Friday, June 24, 2011

Unease at peace-keeping drills: Thai soldiers say Cambodian troops 'won't talk to them'

Cambodian soldiers practise disarming techniques during the Ayara Guardian 2011 peacekeeping drill in Pran Buri district, Prachuap Khiri Khan. CHAIWAT SADYAEM

24/06/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

A week into a peace-keeping drill led by the United States, Thai soldiers say there was a "wall" between them and fellow Cambodian troops that is preventing them from developing a bond with one another.

The drill, called Ayara Guardian 2011, includes about 400 soldiers from 13 countries, including Thailand and Cambodia. The exercise started June 18 and runs until July 1 at the Infantry Centre of Thanarat Camp in Pran Buri district.

Thailand has 60 soldiers in the drills, and the Cambodian Peace-keeping Centre sent 48 troops. Other countries that have sent soldiers include the Philippines, Mongolia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Rwanda.

A Thai participant said Cambodian supervisors had ordered their subordinates not to talk to or befriend Thai soldiers during the drill.

"We only talk to each other when it's necessary. So, the atmosphere is not as friendly as before," said the Thai soldier who asked for anonymity. He said some Cambodian officers could speak Thai, but they avoid talking to Thai soldiers so they don't unintentionally leak information about the country's military.


"Sawasdee" is the only word the Cambodians are willing to say when meeting Thai soldiers.

Sgt Long Tony, one of the five female Cambodian soldiers taking part in the drill, however, said there was no distrust between Thai and Cambodian soldiers.

Sgt Long said she had attended the US-led peace-keeping drill before but this was the first time that she joined one in Thailand.

She admitted that she had not talked to Thai soldiers much. But it was just because Thai soldiers were not keen on speaking English.

All she can do is smile at the Thai soldiers during the drills.

Sgt Yaren Chea, 24, another female Cambodian soldier, said the confrontation between Thai and Cambodian troops along the the two countries' border between February and May had nothing to do with the perceived gap between them at the Ayara drill.

"Whatever has happened at the border, the drills with Thai and Cambodian soldiers have went by as normal. We go through the training together and we do talk to each other," she said.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

U do the rite thing girl dont talk to the stupid tai trass.

WesternObserver said...

Bangkok Post is notorious in smearing the good name of Cambodia. This news usually never have any credible source to back up. i.e. "A Thai paticipant ...." I want to know who is that participant ?

Anonymous said...

cambodia only did this because america sponsored this and invited us to join, otherwise, forget it, we don't like siem!

Col. Chum Vichet said...

"A Thai participant said Cambodian supervisors had ordered their subordinates not to talk to or befriend Thai soldiers during the drill."

Who is the name of that Thai participant said the above statement ? . I am Col Chum Vichet, the Cambodian supervisor. I never tell my subordinates to act as such. I want to sue that Thai participant and Bangkok Post for slandering and maligning the good men and women in arm services for the Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

fuck ah siem thugs! cambodia should do the same to smear ah siem name and their asshole leaders, really! god, i hate ah siem thugs! who wants to be friends with these siem asshole anyway!

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't Hun Sen talk about the treaties from 1979-1985 that result over 30 000 km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam ? Why does Hun Sen only using 4.6 km2 as an excuse in order to redirect attention from Vietnam invasion and it is not just small invasion but over 30 000 km2 of cambodia.

In Hun Sen political career 4.6km2 is much begger than over 30 000km2. He gave over 30 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam with his two hands.

Anonymous said...

8:53AM,
I agree. Don't expect us to like you when you shot over 500,000 bombs in our soils and our temples, you stupid barbaric Siem.

Anonymous said...

Co. Chum Vichet? is reading KI-Media? I don't believe it.
Prove it.

Anonymous said...

I think this writer: Wassana Nanuam, is just a savage bitch who knows nothing about the ethic of journalism.
She just writes things on her own lips.

Anonymous said...

Is the man on front of the RCAF a Thai soldier ?
It sound Thai soldier did not have a real military dress. They now came out with a jean.

Anonymous said...

Goddamn! Cambodia has a female soldiers? ahahhahhahha

Don't these Cambodian female soldiers not afraid of being rape?
The Cambodian female have no place in the military okay because it is a man job to do the killing! It is a fucken burden to see any female soldier get pregnant and the worse part is she doesn't even know who is the father of her baby!

The only Siem thuggish soldier who want to talk to any Cambodian female soldier is a fucken rapist!

Anonymous said...

2:41 PM
you sound to have a lot of virus in your mind and brain.
Khmer women soldier are well trained and we are not worry about our Cambodian women.

Anonymous said...

HEY! YOU STUPID FUCK 2:41PM,HAVE YOU YOU EVER WATCHED KHMER HISTORY IN YOUTUBE,,JAYARAMAN THE 7TH,HE HAVE HAD ABOUT 2000 FEMALE SOLDIER GUARDS IN HIS PALACE IN ANGKOR THOM ..

Anonymous said...

I'm looking for 2000 female soldiers to guard my house.

Anonymous said...

8:10 PM
You like to play games, in case you can afford 2000 female soldiers, you don't have to be in this KI.

Anonymous said...

The idiot 2:41pm is a rapist himself.

Anonymous said...

Wake up from the grave! Every country has the female soldiers. They are trained to kill like their male colleagues not to get raped or get pregnant by the enemy, stupid!

Anonymous said...

This is 2:41pm...I want to apologize to all Cambodian female soldiers out there. I didn't know that Cambodian female soldiers can be so tough and so strong...Nonetheless I have seen the Cambodian female soldiers in the Khmer Rouge army too!