Skirmish in Anlong Veng denied by Cambodian general

20 August 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

General Chea Morn, the commander of military region no. 4, rejected local news about a 5-minute armed skirmish between Cambodian and Thai troops in Anlong Veng area, Oddar Meanchey province. Chea Morn told The Phnom Penh Post on Thursday that nothing happened and there was no armed skirmish at that area. Chea Morn explained that, in reality, on Thursday, Thai soldiers shot 5 times into the air after Thai loggers tried to log trees in Thai territories, about 3-km from the border. Touch Ra, the deputy-director of the Choam Sa-ngam border post claimed yesterday also that there was no armed clash between the two troops, only that Thai soldiers shot in the air in the pursuit of illegal Thai loggers inside Thailand.

Son of 2-star general Chea Morn arrested … for robbery

2-star General Chea Morn (L) (Photo: Reuters)

26 March 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Siem Reap provincial authority indicated that Chea Sophal, the son of General Chea Morn, the commander of the army region 4, was arrested by military police on 24 March and sent to the court for sentencing. An anonymous source from the Siem Reap military police indicated that the arrest is related to a robbery that took place 5 years ago in Chong Kaosou village, Slor Kram commune, Siem Reap city. The same source said that he does not know the cause of the robbery, but Chea Sophal was sentenced in absentia to 5 years of jail time for robbery. The source indicated that, following the sentence, Chea Sophal appeal the court decision. On 24 March, Judge Ith Samphos held another trial and in the afternoon of that same day, the judge decided to sentence Chea Sophal to 6-1/2 years of jail time for robbery and illegal use of firearms.

Thailand and Cambodia resume border talks at Siem Reap

SIEM REAP, Oct 23 (TNA) - Thai army and government officials arrived at Cambodia's Siem Reap to attend a Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting set for Thursday and Friday, aimed at seeking peaceful solutions to the ongoing border row between the two countries.

The historic town of Siem Reap is close to Angkor Wat, the former seat of the ancient Khmer empire, which once extended over much of present-day Thailand.

The Thai representatives are led by Second Army Region commander Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak Neeparn while the Cambodian counterpart team is headed by Fourth Army commander, Gen. Chea Mon.

The previous border committee meeting was held October 16 after several clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on ther previous day.

One Thai and two Cambodian soldiers died and a number of Thai and Khmer troops were wounded during the three skirmishes which took place in the disputed zone which both countries claim on October 15.

On Thursday, an informal meeting would be held between the representatives of both sides, with the official talks scheduled to take place on Friday.

It was expected that the talks would mainly cover measures to ease the border dispute, but would also deal with the problems of immigrant workers, health care and border trade between the two countries.

The Thai cabinet earlier this week approved Vasin Teeravechyan, the kingdom's former ambassador to South Korea and formerly Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs as new chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) for Thailand.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat expected to have informal bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the two countries' ongoing border dispute on the sidelines of the Asia and Europe Meeting (ASEM) leaders summit that opens in Beijing on Friday.