Thai troops pull out of the defended zone west of Chak Chreng pass

Thai soldiers trespassing into the disputed zone near Preah Vihear (Photo: Reuters)

19 April 2010
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A group of 12 Thai soldiers who sneaked into the area west of Chak Chreng pass on 16 April, have pulled out in the afternoon of 18 April, following negotiations between frontline commanders. Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the ministry of National Defense, claimed that the border situation at O’Smach pass where an armed clash took place is returning back to normal.

A group of 12 Thai soldiers who came in to set up camp west of the Chak Chreng pass, have pulled back to their camp on 18 April. This group of Thai soldiers sneaked in by foot to this defended zone in the afternoon of 16 April.

General Chhum Socheat, spokesman of the ministry of National Defense, told RFI on Monday that these Thai soldiers pulled out at 2:30PM on 18 April, following negotiations from frontline commanders at noon time. Chhum Socheat explained that the area where the Thai troops entered and whom Cambodia chased them out, is a region where both sides agree not to maintain the presence of any troops due to its complexity. On the other hand, Thai troops sneaked into this area to set camp, therefore Cambodia must chased them out.

In the past, Thai troops always made attempt to move in to set camp in new areas along the border, sometime they even built permanent campsite. However, frontline Cambodian troops always negotiated to have them pulled out.

According to the claim made Chhum Socheat, up to now, the border situation is returning back to normal, this also includes the O’Smach pass where an armed clash took place in the morning of Saturday 17 April.

Thai PM: Thai-Cambodian border clash will not intensify conflict

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday reaffirmed that fighting between military patrols of Thailand and Cambodia early Sunday in an area claimed by both neighbours will not intensify the current conflict between the two neighbouring countries.

The Thai premier commented following the Sunday clash at the Thai-Cambodian border near Si Sa Ket province which left two Thai army soldiers wounded.

Mr Abhisit said that such incidents occur from time to time as there is still illegal logging along the border.

The Thai prime minister however said he believes that the incident will not lead to further conflict as officials at the operational level in both countries will discuss to create mutual understanding.

Meanwhile, Thai army commander-in-chief Gen Anupong Paochinda reasserted that the 2nd Army Area Commander met in discussions with Cambodia’s 3rd Reinforcement Division about the clash and that he believed that no further incident will take place.

The commander of Thailand's Suranaree Task Force Unit 163 earlier reported that the fighting took place while a group of Thai Army Rangers were on patrol, and confronted Cambodian soldiers who were felling trees in Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia.

When Rangers shouted at the Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them.

The troops exchanged gunfire for over 20 minutes before the Khmer soldiers withdrew across the border.

Immediately after the clash, the senior Thai military officials met with their Cambodian counterpart and concluded that the incident was caused by misunderstanding.

They also agreed that soldiers of both sides would initially withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases before officials of both countries will meet again Monday to discuss patrols in overlapping areas.

[Border] Clash was misunderstanding : [Thai] PM

Mon, January 25, 2010
The Nation

A brief fight between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on the disputed site near Preah Vihar Temple was caused by misunderstanding and has been resolved, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday.

There is no report of casuality from both sides after they exchanged gunfire early Sunday about 20 kilometers from the temple.

The premier said both sides have met and agreed to settle. "There would be no escalation of the situation," he said.

Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Monday, "It was a misunderstanding. I cannot say who first opened fire but the misunderstanding has been settled."

Thai army has insisted that the fight happened on the disputed zone while Cambodia claimed Thai soldiers crossed about 200 metres into its soil.

It continued that when the Thai soldiers saw the Cambodian troops the Thais shot at them. and the Cambodians returned fire and the Thais withdrew.

Col Thanet Wongcha-um, chief of staff of the Suranaree Task Force met Maj Gen Srey Doek, commander of the Cambodian troops Sunday in Kantharalak district following the clash.

The meeting agreed the clash was caused by misunderstanding and that soldiers of both sides would initially withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases.

Meanwhile, Si Sa Ket province ordered villages along the border to conduct an evacuation drill in preparation for a possible new clash.

Cambodian, Thai troops in shoot-out

A Cambodian soldier covers his anti-aircraft gun system at the Thai border. (AFP)

25/01/2010
Bangkok Post

Thai border rangers have clashed with Cambodian troops near the Preah Vihear national park in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district.

Twelve rangers attached to the 23rd Ranger Forces Regiment were on patrol near Huay Khanun dam, east of the national park, when they were ambushed about 9.25am yesterday by Cambodian troops, a military source said.

The Cambodians fired RPG rockets and sprayed the rangers with bullets. The rangers sought cover before returning fire. The gunfight lasted about 10 minutes but no one was hurt.

The source said Cambodian forces moved up over 1,000 troops along their side of the border, opposite Ban Samtae in Si Sa Ket, after the clash. Cambodia has denied starting the confrontation.

"There was a small clash," Cambodian deputy military commander Chea Dara said, claiming the Thai side were the first to open fire. "They entered our territory. It was Cambodian self-defence. We don't allow anyone to invade our territory." A military source said the clash came after the Cambodian soldiers barred a Thai patrol from entering a disputed border area. The Thais tried to negotiate with the Cambodians but the situation escalated into gunfire.

Tensions eased after the commanders of the two forces agreed to establish closer contacts.

The two sides also suspended their border patrols for the time being.

The border situation flared up two weeks ago when two Cambodian soldiers were captured for trespassing on Thai soil, according to the source.

The soldiers were later sent back but the commanders of their units faced disciplinary punishment. They blame the Thai soldiers for causing the latest round of border hostility.

Nat Sri-in, commander of the 63rd Infantry Battalion responsible for security operations at Ban Samtae and the Chong Ta Thao border pass near the Preah Vihear national park, said rangers also clashed with illegal loggers when they came across them while on patrol yesterday.

The loggers opened fire to scare off the approaching rangers and then ran off when the rangers returned fire, Lt Col Nat said.

We agreed that we shot each other due to misunderstanding (sic!): Khmer and Thai army commanders

Misunderstanding leads to Thai-Cambodian border clash: Thai, Cambodian armies

BANGKOK, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai and Cambodian army officers agreed after meeting that the clash earlier Sunday between their military patrols in an area claimed by both countries was caused by misunderstanding, Thai News Agency reported.

According to the report, Col Thanet Wongcha-um, chief of staff of the commander for the Suranaree Task Force and Col Thawatchai Changprachak, commander of a special unit from Thailand's Ranger Forces Regiment 23 on Sunday met Maj-Gen Srey Doek, commander of Cambodia's 3rd Reinforcement Division at an operation base in Kantharalak district following the clash, in which two Thai soldiers wounded.

The one-hour meeting agreed that the clash, having occurred early Sunday near the two bordering countries disputed area, the ancient Preah Vihear temple, was caused by misunderstanding and that soldiers of both sides will withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases first, waiting for officials of the two countries will meet again Monday to discuss patrol issues in overlapping areas.

Lt-Col Nut Sri-in, commander of Suranaree Task Force Unit 163, earlier Sunday said the fighting took place while a group of Thai Army Rangers were patrolling and confronted Cambodian soldiers who were felling trees in Kantharalak district, SI SA KET province, which borders Cambodia.

As the Rangers shouted at the Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col. Nut said.

The troops exchanged gunfire for over 20 minutes before the Cambodian soldiers withdrew into Cambodia, he said.

Awww shucks! The shooting was just ... a misunderstanding (sic!)

Misunderstanding causes Thai and Cambodian clash near Preah Vihear temple early Sunday

SI SA KET, Jan 24 (TNA) – After negotiations later in the day, Thai and Cambodian army officers said that fighting between military patrols of the two countries early Sunday in an area claimed by both neighbours was caused by misunderstanding and they agreed to jointly find a solution to ease the tension.

Two Thai army soldiers were wounded in the clash.

Col Thanet Wongcha-um, chief of staff of the commander for the Suranaree Task Force and Col Thawatchai Changprachak, commander of a special unit from Thailand’s Ranger Forces Regiment 23 met Maj-Gen Srey Doek, commander of Cambodia’s 3rd Reinforcement Division Sunday at an operation base in Kantharalak district following the clash.

The one-hour meeting agreed the clash was caused by misunderstanding and that soldiers of both sides would initially withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases before officials of the two countries will meet again Monday to discuss patrols in overlapping areas.

Meanwhile, provincial authorities in Si Sa Ket ordered villages along the border to conduct an evacuation drill in preparation for a possible new clash.

Lt-Col Nut Sri-in, commander of Suranaree Task Force Unit 163, earlier on Sunday said the fighting took place while a group of Thai Army Rangers were patrolling and confronted Cambodian soldiers who were felling trees in Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia.

As the Rangers shouted at the Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col Nut said.

The troops exchanged gunfire for over 20 minutes before the Cambodian soldiers withdrew into Cambodia.

Cambodian and Thai troops clash at border near disputed temple

Jan 24, 2010
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodian and Thai soldiers exchanged fire early Sunday 20 kilometres from a disputed ancient temple site on Cambodia's northern border, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

General Chhum Socheat told the German Press Agency dpa that the clash occurred on the morning that Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was visiting the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.

Chhum Socheat said Thai soldiers had crossed 200 metres into Cambodian territory near an abandoned village 20 kilometres from the temple when they encountered Cambodian soldiers.

'When they saw our soldiers they shot at them, and after [our soldiers] shot back there was no more fighting,' he said, adding that the Thai troops subsequently withdrew.

Chhum Socheat said none of the Cambodian soldiers were injured or killed, but he had no information on whether Thai troops had suffered casualties.

He said he did not expect further fighting since senior officers on both sides had since spoken with each other.

'Now it's quiet, they solved the problem by telephone,' he said.

Late Sunday the Foreign Ministry said Hor Namhong was unaware during his visit that the clash had taken place, and had since returned to Phnom Penh.

The relationship between the two nations has been tense for more than a year with sporadic clashes between troops near the disputed area surrounding the temple. Much of the border between the two countries has yet to be demarcated.

Diplomatic relations worsened markedly in October when Cambodia appointed Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser.

Thai Army Rangers clash with Cambodian troops near Preah Vihear temple

SI SA KET, Jan 24 (TNA) -- Thai Army Rangers clashed early Sunday with a unit of Cambodian soldiers near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, a senior Thai army officer said. No casualties were reported.

Lt-Col Nut Sri-in, commander of Suranaree Task Force Unit 163, said the fighting took place while a group of Thai rangers were patrolling and confronted Cambodian soldiers who were felling trees in Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia.

As the Rangers shouted at the Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col Nut said.

The troops exchanged gunfire for over 20 minutes before the Cambodian soldiers withdrew into Cambodia, he said, adding that senior Thai and Cambodian officers would hold talks to prevent similar clashes from occurring in future.

The Associated Press news agency, meanwhile, quoted Lt-Gen Chea Tara, deputy armed forces commander and field commander for the area, as saying that Cambodia suffered no casualties in the fighting which took place about 12 miles (20 km) east of Preah Vihear temple.

He said fighting began when Thai troops intruded into Cambodian territory. AP quoted Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-Gen Chhum Socheach as saying that two firefights lasted five minutes each beginning shortly after 9am.

The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962. Fighting between both sides occur sporadically, centring on a 1.8 square mile (4.6 sq.km.) parcel of scrub near the temple after Cambodia applied to register the ancient temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site in mid-2008.

Cambodia reports clash with Thai troops on border

Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sopheng Cheang
Associated Press

Cambodian troops clashed Sunday with Thai soldiers near a temple that lies along a disputed part of their border and has been the scene of several deadly skirmishes in recent years, Cambodian military officials said.

Lt. Gen. Chea Tara, deputy armed forces commander and field commander for the area, said Cambodia suffered no casualties in the fighting in northern Cambodia, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of Preah Vihear temple. He said the fighting began when Thai troops intruded into Cambodian territory.

Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat said there were two firefights lasting about five minutes each. He could not say if Thai forces suffered any casualties.

Thai military authorities could not immediately be reached for confirmation of the fighting in an area.

The Cambodian officers said the area was calm after the fighting, but that both countries were on alert.

The area has been a flashpoint since 2008, when Thai nationalists protested Cambodian efforts to have the 11th century Preah Vihear temple named a U.N. World Heritage site. They claimed the move could invalidate Thai claims to small parcels of nearby jungle area.

In 1962, the World Court awarded the temple and the land it is on to Cambodia, but sovereignty over adjacent areas has never been clearly resolved.

The issue is closely linked to Thailand's domestic politics because the 2008 protests about the temple were led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, a group which was seeking to unseat the Thai government then in power because of its links to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and disrespecting constitutional monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The alliance raised the issue to stir up nationalist sentiment and attract support.

The furor caused both Thailand and Cambodia to reinforce their military positions in the area, and tensions have broken out into fighting on several occasions, leading to several deaths.

Relations between the two countries plunged further in November last year, when Cambodia named Thaksin an adviser on economic affairs. The appointment, and subsequent visits by Thaksin, set off a diplomatic row in which the two countries recalled their ambassadors. A Thai court in 2008 sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in prison on a corruption charge.

Cambodia has refused to extradite Thaksin.

Cambodia, Thai troops clash

General Chea Dara reviewing troops in the border area. DAP-news quoted the general as saying: "We told them already not to trespass. Cambodia does not want land from anybody, but if they tresppass, that's how it is." (Photo: DAP)

Jan 24, 2010
AP

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S military says its troops have clashed briefly with Thai soldiers along a disputed border area.

Lieutenant General Chea Tara, deputy armed forces commander and field commander for the area, said Cambodia suffered no casualties in the fighting on Sunday, about 12 miles (20 kilometres) east of Preah Vihear temple. He said fighting began when Thai troops intruded into Cambodian territory.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Chhum Socheach said there had been two firefights lasting about five minutes each beginning shortly after 9am (0200 GMT, 10am Singapore time).

Thai military authorities could not immediately be contacted for confirmation of the fighting in an area which has seen several deadly clashes in the past couple of years.

Border talks: Alleged incursions to be raised

Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIAN military commanders said they will press their Thai counterparts during a meeting near Preah Vihear temple today to ensure their troops abstain from making new incursions into Cambodian territory. The meeting, they say, follows a renewed effort from Thai soldiers to put their stamp on Cambodian land by erecting fences and taking patrols into land that does not belong to them. Sao Socheat, deputy commander of Military Region 4, said Cambodian military officials would refer to a 2000 memorandum of understanding requiring soldiers on both sides to abstain from advancing into each other's territory. "If they accept it, then they should not be able to move their troops into Cambodian territory," he said. "Thai soldiers have been moving into disputed territory. They must stop if our border committees are going to work together to demarcate the border," he said. Srey Doek, 3rd Division Commander and the highest-ranking RCAF official on the ground there, said the "problem will be raised during the meeting in order to prevent confrontations in the future".

Thai Soldiers stay one night at Ta Sim

Friday, 13 February 2009
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

More than 50 Thai soldiers withdrew from Ta Sim, located near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, on Thursday after the Cambodian military complained about their presence. "They just came Wednesday and stayed one night at Ta Sim," Yim Phim, commander of Brigade 8, told the Post Thursday. "They went back today after our military commanders at the front line asked them to leave because it is a disputed area."

Soldier Injured in Border Skirmish: Officials

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
03 October 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

At least one Cambodian soldier was injured Friday afternoon in an exchange of gunfire between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Preah Vihear provincial border, in the first reported act of military violence in a prolonged standoff, a military official said.

Thai soldiers fired a grenade at a group of Cambodian soldiers, injuring a Cambodian in the leg, while a Thai soldier was wounded in the abdomen in the return gunfire, according to a reliable military officer in the area, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

"At 3:35 pm, around 10 [Thai soldiers] entered the Cambodian position, and Cambodian soldiers called to them not to enter, and they did not listen," the officer said. "And then they shot with the M-79 [grenade]."

The soldiers were nearly 200 meters from the Cambodian position on Phnom Troap, more than 1 kilometer from the Preah Vihear temple complex, the officer said.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told the Associated Press the Cambodian was “slightly wounded” when Thai troops fired an M-79 grenade from their own territory. Khieu Kanharith confirmed the Cambodian side had returned fire, AP reported.

A report from Ministry of Defense information office obtained by VOA Khmer Friday coroborrated the statements of the military officer and said both sides remained at a standoff at 5 pm.

The exchange of violence, which lasted only moments, was the first reported in an 11-week military standoff over Preah Vihear temple. Officials had cautioned that prolonged proximity between the troops could end in bloodshed.

Both Cambodian and Thai officials have said they are committed to peaceful resolution of the impasse, which began following the inscription of the temple, which abuts a disputed border area, onto a Unesco World Heritage list in July.

Defense Minister Tea Banh could not be reached for comment, and a person answering the phone of the Thai Embassy's first secretary said he was unavailable.

Cambodian-Thai dispute to be brought to int'l court, Hun Sen says

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 12 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that a nearly two-month border dispute with Thailand will likely be to be brought to the International Court of justice in The Hague or once again be returned to the United Nations Security Council.

"We should be well-prepared and get documentation ready because it is unlikely that we can avoid the court, or, if it is worse, then we have to return to the U.N. Security Council," Hun Sen said at the opening of his weekly Cabinet meeting.

The premier said Cambodia has used "utmost restraint" in the face of "daring aggression" by Thai troops into Cambodian territory.

He added that incursions have been at many place along the some 800- kilometer border with Thailand.

Cambodia and Thailand were to discuss full troop withdrawals from a disputed border point last month, but the Thai side requested a postponement due to internal tension in Thailand.

Cambodia made an appeal to the U.N. Security Council on July 22 to meet urgently on Cambodia's military standoff with Thailand, but it withdrew its appeal two days later after Thailand had agreed to hold immediate talks on the issue.

The border dispute and military standoff stems from incidents almost two months ago when Cambodia detained three Thai ultranationalist activists who the authorities allege illegally crossed into Cambodia near the World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear Temple.

Since then, Thailand and Cambodia have been building up their forces near the temple and tensions have escalated.

On Aug. 16, several hundred troops from both sides who had been deployed to the area since July 15 were drawn back from immediate confrontation, but they remain close by.

But the military standoff has spread to at least three more points along the border.

The dispute appears difficult to resolve because the two sides use different maps of the border areas.

Thai, Cambodian army standoff at another dispute temple ruin

SURIN, Sept 13 (TNA) -- Fully-armed Thai and Cambodian soldiers are again in confrontation -- this time at a different temple ruin on another mountain in Surin province -- but still marking the ill-defined border between the neighbouring countries.

A combined Thai Army force of local para-military rangers and regular troops from the Suranaree Task Force were dispatched to another ancient ruin, this time the Tawai temple sitting atop the Phnom Dong Rak mountain range in Thailand's northeastern province of Surin along the Cambodian border.

The Thai military force was dispatched following reports that some 150 armed Khmer troops led by Col. Neak Pung, commander of the Cambodian army's Task Force 42 assigned to defend the mountain, had several days ago tried to enter the ancient temple, which is claimed by both countries.

The Tawai ruins is located about 12 kilometres east of Ta Muen Thom, another ruin contested by both countries which sparked tension in early August.

Before the situation turns worse, Maj-Gen. Kanok Netrakawesana, chief of the Suranaree Task Force, opted to negotiate with the Khmer troops.

Both sides later agreed to withdraw their men from the Tawai temple compound but are still maintaining positions at the border.

The Tawai temple is attracting attention as the third disputed area between the two countries, after Thailand and Cambodia had engaged in disputes over the better-known Preah Vihear and the Ta Muen Thom ruins, which lies either in Thailand's Surin province or in Cambodia's northern Uddor Meanchey province.

Thanks, but NO thanks: Cambodia needs no Thai protection

Protection, Not Incursion: Thai Officers

By Vong Dara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Banthey Meanchey province
18 July 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

Thai commanders told a visiting Cambodian delegation on the border Friday they had not entered Cambodian territory near Preah Vihear temple as an incursion, but they had occupied neutral land in order to "protect" Cambodia from Thai protesters.

The Cambodian delegation, led by Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, escorted a group of monks to Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, known in Cambodia as the Prasat pagoda, near Preah Vihear temple, to negotiate a Thai military withdrawal.

About 600 Thai troops remained in the pagoda complex, surrounded by nearly 1,000 Cambodian soldiers, as the military build-up entered its fourth day.

Wary villagers in the surrounding areas continued to flee Friday, and less than 100 people remained near the temples.

Thai commanders said they would leave the temple, though they did not say when.

Around 40 soldiers had come to the pagoda to protect Cambodia from protesters who were angered by the inclusion of Preah Vihear temple on Unesco's World Heritage list, the commanders told the delegation.

More Thai troops were seen massing on the Thai side of the border late Friday.

At least 1,600 troops from each side have massed on the border, in a situation Prime Minister Hun Sen characterized as "worsening" in a letter to his Thai counterpart Thursday.

Thai and Cambodia soldiers pointed their weapons at each other for the first time late Thursday, when Cambodian soldiers were barred from entering the pagoda by Thai troops.

Cambodian soldiers said they had gone to the pagoda to protect the monks and nuns staying there.

Cambodia Says More Thai Military Forces Cross Border

Cambodian Army soldiers guard the entrance of the Preah Vihear temple, in Preah Vihear province, 16 Jul 2008

By VOA News
16 July 2008

Cambodian officials say more Thai troops have crossed the border as a standoff triggered by a long-standing dispute over an ancient temple heads into a second day Wednesday.

Cambodian officials say 200 Thai soldiers have entered the country since Tuesday, when three Thai activists were arrested for illegally entering Cambodia to reach the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. The activists have since been released to Thai authorities.

Thai officials say their soldiers have not crossed into Cambodia and are patrolling the border. Cambodia has also deployed hundreds of troops in the area.

The Hindu temple, which sits along the Thai-Cambodian border, has long been source of dispute between the Asian neighbors. The International Court of Justice granted sovereignty of the temple to Cambodia in 1962.

The latest tensions began after the United Nations' cultural organization (the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO) designated the temple as a World Heritage Site.

Thailand's foreign minister was forced to resign last week over his initial decision to endorse Cambodia's bid to have the site declared a world landmark.

Opposition forces in Thailand have used the dispute to stoke nationalist fervor and increase their efforts to oust the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

Cambodia: Thai troops still in country [-Shouldn't the intruders be shot like Thai troops shooting Khmer workers crossing the border illegally?]

By KER MUNTHIT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian officials said more Thai troops crossed into their country's territory Wednesday in the second day of alleged incursions amid tensions over disputed border land near a historic temple.

Thai officials have denied any incursion, saying the troops are deploying on Thai territory to protect their country's sovereignty.

"Their troops have increased in number. They have not pulled back yet," said Hang Soth, director-general of the national authority for the Preah Vihear temple. Both sides were due to resume negotiations Wednesday morning, he said, but did not elaborate.

Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Tuesday night that 170 troops and Thai civilians had crossed into Cambodian territory. He could not say how many civilians were among the group.

The number of Thai troops swelled to about 200 on Wednesday, Cambodian border guard unit commander Seng Vuthy said by telephone from Preah Vihear.

"Both the Cambodian and Thai forces have their hands on their guns at all times," Seng Vuthy said.

The latest confrontation came after UNESCO declared Preah Vihear — which is at the center of a long-standing border quarrel between the neighbors — a World Heritage site last week.

Both countries claim land around the temple, and Thai anti-government activists have revived nationalist sentiment over the issue. The activists and some government officials fear the temple's new status will jeopardize their country's claims to land adjacent to the site.

The incident has claimed at least one casualty. A land mine explosion sheared the right leg off a Thai soldier patrolling in the area, said Thai army Col. Sirichan Ngathong.

Stretches of the Thai-Cambodian border are still strewn with land mines sown by various sides during the 1970-75 Cambodian civil war and the guerrilla conflict that followed the fall of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.

Maj. Gen. Kanok Netakawesana, a Thai army field commander in the region, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that his troops were on Thai soil close to the disputed area. He declined to give the number of soldiers deployed.

"We are not violating the territory of Cambodia. We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," Kanok said.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat denied any incursion, saying the relationship between the two countries remained normal.

The ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that the troops were ensuring that any protests by Thai activists were being done "in an orderly manner."

The Thai troop movements followed the arrest by Cambodia of three Thai citizens for crossing the border earlier Tuesday. The three were returned to Thailand later Tuesday.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear and the land it occupies to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles many Thais even though the temple is culturally Cambodian, sharing the Hindu-influenced style of the more famous Angkor complex in northwestern Cambodia.