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| A victim of THAI cluster bombs and remnants of THAI cluster bombs which, coincidentally, Thailand also denied using them |
April 24 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand denied accusations that its soldiers used toxic gas against Cambodian troops in the deadliest fighting along their disputed border since tensions flared up three years ago.
Battles that began April 22 have killed five Thais and six Cambodians, according to army officials and press reports, ending two months of peace since the United Nations Security Council urged a permanent cease-fire on Feb. 14. Thai soldiers used “heavy guns loaded with poisonous gas” in yesterday’s fighting, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“The Cambodians are really incredible to make up a story like that,” Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, the Thai army’s deputy spokesman, said by phone from Bangkok. “They are always making up stories to make us look bad.” (sic!)
The renewed fighting comes as Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva prepares to call an election in early May. Thailand’s military is provoking the clashes to boost its popularity in the event it stages another coup, Cambodian government Phay Siphan said by phone from Phnom Penh, the capital.
“The Thai military is moving against us so they can say they are protecting Thai land and earn credibility from their people,” he said. “We are a small country and we can’t afford to take Thai land. We need peace to build our country.”
The Southeast Asian neighbors have blamed each other for provoking the battles, which occurred several hundred kilometers west of border clashes in February near Preah Vihear temple, a UN World Heritage site. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said Thai troops were aiming to take over disputed temples, while Abhisit said Thailand wouldn’t invade its neighbors and was retaliating from Cambodian aggression.
‘International Rules’
“Our movements are in line with international rules,” Abhisit said today in a weekly televised address. “In our retaliation, we attack only military points. Our retaliation will be appropriate with Cambodian attacks.”
Five Thai soldiers have died in two days of fighting, Veerachon said. The battles have also killed six Cambodian troops, China’s Xinhua news agency reported, citing Suos Sothea, a commander with an artillery unit on the border.
The clashes reignite tensions along the border that escalated in 2008 after Thailand opposed Cambodia’s efforts to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site. Fighting in February claimed at least 10 lives and displaced 30,000 people.
Thailand has refused to accept border observers from Indonesia, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10- member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
International Arena
“The recent clash is another attempt by Cambodia to elevate the bilateral dispute to international arena,” Abhisit said today.
Cambodia accused Thailand of using cluster munitions during fighting in February, a charge verified by U.K.-based Cluster Munition Coalition, which is pushing for an international ban on the weapons that scatter ammunition over a large area upon detonation. Thailand and Cambodia aren’t among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled in a 9-3 vote that Cambodia had sovereignty over Preah Vihear. It didn’t rule on the land surrounding the temple, and the two countries have yet to reconcile 10,422 square miles (26,993 square kilometers) of disputed waters in the Gulf of Thailand that may contain oil and gas reserves.
Thailand’s $264 billion economy is more than 26 times the size of Cambodia’s. The Cambodian army spent $191 million in 2009, compared with $4.9 billion for the military in Thailand, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
--With assistance from Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok. Editors: Paul Tighe, Anand Krishnamoorthy
10 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,
12:23 PM
You are not a Khmer and don't deserve to be a Khmer.
From a Khmer girl.
Thailand is using guns to frighten Cambodia. Cambodia is no position to start a war with Thailand, but Thailand has ulterior motive to cause a war with Cambodia. Cambodia wants peace to rebuild our country.
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,
This war like a civil war, because at the border from bother sides live almost Khmer people and not Thai. The Khmer Surin have to live between 2 fronts and to survive with the situation. The Thai did not trust them and Cambodia lost trust to these people (Khmer Surin).
Thai militray did not care and can do what ever they wanted, attacked all poinst (militaries and villages) inside Cambodia. But Cambodia Army forces only able to defend themselves and responsed to the Thai military forces, but not the village where the civil pepeole live.
It means, Thai military force has all advantages than Cambodian Military forces. The main purpose is Thai only wanted to eliminate Khmer people in Thailand and in Cambodia.
But at the ende, Cambodia and Khmer people sure will win this fight.
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.
I'm trying to determine which is worst the Thais or the Viets.
As of recent history the Thais proved themselves to be savage people. They forced Cambodians refugees off the Dang Rek Cliff, towed refugees boats out to sea to let them starved.
I think when it comes to savagery, the Thais win hands down!
Thais official are just lying rats!
Fucken Bitch Ms Rattana Keo , We know you want to be the next Prime Minister Of Cambodia but the world know, your children know, your cheap low life parents in law know, your grandchildren know, your cheap low life husband know that you are a truly extraordinary threesome bitch! Threesome bitch is what you are! You and your group of friends are threesome bitches who created threesome cultures among Khmer communities! Your pussy is heap of men penis fully loaded cum inside you and your cheap low life husband cum after them inside you. Your husband is a fucken moron living off your money.
Thailand has not used the cluster bomd but all eyes the world know and see your trick, so you are not different from Mommar Gahdaffi, Liby.
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