Thai troops built a border post 100 metres deep inside Khmer territory

On 14th January 2009, 35 heavily-armed Thai soldiers entered the same area at Choam Sa-Ngam to stop Khmer workers from building a fence to construct a casino.

9th March, 2009
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated by Khmerization

Cambodian border guards based at Choam Sa-Ngam Border Checkpoint near Anlong Veng said that about 10 black-clad Thai soldiers crossed 100 metres into Khmer territory at Choam Sa-Ngam Border Checkpoint on 9th March to construct a border post there.

A Khmer border guard who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that on the afternoon of Sunday, 10 Thai soldiers entered 100 metres deep into Khmer territory to build a border post on top of a rubbish tip where Khmer villagers had used to dump their rubbish for a long time. They then started to build a wooden hut to use as a border post, but the hut was immediately demolished by the Khmer border guards and the Thai troops were then asked to leave.

The border guard said: "Our (Khmer) village stands here everyday. Yesterday, at around 5:30 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon they came in an attempt to build a border post there, we warned them not to and then they returned back to their base. And this morning they came at 6 o'clock in the morning to built their border post."

Maj. Toch Var, deputy chairman of Khmer-Thai Border Co-ordination Committee for Choam Sa-Ngam, said that those Thai soldiers were from company 2307 based in a barrack near the area.

Maj. Toch Var said that the Thai soldiers crossed into the area when they saw Khmer workers used bulldozers to bury the smelly rubbish in the tip. They said that they came in to secure the spot because they are concerned that the Khmers will construct the buildings on the spot. But they withdrew when he reported the incident to their commander.

Maj. Toch Var said: "They came in in an attempt to build a hut because they are concerned that we will build something on the spot. After we went to talk with their leaders, those troops withdrew."

However, a Thai official attached to the Khmer-Thai Border Co-Ordination Committee for Sisaket province, Mr. Sawang Prachumwong, said through telephone from Sisaket that he didn't know anything about Thai troops entering Khmer territory.

Chairman of Cambodian Border Committee, Mr. Var Kim Hong, said that the Thai had already set up their border post in Choam Sa-Ngam, therefore they have no right to come in (Khmer territory) to build another one. He said that the area has also been demarcated which part belong to Thailand and which part belong to Cambodia, so they cannot move further into Khmer territory.

Mr. Var Kim Hong said: "we have drawn the borderlines already in the area in question. If they want to move further into Khmer territory, we will absolutely never allow them to do that, they have no right to move deeper in (into Khmer territory). If they move any deeper into Khmer territory, it means that they are violating Khmer sovereignty."

Khmer border guards said that this is a second violation after a lone Thai soldier was arrested and detained on 26th February for illegally crossing into Khmer territory through Thkeam Romeas (Rhino's Jaw) Border Pass near the former Khmer refugee camp of Tatum in Ouddor Meanchey province. And on 27th February, another lone Thai soldier was spotted entering Khmer territory by carrying a 69-type land-mine with him. He was arrested near Ta Mok's former mango plantation and was detained by Khmer border police.
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Thai soldiers entered 50 metres deep into Cambodian territories to stop Khmer workers from building a fence

Heavily-armed Thai soldiers seen here 50 metres deep inside Khmer territory at Choam Sa'ngam (Photo: Samrong, Koh Santepheap)
Invading Thai soldiers entering Choam Sa'ngam (Photo: Samnang, Koh Santepheap)

14th January, 2009
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

Oddor Meanchey: According to sources, 35 Thai soldiers, 6 wearing paramilitary uniforms and the rest are black-clad soldiers armed with a 41-B rocket launcher, three AR-16 automatic weapons, and 15 AR-15 automatic guns have crossed 50 metres deep into Cambodian territories at Choam Sa’ngam Pass at 9:40 on the morning of 14th January, 2009 to prevent the Cambodian workers from dismantling the old fence in order to build a new fence. The building of a fence is in preparation for the building of a new casino near the Choam Sa’ngam Pass on the Cambodian side of the borders.

Those Thai soldiers who encroached into Cambodian territories and who were led by Maj. Vichet Korngchan Sawang, gave an excuse that the site of the fence was built in a “prohibited zone”.

There is no official reaction yet from the Cambodian authority about this Thai encroachment, but a border checkpoint official said that this is a sheer territorial violation because the Thai soldiers have crossed into the Cambodian territory without any regard or respect for the local Cambodian authority based there. The same official said that, if the Thai want to resolve any issue under the control of the Cambodian authority, they have to ask for co-operation from the Cambodian authority. They should not force their way in, totting their weapons in an uncivilised manner like this. Furthermore, other Thai soldiers have taken up positions in fighting modes around the site.

In response, local Cambodian border officials have reacted swiftly by requesting them to leave.

The border issues had subsided awaiting for the bilateral talks between officials from the two countries which will be held in this January when the Thai foreign minister will visit Cambodia this month.

This sheer border violation shows that Thailand has no clear sense of the borderlines because at every borderlines the Thai side has always taken advantage over the Cambodian side, such as the violation at Choam Sa’ngam Pass when the Thai soldiers crossed 50 metres deep into Cambodian territories to stop the Cambodian workers from building a fence.

According to the Cambodian vendors at Chorng Chorm Market, located 1 kilometre deep inside Thai territory opposite O’Smach border town, said that they saw the convoys of Thai soldiers being driven to Choam Sa’ngam Pass and Preah Vihear region starting from 7pm until the morning of the next day. A Cambodian official said that the redeployments of the Thai troops is a normal thing as long as they did not encroach on Cambodian territories like on the 15th of October, 2008.

According to a military source, the military situations in Preah Vihear is calm, but the soldiers are facing cold weather. A Cambodian military official said that some Thai soldiers, who cannot bear the cold weather, have deserted their base and returned to their homes to help the family with their farm’s harvests.

According to military sources, there is no more Thai border violations since the armed border clashes on the 15th of October, 2008. The same military official said that the frontline troops of both sides are still on alert, but both sides vowed not to fire first, as they wanted to leave the border issues to be resolved peacefully by their governments.

The prolonged disputes have left the Sisaket traders and residents very upset because their livelihood depends on the opening of the Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia and Thailand celebrate world new year together

Everyday.com
3rd January, 2009
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

On the morning of 31st January, the authority of Anlong Veng District and the authority of Phu Sing District of Sisaket province of Thailand have celebrated two days of the world new year together and to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the Choam Sa’ngam Border Checkpoint. The celebration started on the 31st which lasted until the 1st of January 2009, took place at Choam Sa’ngam Market in Thailand, opposite the Choam Sa’ngam International Border Checkpoint. The celebration was presided over by Mr. San Vanna, Deputy Governor of Oddor Meanchey province, for the Cambodian side and was presided over by Mr. Chett Kasem, Governor of Sisaket province, for the Thai side.

Mr. San Vanna said that Cambodia and Thailand have cordially co-operated with each other, have good ties with each other and have agreed to jointly set up a World New Year Organising Committee to celebrate the world new year and to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the Choam Sa’ngam International Border Checkpoint in the aims of attracting national and international tourists to visit he two countries through the Choam Sa’ngam Checkpoint in great numbers. The deputy governor added that this event has included the Khmer-Thai Kickboxing competition and the volley ball matches, which attended by thousands of Khmer and Thai nationals.