Hun Sen Wants Thai Rocket Investigation

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 February 2009

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday called on a Thai military delegation to open an investigation into the firing of Thai rockets over the Cambodian border earlier this week.

Hun Sen met with a delegation led by Gen. Jeradej Kotcharat, deputy commander of the Thai army, which carried a message of apology for the firing of six to eight rockets into Cambodia on Tuesday.

The Thai side has said the rockets, which fell near Ta Krabey temple, in Odar Meanchey province, were fired on accident, but Hun Sen told reporters after the meeting he would like an extended investigation.

“The first rocket, no problem,” Hun Sen said. “But it’s not only one. It’s the second or third rocket in Cambodian land.”

Hun Sen said it was fortunate the rockets were fired into sparsely populated Cambodia, as a similar incident from Cambodia to Thailand would likely “kill Thai people.” “The Thai side should correct this mistake,” he said.

Jeradej declined to comment following the meeting.

Deputy army commander Lt. Gen. Kun Kim told VOA Khmer that debris from the rockets, which appeared to be 106 mm, had been found scattered in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey.

Thai soldiers shelled Khmer territories near Ta Krabey temple

Khmer soldiers on patrol near Phnom Trop.

Radio Free Asia
By Sav Yuth
17th Feb, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Khmer villagers living along the borders in Boss Thom village of Kork Kposs commune in Banteay Ampil district, Ouddor Meanchey province claimed that Thai soldiers based on top of Phnom Thmor Roy (Mount Hundred Rocks) about 2 kilometres east of Ta Krabey temple have shot many artillery rounds into Khmer territories near Ta Krabey temple on the morning of 17th February, 2009.

The villagers said that they heard many rounds of artillery shot by Thai troops based on top of Phnom Thmor Roy at 11 o'clock in the morning.

The villagers said that one shell landed inside Khmer territories about 3 kilometres from their village causing panic among the villagers. One village said: "The Thai soldiers based on top of Phnom Thmor Roy fired the artillery... The villagers here all heard the sounds..... they are the sounds of artillery fires. Some shells landed on the mountain and about 10 shells landed on the foot of the mountain causing the people to gather their children in a safe place."

The Thai soldiers cannot be contacted for any comments regarding the allegations.

Khmer military officers from Battalion 42 said that at around 12 midday on Tuesday (17th) they heard many rounds of artillery shelling but they don't know of the reasons why the Thai side shelled the Khmer territories. Now, the Cambodian border troops have been sent to investigate. The same officer said: "Yes, there are shelling..artillery shelling. I cannot tell you in details because I don't know yet. My troops have been sent to investigate the matters."

Brig-Gen. Pov Heng, Deputy Commander of the Northern Region, said through telephone that there were shelling but he did not know of the reasons. He said: "We are sending our troops to investigate the matters."

Until 2 o'clock in the afternoon there is no news of the reasons for the Thai shellings but no one was injured by the shelling.

News from the Preah Vihear frontline said that about 30 Thai soldiers have entered Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda and stayed there many hours. They came to forbid the Cambodian monks residing in the temple not to build a new bathroom and extend the dining hall.

The news said that from 1 pm the same day, all Cambodian soldiers in the areas were ordered to remain in their positions on high alert, after news that the Thai shelled the Cambodian territories.