By Sopheng Cheang, The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Fighting broke out again Sunday along Cambodia's border with Thailand following two days of skirmishes that killed at least 10 soldiers and forced the evacuation of thousands of civilians.
The dispute between the neighbours stems from their competing claims over small swaths of land along the border, with nationalistic politics fueling tensions. Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thai objections.
The current round of clashes, which began Friday, are the first reported border skirmishes since February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the Preah Vihear temple. The latest fighting has taken place about 100 miles (160 kilometres) west of there.
Col. Suos Sothea, a Cambodian commander, confirmed witness accounts that an artillery battle began at the border shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday. In Bangkok, Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd reported the same information.
There were no immediate reports of casualties Sunday.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Cambodia and Thailand to implement an effective and verifiable cease-fire.
A U.N. statement late Saturday said Ban believes the dispute cannot be resolved by military means, so the two countries must engage in a serious dialogue to resolve the underlying problems.
Sunday's flare-up came after it seemed that calm might have been restored. Witnesses on the Cambodian side said an important border crossing that had been closed for two days had been reopened, and Thai media said some of an estimated 20,000 civilians who had been evacuated from the battle zone were starting to move back home.
Each side has accused the other of starting the latest fighting, which has involved mainly artillery duels at long range.
Thailand rejected accusations Saturday that it had used chemical weapons against Cambodian troops.
A Cambodian defence ministry statement charged that Thailand had fired 75- and 105-millimeter shells "loaded with poisonous gas" into Cambodian territory, but did not elaborate. A Cambodian field commander said separately that Thailand had used both cluster shells — anti-personnel weapons banned by many countries — and artillery shells that gave off a debilitating gas.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the allegations were not true, and Col. Tawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, denied that cluster bombs or poison gas had been employed by his forces.
Cluster munitions contain dozens or hundreds of small grenades, or "bomblets," that scatter over vast areas. Some can lie dormant for decades until disturbed, posing enormous danger to civilians.
Thailand acknowledged using cluster-type munitions in border fighting in February, but argued that they were not of the type banned from use by 108 countries under an international treaty. Thailand has not signed the pact, but has publicly pledged not to use such weapons.
Tawatchai said one Thai soldier died Saturday, bringing the casualty toll to four dead and 17 wounded. Suos Sothea said three Cambodian soldiers were killed Saturday, bringing Cambodia's two-day death toll to six. Suos Sothea said he could not give an accurate count of the wounded.
Indonesia, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has called for an immediate cease-fire and further efforts to resolve the border dispute.
The flare-up comes as Thailand's military raises its profile in domestic politics ahead of a general election expected to be held by early July. The army had previously effectively vetoed an agreed-on plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit said Saturday that he was ready to formally accept Indonesia's offer of observers, and was waiting for approval from Thailand's defence minister, which was expected to come this week.
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Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok contributed to this report.
5 comments:
Var Kim Hong does recognize that Cambodia, if compared to the colonial Service Geographique de l’Indochine scale map 1/100,000 and the 1985 delimitation treaty, will loses 9,000 hectares; and compared to U.S Army Mapping Service scale map 1/50,000 with the 1985 Treaty, would lose about 7,900 hectares to Vietnam. This statement was confirmed by Var Kim Hong to Mr. Touch Bora Esq through a telephone conversation on 30 August 2002 at 4:30 p.m. (Sydney time), which Mr. Touch Bora Esq wrote in his letter dated on 9 September 2002 sent to Sam Dach Ta Noroudom Sihanouk concerning over border affairs.
In fact, the loss is absolutely more than the 1000 square kilometers stated by MP Sam Rainsy in his statement, if we add the size of the historical water of 30000 square kilometers awarded to Vietnam under the 1982 Agreement which has been into affect and now already become under the full control of Vietnam. And this would not be the last if the equidistance principle be used to delimit the maritime boundary, Cambodia will lose an additional area of sea and seabed measuring at least 860 square nautical miles from the Brevie Line to the north, analyzed by Mr. Touch Bora Esq or another 10000 square kilometers confirmed by Mr. Sean Pengse, the President of the Cambodian Border Committee Worldwide, which exclusively include another Koh Poula Wai to Vietnam added to the previous lost islands- Koh Tral (Dao Phu Quoc) and Koh Poulo Panjang (Dao Thu Chu).
This is why sVar Kim Hong said in front of Students´s Movement for Democracy (SMD), and Sam Dach Ta Norodom Sihanouk on 22 Janaury 2000 during our audience with him concerning the border resolution with Vietnam that; “If we want peace, we must sacrifice our flesh to the tiger.” The truth is discovered now that, “Sacrifice the flesh to tiger actually means cutting our land to the Viet.” This word was clearly spoken out from his mouth and there were Sam Dach Ta as witness and 31 members.
We must condemn this Var Kim Hong for his role in helping the traitorous regime of Hun Sen.
Smart Khmer Girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 10,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and 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 on the Thai border 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?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 10,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The 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 protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 10,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
1997 coup Ah Hun Sen killed thousands of Khmer lives by shooting in the head one by one. No one wants or dare keep talk about 1997 coup.
In that time, why don't Hun Sen regime love peace and patient as today with Thai because Ah Hun Sen know very well that Thai will throw him away from his power if he strongly aggressive with Thai.
To Thai rat 12:45pm and 12:53pm,
You are the same person. Abhisit and the Thai military killed 92 protesters in Bangkok last year.
Has anyone been charged? Your country is in a mess!
You need to get rid of the Abhisit, but first you need to overpower your military scum influenced by your god-king.
Khmers in Surin, Si Sa Ket, Boriram… are Khmers not Siem (Thai).
Do not support Thai soldiers who invade Cambodia. Abhisit, Thai army and Yellow shirt are the agressers.
Call Cambodian army and tell them the location of Thai army. Destroy Thai army. Khmers will live together. Surin, Si Sa Ket, Boriam, Ayuthia, Ubon, Chantabori…and more are belong to Cambodia.
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