Cambodia is ready to oppose Thailand’s aggression … even the A-bomb, we’re not scared of –sic! –
Monday, August 24, 2009
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Hun Xen issued a new stern warning to the Thai aggression troops for its aggression on Cambodia, and Cambodia will use arms to fight back even though Thailand is equipped with modern armaments and atomic bombs. In a speech in Pursat province in the morning of 22 August that was televised and broadcasted on many local TV and radio stations, Hun Xen warned: “If you negotiate, we will negotiate. If you come in [i.e. aggress Cambodia], we must hit back, you [Thailand] don’t have a head covered with steel! Let’s make it clear, Cambodia does not want to fight with anybody, but if someone hits us, don’t be surprised, even if you have the atomic bomb, Cambodians will not be scared!”
Hun Xen made such a stern public warning once already when Cambodia was transporting heavy armaments to equip troops in the frontline of Preah Vihear temple area last month, and after the tense Cambodian-Thai exchange following the courteous visit of Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva to Cambodia.
In spite of his stern warning, Hun Xen claimed that “there is no fighting in the border.”
Currently, Hun Xen ordered Battalion No. 11, which is stationed in Phnom Trop, to return back to its base in Kampot province. Battalion No. 11 which is under the command of General Keo Pong had build a stair way in Phnom Trop, as well as a motorized cable transportation system along the mountain slope to facilitate trips and equipment transports on the steep mountain slope.
Furthermore, troop units from Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces were also ordered to pull back as well. At the same time, Hun Xen’s private bodyguards led by General Hing Bun Heang were also ordered cut down by half at the frontline, the recalled bodyguards are ordered to come back to their former base. On this topic, Hun Xen said: “Sending too many of them to the front is not very good, let’s leave some of them to help plant crops for the people during this rainy season.”
Even though Cambodian troops were ordered to return to their bases, Hun Xen indicated that: “If there’s something, we go right away, it won’t take too long. But, I hope that there will be no fighting.”
General Srey Doek, commander of Battalion No. 3 based in Preah Vihear, let it be known over the phone in the afternoon of 22 August that the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border, in particular at the Preah Vihear temple area, has no problem. As for any armed aggression [against Cambodia by Thai troops], Cambodian troops will automatically fight back as it is Cambodia’s rights to defend itself and to defend its territorial integrity in this area, just as Hun Xen said, Srey Doek claimed.
Srey Doek indicated also that: “What we have done is to prevent any aggression like what took place in the past, even for concrete fences and barbed wires, we told Thailand to remove them out. We don’t allow them to do anything they want.” Srey Doek added that the pullback of intervention forces in a number of zones to their original bases was done to help people plant crop during the rainy season. At the frontline, there is no shortage of force because the transportation of troops can be done very quickly because Cambodia has better roads now.
In spite of the border dispute with Thailand, especially near the Preah Vihear temple, the current border situation has improved. Furthermore, on 24 August 2009, Thai General Songkitti Jaggabatra will travel to Cambodia to talk with General Pol Saroeun, the Cambodian army chief of staff. The Thai general will also visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s jewel. However, it is not yet known whether during his visit, the Thai general will raise the issue of Preah Vihear temple and its troops pullback or not.
On 22 August, General Chhum Socheat, spokesman of the Cambodian ministry of Defense, could not be reached over the phone to obtain his comments on the nature of the Thai general’s visit.
The Cambodian-Thai border situation is getting more tense after Cambodia listed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site, during UNESCO’s meeting in Quebec, Canada on 07 July 2008. One week after the listing of the temple, on 15 July 2008, Thai troops invaded Cambodian territory near Preah Vihear temple.
During the one-year aggression by Thailand, Cambodia and Thailand had two major armed clashes: once on 15 October 2008, and the second time on 03 April 2009. During the clashes, a number of Thai aggression troops died, and Cambodia also faced a number of losses, including the burning down of the market located at the bottom of the staircase leading to Preah Vihear temple. In the aftermath of this clash, 319 Cambodian families who were trading in this market had to be evacuated to Sa’em, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province.
.jpg)
