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| Walit: ‘We are ready to do our duty’ |
14/01/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
Maj Gen Walit Rojanapakdi, commander of the Burapha Task Force, is in charge of security along the Thai-Cambodian border.
He tells Bangkok Post reporter WASSANA NANUAM that Thais should attempt to put aside their differences, as internal disunity will only please the country's enemies.
How will the Burapha Task Force cope with the Thai Patriots Network if it rallies and seals the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo to protest against Cambodia's arrest of seven Thais for trespass?
Please do not close the border. That would not put any pressure on Cambodia. Do you think [prime minister] Hun Sen will release the seven Thais in response? No, he won't. Over 2,000 local people are praying for peace. If problems grow, they will be in trouble. They will not be able to do business.
The Thai Patriots Network wants to block Thai gamblers from visiting Cambodian casinos which it believes are the main sources of Hun Sen's income.
We should campaign to raise the awareness of Thais who gamble there. But closing the border will cause problems for local people and bilateral problems will grow. I am afraid that local people may clash with visiting protesters. Soldiers will try their best to prevent that. If Thais end up fighting each other, Cambodians will laugh at us.
How will the soldiers handle mobs?
We will deploy forces to block people from reaching the border. If they cross it, problems will increase.
I have learned a painful lesson. I was injured in the army crackdown at the Khok Wua intersection during the red shirt protests last April. My leg was broken in three places by a grenade blast.
I had to recuperate in hospital for months and use a cane. Today I can walk but still cannot run. Many subordinates of mine are still lying in hospital with more serious injuries.
I don't want to see Thais fight against each other over the border issue with Cambodia as well. I know everyone loves the nation but we still have choices.
Are Thai soldiers discouraged by their Cambodian counterparts?
Soldiers are not discouraged. We are afraid of no one. We are ready to do our duty. But the decision rests with policy-makers.
Do you think local people may clash with members of the Thai Patriots Network?
We soldiers will do our best to prevent that. Thais should neither clash nor bleed because of Cambodia. Internal conflicts please only neighbouring countries that are our competitors.
Can the Burapha Task Force handle the situation along the border?
If the mobs stay away, soldiers can take care of the area. We have not reinforced troop numbers.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers are still on good terms. The fate of the seven Thais accused of trespass rests with the justice system and the Foreign Ministry.
8 comments:
Siam stars open fire, killing Cambodian who across into Thailand illegally. Thai (Thailand) will not stop killing Khmer citizens..All Khmer should be aware of this now, since they are getting mad with the Cambodian government and judge. Thai has been killing Cambodian almost all the time since I have been following the news. Also, they have been killing the past as well.
I think cambodia must keep upgrading her military power, this way Thailand and Vietnam will step back and think twice...before they want to fuck around! If cambodia keep being poor ass military like today, there will be more invasion and CHAMPA#2 will be True!! Right now still have time....
KI, as a human being should not incite someone to fight someone. We are not happy when Thai kill us and foreigners incite us to kill each other among khmer. Peace in Thai also peace in Cambodia. No peace anywhere also no peace in Cambodia and the world. As human being we should love peace and work for peace in the world. Please show the world that Khmer are peace rather show we are like Pot Pol and Hoon Xen.
of course, we are peace-making, unlike the pad thugs, the trouble-makers they are! so, go tell that to pad thugs ignorant people. they are looked like hill tribe people protesting everywhere for nothing! and their siem gov't supported them, that's what kept them going, really! so, shame on siem gov't for unable to control their extremist people like pad thugs, especially!
cambodia should ban all pad thugs from entering cambodia, period! they are never friends of khmer people, you know!
As long they are doing inside their territory is their rights. At least they have freedom to do unlike khmer have no freedom even want to protest again the encroachment from Thai and Viet. Thai are clever they do not destroy patriots like Khmer leaders.
siem gov't is guilty by association, they cater to pad thugs people, no wonder cambodia cannot work well with them, go figure!
Thailand will not dear to invade Cambodia. They like to make noises but they don't have the gut to do it. It doesn't matter how big thailand are they still won't be able to do it. Too much stakes involved. Plus it will only benefits the Viet Cong.
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