[Thai] Army rejects 'weakness' claims

7/01/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

The army has been criticised for being weak in its handling of the capture of seven Thais, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, by Cambodian soldiers in the disputed border area late last month. First Army chief Udomdej Seetabutr told WASSANA NANUAM in an interview the incident was unexpected and the military was doing its best to help those arrested.

Was the local military unit informed beforehand that the group including Mr Panich would enter the disputed area?

The local unit of paramilitary rangers only knew when the group drove past a road checkpoint. Paramilitary rangers called on them to stop but they did not. The paramilitary rangers could not follow them right away because their motorcycles broke down. When the rangers finally found a vehicle and tried to catch up, the seven people had already passed the barbed wire fence [and entered Cambodia]. Three people in the group were waiting at the border, so we brought them back just in time.

Did local soldiers or border patrol police fail to do their duty by not blocking the group or by not informing their supervisors of the incident?

At the time we did not know who they were. Local units did their job but the incident was beyond their ability to rectify. When the incident happened, we tried to contact Cambodian authorities at local and all other levels. But the seven people were already taken to Phnom Penh, so that was beyond the local level. But normally our soldiers and Cambodian soldiers retain good relations.

Yet the case has triggered criticism that the army is weak.

It worries us. The army chief wants to tell the public that we soldiers do our best to help the people. Soldiers at the local level tried to reach their contacts. People higher up in the Defence Ministry tried to contact Cambodia. But they must also respect the justice system of Cambodia.

Why didn't Thai soldiers rescue the seven people as soon as they were arrested?

We wanted to help then. We were ready but high-ranking commanders would have to make the final decision. We knew that such action would surely lead to a clash and might affect bilateral relations. We soldiers are ready to follow orders but consequences must also be considered. However, the military is doing its best to negotiate.

What's your view of the incident?

We cannot say who is wrong or who is right, and if they did that on purpose or unintentionally. They [the seven Thais] just wanted to see the area in response to villagers' complaints. They had good intentions. The boundary is unclear and they might not have thought about the consequences.

Normally, Thais and Cambodians must inform the other country's authorities before entering a disputed area. Cambodians do this when they want to enter an area where we restrict access. There were no problems in the past and I do not think there will be such a problem in the future.

We are doing our best to take care of people living in the area. I assure you no one can harm Thai people in an area that clearly belongs to us.

The Burapha Task Force is ready to protect all Thai people along the border. We constantly operate patrols. However, the border is easy to cross because there is neither a noticeable borderline nor a mountain range as a point of reference.

Now more Cambodian soldiers have been deployed to secure the border, haven't they?

There is no problem. The [Cambodian] soldiers stand on their side of the fence. Surveillance is active whenever there is a situation and we do this as well. The Burapha Task Force has enough reinforcements to take care of the area.