No official [Thai] protest for helicopter incident

20/12/2011
Bangkok Post

The government will not send Phom Penh a protest letter over the incident when Cambodian troops fired on a Thai military supply helicopter on the border in Trat province last week, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Tuesday.

Cambodia had expressed regret over the incident, which he has previously described as “a mistake in communications”, and so Thailand should not pursue this matter and stir up fresh conflict, he said.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut on Monday strongly criticised Mr Surapong for failing to lodge a protest with Cambodia over the incident.

Mr Chavanond quoted Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh as saying the Thai navy helicopter had crossed into Cambodian airspace. However, Mr Surapong claimed the shooting was the result of a misunderstanding, he said.

Cambodia sorry for firing Thai helicopter [-Hun Xen blinks first?]

December 19, 2011
The Nation

Trat -- Cambodia Monday expressed regret over last week's shooting of a Thai Navy helicopter and blamed misunderstanding for its mistake.

Senior local authorities and military officers from Thailand and Cambodia met at the Administrative Centre Auditorium in Trat's Klong Yai district before noon Monday. The meeting lasted about an hour behind closed doors.

[Thai] Army: Copter shooting won't affect GBC

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha

19/12/2011
Bangkok Post

The shooting incident involving a Thai military helicopter near Cambodia would not have any impact on the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, national army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said Monday.

He said the GBC meeting and the helicopter shooting incident are two separate issues.

"The two sides would be able to discuss and settle the incident and it's normal for neighbouring countries to encounter this kind of problem," Gen Prayuth said.

The Thai navy will be responsible for handling the helicopter shooting, he said.

[Thai] Military stays mum over chopper shooting

Captain Kittikhun Naksuk, left, commander of Trat Marine Special Unit, shakes hands with Maj Gen Yun Min, commander of the Koh Kong Command. JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG

19/12/2011
Jakkrit Waewkraihong & Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

TRAT : Military officials are saying little about the outcome of talks yesterday over a shooting incident involving a Thai military helicopter near Cambodia.

Troops from both sides met for more than two hours in Trat's Muang district about the incident, in which Cambodian troops opened fire on Thursday at a Thai helicopter delivering relief supplies near the border.

The Bell 212 helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Ban Khao Lan in Trat province, but no one was hurt.

[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.

Surapong plays down Cambodian attack on chopper

Sunday December 18, 2011
The Nation

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday that an incident in which Cambodian forces fired upon a Thai helicopter near the Cambodian border last week was a misunderstanding and would not lead to a dispute between the countries.

He said he would clear up the misunderstanding, although reports had it that Navy commander Admiral Surasak Runrerngrom had issued a letter of protest against Cambodia and closed border checkpoints and goods-transit points.

The foreign minister said the incident would not inflame the border conflict because Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed cordial relations. He said he is scheduled to meet Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on December 29, which would give him an opportunity to discuss many issues.

Vice Admiral Pongsak Riroj said the helicopter of the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Prevention Command was attacked and damaged by Cambodian forces for unknown reasons while flying in Trat on Friday. The Thai military retaliated by closing two transit points for goods in Trat's Muang and Bo Rai districts, and 30 smaller border checkpoints in Chanthaburi and Trat used by Cambodia to buy supplies for military personnel and civilians. [Ki-Media: Very cordial relations indeed!]

The checkpoint at Ban Had Lek, however, remained open.

Gunfire hits Thai chopper

Friday, 16 December 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia military forces shot at a Thai military helicopter yesterday after it flew into Cambodian airspace in Koh Kong province.

Major General Dy Phen, chief of Cambodian-Thai border relations office, said the helicopter made an emergency landing after about 100 bullets were fired at it as it crossed markers in Koh Kong’s Mondul Seima district at about 1:30pm.

“They have abused the air territory of Cambodia, so we had to fire at them,” Dy Phen, who was recently promoted to the position of adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said.

The rear of the helicopter was damaged and could not fly, so it landed at the border between Koh Kong and Pursat provinces, he said.

Cambodia, Thailand accuse each other of invading territories

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday accused Thai troops of violating the recommendation of the United Nations Security Council to continue attack on Cambodia.

In its statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Thai troops opened a provocative fire into Cambodian territory from Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning at the border disputed area near.

"From 21:00 on Feb. 15 to 05:00 on Feb. 16 (local time), Thai armed forces, in flagrant violation of the recommendation of the United Nations Security Council on Feb. 14, fired many grenades and numerous rounds of 81 mm mortars and machine guns into Phnom Trap area located approximately 1,600 meters from the border, in the vicinity of the temple of Preah Vihear," the statement said.

Clashes along Thai-Cambodian border resume, both sides blame each other

By Thaweeporn Kummetha

BANGKOK, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Rhetoric wars between Bangkok and Phnom Pehn began after skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted again at disputed border area on Tuesday.

Thai Foreign Minister's secretary Chavanont Intarakomalyasut told Xinhua on Wednesday that Cambodia should respect the outcome of the meeting with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday in New York by stop firing to Thai side.

"Without clashes initiated by the Cambodia troops, the negotiation would be much easier," Chavanont said.

However, Cambodian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday afternoon issued a statement, accusing Thai side of initiating the skirmishes, adding that Cambodian troop refrained from firing back.

Clashes along Thai-Cambodian border resume [-Bangkok propaganda?]

BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- New skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia were reported on Wednesday after the United Nations Security Council proposed a permanent ceasefire on Monday.

Cambodian soldiers attacked a Thai outpost at Phu Ma Khua in the disputed border area several times overnight, but were repulsed, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Cambodian troops threw hand grenades at the Thai position and tried to break through the fence around the post, but were repelled by Thai soldiers throwing hand grenades.

Cambodian forces renewed the attack hours later, this time directing machinegun fire, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades at the Thai position. The Thai troops returned fire and pinned down the attackers, the spokesman said.

 Sporadic exchanges of fire continued until 5 am on Wednesday.

Thailand and Cambodia Resume Clashes

Feb 16, 2011
By Andrey Volkov
Epoch Times Staff

The Cambodian military resumed attacks on Thai troops Tuesday, at the disputed border following the launch of mutual clashes early this month. Both sides have blamed the other for launching the attacks over the disputed border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

Thai military officials said that Cambodian forces started the attack by throwing hand grenades across the border, resulting in minor impact, according to the BBC. The fighting has left at least 11 dead, including 3 Thais and 8 Cambodians. Close to 100 were wounded by heavy weapons.

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council called on the two countries to“display maximum restraint and avoid any action that may aggravate the situation.”

The U.N. has left resolving the dispute to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Foreign ministers will discuss the issue at a meeting later this month.

Five Thai soldiers wounded in the latest flare-up with Cambodia

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Nation

Five Thai soldiers were injured in the latest flare-up at the Thai-Cambodian frontier in Si Sa Ket's Kantararak district early Wednesday morning near Preah Vihear Temple.

One of them was seriously wounded and was rushed to a hospital in nearby province of Ubon Ratchathani.

The fighting started at about 5am and ended around 7.30am.

The fighting happended despite UN's calls for both sides to exercise maximum restraints and settled the disputes via peaceful means and dialogue.

[Thai] Army: Thai border post attacked overnight [-Thailand made up fictitious attacks?]

16/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Cambodian soldiers attacked a Thai outpost at Phu Ma Khua in the disputed border area several times overnight, but were repulsed, army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday.

Col Sansern said there were no Thai casualties.

The Cambodian attack began about 8pm, when they threw hand grenades into the Thai position.

About 9pm, Cambodian soldiers tried to break through the fence around the post, but were repulsed by Thai soldiers throwing hand grenades.

Cambodian soldiers probed the Thai position again about 10pm with more hand grenades, and the Thais retaliated in kind.

About 2am on Wednesday, Cambodian forces renewed the attack, this time directing machinegun fire, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades at the Thai position. The Thai troops returned fire and pinned down the attackers, he said.

Thai and Cambodian forces in further border clash

February 16, 2011
By the CNN Wire Staff

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A Thai soldier is injured in Wednesday's military exchange, Thailand says
• The two countries are fighting over a temple
• The temple sits on a cliff in Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance is from Thailand
• Thailand believes the temple is in its territory

(CNN) -- Border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia flared for a second day in an ongoing dispute over an ancient Hindu temple, a Thai military official said Wednesday.

There were several exchanges of gunfire overnight, according to Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd, a Thai military spokesman, who said the exchanges were brief.

Some hand grenades were thrown and one Thai soldier was injured, he said.

The Asian neighbors have been urged by the U.N. Security Council to end their dispute over Preah Vihear temple.

The council issued a statement on Monday, following a closed-door session on the conflict that included representatives from both sides and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Thai army confirms one injury in fresh border clash

BANGKOK, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Army confirmed only one injury in the border clash Tuesday morning, after an earlier report said five soldiers was wounded in the latest skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia over an disputed land.

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of Thai Royal Army, told Xinhua that the clash occurred at 05:00 a.m. local time after Cambodian troops started it by throwing grenades to Thai side. The crossfire only lasted for a few minutes, he said.

Local media reported earlier that five Thai soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in a clash Monday night with Cambodian soldiers. The clash took place just hours after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened a meeting in New York to mediate the disputes between the two countries, calling for ending the conflicts by negotiation. The foreign ministers from both Thailand and Cambodia attended the meeting.

Cambodia denies Thailand's accusation of fresh attack [-Did Thailand lie again?]

February 16 2011
By Wang Zhaokun
Source: Global Times

Cambodia Tuesday denied reports that Cambodian and Thai troops were again involved in border skirmishes over a disputed ancient Hindu temple.

"There wasn't a clash between the troops of both sides last night (Monday night)," Brigadier General Thul Sovan told the Xinhua News Agency Tuesday.

The Bangkok Post quoted a Thai officer as saying earlier Tuesday that five Thai soldiers were wounded when Cambodian soldiers attacked their post.

The UN Security Council earlier issued a statement calling upon both sides to call a "permanent ceasefire" and resolve the dispute peacefully.

Thai, Cambodian Soldiers Clash in Fresh Border Skirmish

Daniel Schearf, VOA
Bangkok February 15, 2011

Thai and Cambodian authorities say fresh fighting broke out between their soldiers, with each side once again blaming the other. The new skirmish came shortly after the United Nations Security Council urged the two countries to impose a ceasefire around the disputed border, which saw heavy fighting earlier this month.

The Thai military on Tuesday said Cambodian soldiers in the early morning attacked a border post, injuring five soldiers - one of them seriously.

Thai military spokesman Colonel Werachon Sukondhapatipak said at least one grenade was thrown at the post and Thai soldiers fired back with rifles. He said they were expecting attacks after the United Nations Security Council declined Cambodia's request to send peacekeeping troops to the area.

"We believe that the leadership of the Cambodia were not happy with that result and they will try to do anything that [is] provocative in order to have the Thai soldier retaliate," said Werachon.

Thai Army Confirms 1 Injury in Fresh Border Clash

2011-02-15
Xinhua

The Thai Army confirmed only one injury in the border clash Tuesday morning, after an earlier report said five soldiers was wounded in the latest skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia over an disputed land.

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of Thai Royal Army, told Xinhua that the clash occurred at 05:00 a.m. local time after Cambodian troops started it by throwing grenades to Thai side. The crossfire only lasted for a few minutes, he said.

Local media reported earlier that five Thai soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in a clash Monday night with Cambodian soldiers. The clash took place just hours after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened a meeting in New York to mediate the disputes between the two countries, calling for ending the conflicts by negotiation. The foreign ministers from both Thailand and Cambodia attended the meeting.

The fresh crossfire between Thai and Cambodian troops came after the border area resumed temporary peace for about a week.

The Thai-Cambodian border area near Preah Vihear temple had seen a serial clashes from Feb. 4 to 7.

5 Thai soldiers wounded in border clash

15/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Five Thai soldiers were wounded, one seriously, when Cambodian soldiers attacked their post near Phu Ma Khua, near a disputed area in Si Sa Ket province, on Tuesday morning, 2nd Army commander Lt-Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon said on Tuesday.

Lt-Gen Tawatchai said that the Cambodians attacked about 5am on Tuesday after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called for a permanent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.

The attack was followed by a firefight, he said.

The 2nd Army chief said five Thai soldiers were wounded, one of them - Sgt Ratchapol Sripanya - was seriously hurt.

New skirmish on Thai-Cambodian border

Feb 15, 2011
AFP

BANGKOK - A THAI soldier was wounded on Tuesday in a new skirmish on the tense Cambodian border, Thailand's military said, just hours after the UN appealed for a permanent ceasefire in the disputed area.

'Cambodia threw hand grenades into Thailand this morning,' Thai army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said, describing it as a minor incident. 'One Thai soldier was injured.'

A Cambodian military commander near the border who did not wish to be named denied the accusation, saying Thai troops regularly threw grenades but Cambodian forces did not retaliate.