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| FELLOW SUFFERERS: Rany and her child, left; and a Thai woman in Si Sa Ket province. |
Villagers on both sides are suffering - and if claims that cluster bombs were deployed prove true, then the pain could be felt for years to come
20/02/2011
Hurley Scroggins and staff reporters
Bangkok Post
Two weeks after the shelling began, life has yet to return to normal in Svay Chrum village, four kilometres south of the frontline on the Cambodian side of the border dispute.
Dwellings sit empty, leaving evidence of a quick departure along with clothes hanging on fences and abandoned bicycles.
There were 250 families in this area; now there are five, said shopkeeper Rany who came back two days after her home was nearly hit by conventional artillery on Feb 7.
''We are the risk-takers, the people who have property to protect. I hear from the camps that everyone wants to come back, but they are still afraid of the situation here,'' she said.
There are still people in Svay Chrum, in Chuam Khsan district of Preah Vihear province, but most of them are in uniform.
Soldiers either walk or catch a ride down the mountain to buy supplies and maybe get a drink at one of the two places that serve them.
Some of the Cambodian troops live only 50m from the Thai troops, and relish the opportunity to take a break.
For women like Rany, her concerns are more mundane than those of the politicians and generals in Phnom Penh and Bangkok.
''It was announced on Feb 3 that we must register our property. Then the war started the next day. I had to come back because I was afraid somebody would take my inventory and my house. At least if I stay here nobody will take it apart,'' she said.
On the Thai side of the border, the uncertainty for villagers is just as real.
Si Sa Ket Governor Somsak Suwansujarit has announced construction will start tomorrow of 450 bunkers in Kantharalak district and repairs of 300 others damaged during four days of fighting which started on Feb 4.
Tens of thousands of Thai villagers fled their homes during the height of fighting as Cambodian troops fired artillery into the area.
Rachanee Phongsin, a Kantharalak villager, said she still hears the sound of firing from time to time and fears the artillery and mortar shells could strike her village again.
Samroeng Charoenchan, from Phum Srol village, said he was happy when authorities allowed villagers to return home a week after being evacuated.
However, villagers were still worried about attacks after several homes were damaged and one person killed.
''The sound of bombs at night flying over my head scared me very much, I can still remember it,'' said Tat Kanchanachart, from Ban Somboon in Kantharalak district.
Aside from anxiety about returning to a potential war-zone, displaced people now face a new fear.
Cambodia has accused Thailand of firing an unknown number of shells carrying cluster munitions into Cambodia. Thailand strongly rejects the claim. Neither country has signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
3 comments:
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
To: 11:25AM
I am with you! Why Hun Sen remains so quiet about Koh Trol?
Koh Trol is bigger than Singapore! Koh Trol has much more potential for tourism than Koh Pich, Koh Pos, and Koh Sess...
If Hun Sen is so serious about tourism and Koh Trol is the next destination! Koh Trol must be returned back to Cambodia!!!!!
The two mothers and babies are the casualties of war, and the product of the expendable asset that all politicians are too willing to utilize in their war game.
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