laohong in Si Sa Ket
Bangkok Post
Workers are covering 10 large drain pipes with soil, grass and sandbags to create shelters at Dan Nuea village in tambon Phu Pha Mok in Kantharalak district of this northeastern border province.
It is part of a plan to ensure safety for villagers living near the disputed border area and the Preah Vihear temple.
Ban Dan Nuea is not the only place where the shelters are being built. The government has allocated 40 million baht to build shelters in three districts: Khun Han, Phu Sing and Kantharalak.
The areas deemed most at risk are five tambons in Kantharalak: Phu Pha Mok, Bung Malu, Sao Thongchai, Rung and Noan Samran.
The fresh money has been set aside for the project because of fears that protests by Thais against Cambodia could spark a fresh military confrontation between the two countries.
The latest rally by People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators took place on Saturday.
Nobody knows when the next protest will be while ownership of the 4.6 square kilometre area claimed by the two countries remains unsettled.
"We can't say bunkers aren't necessary. Problems could erupt at any time," said Col Warakorn Tukammi, head of a civil affairs unit attached to the 2nd Army.
Tambon Sao Thongchai is among areas in the three districts only 2.5km from the Preah Vihear temple ruins and is considered a high risk.
Village houses were once damaged by stray shells from Cambodia, said Col Warakorn, stressing the need to protect villagers' lives.
His unit is responsible for giving advice on how to build safe shelters while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation pays for their construction, Si Sa Ket governor Rapi Pongbuppakij said.
Construction worker Pornchai Asipong said the shelters would be erected in house gardens and the compounds of schools and temples.
He said the shelters were stronger than make-shift bunkers made by villagers and some could accommodate between 30 and 50 people.
"Safe bunkers have three sizes: small, medium and large. The large one will be built in public or community areas such as temples and schools. The small size is for houses considered to be in danger areas," the worker said.
Sai Thaethaisong, a former village head in tambon Sao Thongchai, said it was unpleasant to cram into a shelter. He and his neighbours once had to sit in water in a shelter for many nights over 30 years ago during Cambodia's internal struggles with the Khmer Rouge.
"Villagers fear fresh fighting," Mr Sai said.
"In fact, they have lived with Cambodians for so long no one cares if there is an overlapping area. They just earn their living and have never been interested in who invades whose land."
When the PAD rallied on Saturday near the disputed area to protest against Cambodians allegedly occupying the area, their attempts to enter the area were blocked by Si Sa Ket villagers and ended in a clash between the protesters, villagers and police.
"We ask the PAD not to come back here. Villagers have had enough trouble," said Banyong Tangsuk, village head of Ban Phumsarol, which has suffered shelling in the past.
12 comments:
Since 12Century have khmer ever leaned the lesson from Siam?
I personally want all khmer say we do not trust Siam and youn.
Ah PAD people aka Prat people are living in villa or so called mansion in Bangkok; whereas, Siem/Khmer villagers aka Khmer origin live in the forest near Cambodia border. The villagers know the taste of war, but not the Prat people. They want to come quickly and won't stay overnight to protest because they're scare of Khmer soldiers.
If they come again, let's kill all Ah Prat (PAD) people.
Ah Siemese including Ah Siem king are all sub-class aka thief origin of Cambodia. They're skunk people who tried to bite Khmer and grab our land the same as Ah Hanoi people.
Ah Siem king has 45 billion dollars in the Swiss account and control their stupid subordinate people to serve his needs. Why do Ah Siem still regard him as their king? He has a lot of money and don't spare to his own people.
The same as some Khmer people are also dumb people who still regard Sihanouk as their offspring king.
NEVER UNDERSTAND THESE UNDERCLASS PEOPLE WHO KISS ASS THE KING.
Thailand built bunkers, shelters for villagers, this is telling us that Thai is prepare to fight again...or invading again! Khmer military leaders, specially sleepy Srey Deuk and too peaceful must weak up and be alert at all time, don't be soft like Fagget army, be like Viet or Japanese army!!!!!!!!!
correction = wake up!
Cambodian army has a long way to go! i've seen alot of our soldiers still using old weapons, especially those RPG rocket propeller, cambodia should buy best modern weapons from US or Israel country instead, we are small country, but if we have experienced army and modernize weapons, neighbors will thinks twice before they trying......?
correction = experienced army plus modernize weapons
Thai thieves created fear for themselves.
Yes, they fear their shadows!
i think about it, the pad thugs only think about themselve and their own illegal ambition. they don't think about the little children on both sides who live in the area and had to dodge bullets and put themselves in dangers way. true can be said on children on khmer side as well. think about pad thugs!
I don't blame thai government for caring about their people. How about Khmer government, have we ever care of our own people? To my knowledge our government only oppress our khmer people.
Now, Royal Thai Army got the new rifles from Israel ... to replace the good old M16 rifles .. wish to get some more to fulfill the wish lists ..
of course, cambodia and khmer people can learn from everybody on the planet. there's a lot of room for improvement in cambodia, really! god bless cambodia.
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