Thai troops want to prevent Cambodian road construction near Ta Moan temple

Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Black-clad Thai soldiers from unit 962, which is stationed west of the Ta Moan Thom temple, twice wanted to prevent the use of mechanical equipments by the Cambodian army civil engineering group to build a road leading to near Cambodia’s Ta Moan temple. However, Thai troops action seems to end after arrangements were made between the two sides, but Thai soldiers came to check the situation and they took pictures and wrote reports about the road construction activities. Cambodian border police from unit 702 and Cambodian troops stationed along the border told Rasmei Kampuchea on 07 September 2009 that 7 armed Thai black-clad soldiers from unit 962 which is stationed west of Ta Moan Thom temple came in twice with cameras, notebooks and measuring equipments. These Thai troops wanted to stop the activities of the mechanical equipments used by the Cambodian army civil engineering group which was building a road leading uphill to the Ta Moan Thom temple. The Thai troops were quoted as saying that they prevented the road construction by Cambodia because the area from the point marked by rocks and up the fence near the Ta Moan Thom temple has not been discussed to find a resolution yet. However, local Cambodian army officials said that the location of the road construction remains inside Cambodian territories entirely.

PM orders temple road built [-Cambodia is ruled by Hun Sen's spur of the moment decree only, vision of future is totally absent]

Monday, 25 August 2008
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

Ta Moan Thom temple to be linked to nearby town, will be closer to soldiers

Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered military engineers to build a new 9km road from Prey Veng village in Oddar Meanchey province to the Ta Moan Thom temple complex near the Thai-Cambodian border in a cabinet meeting last week.

Funding for the road will come from a foundation established by the Cambodia Television Network (CTN) to provide support for troops currently stationed along the border, said Tok Kimsay, director of the foundation.

"We are appealing to the general public and to wealthy donors to help fund the road to Ta Moan Thom," Tok Kimsay said. "We believe people will contribute because the road will help protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom."

Thai soldiers occupied the Ta Moan Thom temple complex following an escalation in the dispute at Preah Vihear that began in July. They withdrew on August 5 after an agreement was reached between Thai and Cambodian leaders in Oddar Meanchey province, but appear to have reoccupied the ruins over the weekend, military commanders say.

The new road will run from Prey Veng village to a checkpoint gate constructed by Thai forces to prevent civilians and soldiers from accessing the temple.

Heavy rains have made access to the area difficult for soldiers and local residents. "Now we can reach the temple only by tractor or on foot," said Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402.

"Our soldiers have been guarding the temple for years, and we've had to do so on foot during the rainy season. The new road will help us more effectively defend the border."

CTN's Tok Kimsay said the lack of roads prevented Cambodian soldiers from getting to the site quickly and allowed Thai soldiers to strengthen their foothold at the temple.

He added that the CTN foundation has already received nearly US$400,000, which it has used to purchase food and supplies for soldiers at Preah Vihear, Anlong Veng district and Ta Moan Thom.