More bloodshed feared [-Thailand plans more clashes in Oddar Meanchey?]

[Thai] Tanks advance along a road in Ban Kok Krachai in Buri Ram’s Ban Kruat district. They were sent to back up troops at the border as skirmishes erupted for a third day. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

World alarmed at rise in violence, says Surin

25/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Fears of full-scale bloody battles along the Thai-Cambodian border grew yesterday as both sides began to deploy heavy artillery.

Tensions continued to escalate in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district after a new round of border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops yesterday, the third in three days.

Both sides were bringing in reinforcements right along the border including heavy weaponry, heightening fears that war could be looming.

Yesterday's clashes started at about 10am and stopped at about 6pm near Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples in Surin. Three more Thai soldiers were injured.

Four Thai soldiers have been killed and 27 injured as of yesterday since fighting first broke out on Friday.

More details: Cambodian plot to seize temples

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said six Cambodian soldiers were killed in fighting and 13 injured during the previous two days.

Thai authorities said no civilians were killed or injured during the fighting, the first clashes between the two countries since February. They said thousands of villagers in the area have been evacuated to safety. The situation caused Thai soldiers to close Chong Jom border pass in Kab Choeng district of Surin and Chong Sa-ngam border pass in Phu Sing district of Si Sa Ket yesterday.

The latest border clashes prompted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call a video conference with local authorities in Surin where the clash took place and those of adjacent Buri Ram province yesterday afternoon to update the situation.

The premier insisted border clashes broke out because Cambodian troops had invaded deeply into Thai territory and started firing at the Thai troops first. He said Thai soldiers had to fight back to defend the country' s sovereignty and to protect their lives.

Thai soldiers responded only when it was necessary and aimed only at military targets to prevent any harm to Cambodian civilians, he said.

Lt Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, 2nd Army commander, told the conference that reports on Cambodian radio revealed that Cambodia suffered heavier injuries and weaponry damages.

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha also said he put soldiers on standby around the clock and infantry soldiers and paramilitary rangers were mainly responsible for present border operations. To end the border conflict, Prime Minister Abhisit said he would seek a chance to talk with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at the upcoming 18th Asean Summit scheduled to be held in Jakarta between May 7 and 8.

"I will ask him to help take care of the Thai-Cambodian border and solve the problem through existing bilateral mechanisms," Mr Abhisit said.

Asean and the United Nations expressed their immediate concerns shortly after the latest border fighting.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Thailand and Cambodia to take immediate measures for a ceasefire.

Mr Ban said he believes the dispute cannot be resolved by military means and urged the two countries to engage in serious dialogue.

Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan also wanted the two countries to turn to the negotiating table.

"The world and Asean is alarmed by the new outbreak of violent and fatal clashes along the Cambodian-Thai border," Mr Surin said.

"The appeal for restraint and a quick return to the negotiating table will become louder from other Asean members and dialogue partners.

"I can only add to that my voice to call for a peaceful solution to a long simmering tension between our two Asean member states."

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa, as the incumbent Asean chairman, would today leave Jakarta for Bangkok to discuss the current Thai-Cambodian border situation with him.

Mr Kasit will visit Surin to observe the situation today. He will then meet with Mr Marty at Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel at 7pm. Before meeting with Mr Kasit, Mr Marty will travel to Phnom Penh to meet with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.

Mr Kasit said he would have talks with Hor Namhong to discuss the border problem over the next four to five days.

Thailand had also clarified the latest border situation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that the situation was not related to Unesco's World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Paris in June.