Sunday, December 18, 2011

[Thai] Democrats blast chopper stance

18/12/2011
Bangkok Post

The Democrat Party has lashed out at Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul for failing to lodge a protest with Cambodia after its troops shot at a Thai helicopter.

Cambodian soldiers fired at a navy Bell 121 helicopter near Trat province on Thursday as it was delivering food to marines. The helicopter made an emergency landing, but no one was hurt.

The Royal Thai Marine Corps, which insisted the helicopter did not cross into Cambodian airspace, protested the shooting in a letter to the Cambodian 3rd military region chief.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Mr Surapong should have sent a protest letter to Phnom Penh himself, but hasn't.


On Friday, one day after the shooting, Mr Surapong spoke to the media about his decision to return an ordinary passport to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The Democrat spokesman believes Mr Surapong has been lax in responding to the helicopter attack because he is tied up with the Thaksin issue.

Meanwhile, tensions have risen at the border with Cambodia near Trat as military rangers have been ordered to prevent Cambodians from entering Thailand in response to the attack on the unarmed Bell 121.

They have closed Ban Tha Sen border crossing in Trat's Muang district, opposite the Cambodian province of Pursat. Traders say they cannot sell their wares.

The navy's marine corps in Trat will hold talks today with Cambodian military officers from Koh Kong over the helicopter shooting.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why this puppet government is so swift at shooting at Thai helicopter?

Vietnam, Ah Kwack's master, has always tried to make Khmer fight with Thailand so that Vietnam could take advantage of the situation.

For instance, the trade between Cambodia and Thailand will disappear.

Watch out for this tricky Vietnam. This monster Vietnam will try anything to destroy Khmer.

Anonymous said...

AGREE THIS COMMUNIST VIETCONG/VIETNAM IS BAD EVEN SOME AMERICANS PEOPLE DOESN'T KNOW HOW BAD VIETNAMESE IS, HAVE HEARD SOME AMERICANS SAID VIETNAMESE PEOPLE ARE VERY NICE.THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE VIETNAM TRICK. THAT'S WHY THEY LOST WAR WITH VIETNAM!