[Thai] Army denies border clash

1/05/2012
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

a border source said reports had emerged about Cambodian troops providing protection to poachers.

The army yesterday denied reports of a weekend clash between Thai and Cambodian troops near Preah Vihear.

Lt Col Men Ly, deputy military commander of Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, said Cambodian troops on patrol were attacked by Thai forces on Sunday.

The Thai army, however, denies it.

Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Thai soldiers and forestry officials were on a patrol mission when they encountered a group of log poachers at An Ma border pass on Thai soil.

Thai authorities identified themselves but the poachers shot at them, he said.

The Thai officials fired warning shots into the sky, driving the poachers away.

"The poachers were outnumbered so they fled. There was no clash," he said.

Col Sansern insisted the armed group who attacked the Thai officials were not Cambodian troops. They were apparently poaching payung trees, he said.

"Why would we shoot at Cambodian troops?" he said.

"Thai authorities were patrolling the area with forestry officials."Col Sansern said Thai and Cambodian authorities have reached an agreement in which troops will patrol the areas in their jurisdiction to prevent illegal logging.

However, a border source said reports had emerged about Cambodian troops providing protection to poachers.