[Thai] Army dismisses reports of Thai-Cambodian military clash

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (MCOT online news) – The Royal Thai Army on Wednesday dismissed reports of a renewed clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at Ta KwaiKrabei Temple, but conceded that one soldier was wounded in a gunshot accident.

Thai army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd stood firm that there was no military clash at the Surin province bordering Cambodia.

Col Sansern said the Second Army Region Command reported that the wounded soldier was Cpl Veerawat Pairoh, accidentally shot in the leg while on patrol along the border as another soldier fell and accidentally shot him with his 9mm pistol. The wounded man was sent to hospital.

The army spokesman said there was no reaction from Cambodian soldiers following the accident.

Troops sit down for chin wag, even as leaders won't

Thai and Cambodian soldiers eat together at Ta Kwai temple in Surin’sPhanomDong Rak district, about 140kmfrom thePreah Vihear temple. The two sides engaged in deadly border clashes in April. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

23/07/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

SURIN : Thailand and Cambodia's leaders may not be talking about their border problems, but on the ground, troops from both sides are already forging bonds.

Thai soldiers have invited their Cambodian counterparts to spend time with them at temples they have occupied on their side of the border.

Col Mang Mao, the commander of Cambodia's 423th Infantry Brigade is one of two Cambodian soldiers sent to spend 24 hours with two Thai soldiers at the Ta Kwai temple in Ban Ta Miang of Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district.

This is a measure to ensure Thai and Cambodian troops stationed in the disputed area have a chance to talk first to prevent any conflicts breaking out.

Cambodia reinforcing troops near Surin: Thai military

July 2, 2011
The Nation

Troops and weapons of the Cambodian army have been reinforced in border areas not far from Ta Kwai and Ta Muen Thom ancient temples in Surin province, prompting fears over a new round of border fighting in the wake of Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Commission.

Seven units of formidable M21 multiple rocket launchers are employed in addition to a number of them already at the ready at Ta Kwai temple, while new troops are mobilised at Ta Muen Thom, Thai military sources said.

Evacuations and emergency drills have been conducted at many schools in Surin and border provinces on a weekly basis while many schools have asked for more shelters.

Team Finds Widespread Cluster Munitions Near Border

Injured Cambodian and cluster ammunition used by Thailand (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Wednesday, 25 May 2011

“Between 5,000 and 10,000 people will be directly impacted by the cluster munitions.”

The Cambodian Mine Action Center has found more than 300 hectares of land peppered with cluster munitions, believed to be fired by Thailand during border fighting in February.

Clearance of the unexploded ordnance could take up to a year or more, demining officials said, following an assessment of the area by CMAC and Norwegian People’s Aid.

“We are searching for more areas affected with submunitions of cluster munitions,” CMAC Secretary-General Heng Ratana told VOA Khmer Wednesday.

Jan Erik Stea, program manager for mines at Norwegian People’s Aid, told reporters Wednesday the munitions were found druing a two-day assessment in April. Twelve areas, including four in villages, spread over more than 1.5 million square meters in Preah Vihear province’s Choam Khsant district were identified, he said.

First they don’t have enough food to eat, now they don’t have clean water to drink: Fate of Khmer soldiers at Ta Krabei temple

Cambodian soldiers at Ta Krabei temple fell ill due to lack of clean drinking water


23 May 2011
By Hang Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Cambodian soldiers, stationed at Ta Krabei temple and who are prepared to fight with Thai soldiers, indicated that some of them are facing diarrhea because they use dirty water and they also asked for donation of clean water for their daily use.

Currently, Cambodian soldiers, who are defending Cambodian borders in the Ta Krabei temple zone, indicated that they have to pump water from wells along the slope of the hill for their use, and the water is not clean and contains large amount of calcium which affects their health condition.

A soldier, who declined to give his identity and who is now in combat station at Ta Krabei temple zone, said in the afternoon of Sunday 22 May that some of his comrades in arms came down with diarrhea and vertigo after they drank and used water from the wells which contains large concentration of calcium. The water was pumped from wells along the slope of the hills: “The amount of calcium is about half a cup, I boiled it and drank it, it didn’t taste right. Everyday, we have a dire need, we use this water for drinking and for shower as well. We can pump it to there only, then we have to use a container to carry it up to here. When there is a fight going on, we can’t go fetch the water at all.”

The Cambodian army commander in the region recognized that his soldiers stationed in Ta Krabei temple really face clean drinking water shortage.

Maps of Ta Moan and Ta Krabei temples by EU edited by Bora Touch

Dear Readers,

Please find below: Maps of Ta Moan and Ta Krabei temples by EU edited by Bora Touch, Esq.

Click on each map to zoom in

Cambodian, Thai military commanders agree to ceasefire over border row

PHNOM PENH, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai military commanders on Wednesday agreed to a ceasefire again, Lt Gen Chhum Socheat, the spokesman for Cambodian Ministry of Defense, said Wednesday.

The latest ceasefire promise was made on Wednesday morning between Cambodian Major General Chea Mon, commander of Military Region 4, and Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thai Army Region 2, in a 30-minute meeting at O'smach border checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province, Chhum Socheat said. "Both sides have agreed to six points."

"The most important agreed point is the ceasefire," he said, adding that both sides agreed to allow two soldiers of each side to standby at Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple in order to make the situation to return to normalcy as it was before April 22.

Legal team will be set up to deal with Cambodia's ICJ move on temple

May 2, 2011
The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is preparing to establish a legal team to deal with Cambodia's move to seek International Court of Justice (ICJ) clarification over its 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear Temple.

The premier will raise the issue with his Cabinet at its meeting tomorrow.

A military source, meanwhile, disclosed that in the face of the military build-up near the Prasat Ta Kwai and Prasat Ta Muan Thom on Cambodian soil, Thai Army chief General Prayut Chan-ocha ordered that reinforcements be readied to boost the Thai military strength in the border areas. It added that the rapid-deployment force from the First Army Region was among the chosen reinforcement units.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has spiralled into clashes from time to time in recent years after Cambodia unilaterally sought to get the Preah Vihear Temple inscribed as a world-heritage site on its soil.

Thai, Cambodian troops clash again at border

Sunday, May 01, 2011

BANGKOK (AP) — Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged fire again at the countries' disputed border.

Thai regional army spokesman Col. Prawit Hukaew says the two sides exchanged automatic weapons fire overnight and before dawn Sunday as the conflict entered its 10th day.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan says the fighting took place around the Ta Krabey and Ta Moan temples, which are in a disputed zone between the two nations.

No casualties were reported. At least 16 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 displaced since fighting began April 22.

Thailand and Cambodia fought six times since 2008 over land disputed for more than half a century, but analysts say domestic politics on both sides is driving the current conflict.

Sporadic clashes still continue between Cambodian, Thai troops

PHNOM PENH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia said on Sunday that Thai troops still continue launching mortar shells into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province throughout Saturday night until Sunday morning.

"Every night, Thai troops open fire at our troops at Ta Krabei temple," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle fields.

"On Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. (local time), they had used weapon M97 to shell at the temple," he said. "Then, occasionally, they continued to fire mortar shells at us at 2:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. this Sunday."

"Cambodian troops had fired back in early Sunday morning in order to defend our territory from the invasion," he said. " However, we had just used small guns to retaliate."

Border clashes end, 10 [Thai] soldiers injured

30/04/2011
Bangkok Post

The exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian troops along the border in Surin province which started early Friday night had stopped about 6.30am on Saturday, reports said.

A total of ten soldiers were injured in the fighting, 2 seriously. They all were admitted to Surin hospital and Veerawat Yothin military hospital, according to the reports.

The soldiers are:

1. Lt Kosit Songsaeng
2. Lt Veera Chaichaval
3. Serg 1st Class Boontien Srichan
4. Serg Pongsathorn Bangkaew
5. Pvt Krisada Promchak
6. Pvt Damrong Buakhao
7. Pvt Kraisorn Inchuay
8. Pvt Sarawut Chujamroon
9. Pvt Wanchai Bandith
10. Pvt Sumeth Panthong

Altogether 7 soldiers, one civilian were killed and 95 people and soldiers injured in the border clashes, which started last Friday, April 22.

Thailand, Cambodia clash at border for 9th day

04.30.11
By THANYARAT DOKSONE and SOPHENG CHEANG

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Troops from Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire at the countries' contested border again Saturday, marking the ninth straight day of clashes that have left at least 16 people dead and displaced nearly 100,000.

Cambodian Col. Suos Sothea said the shooting took place around dawn near the Ta Krabey temple. A Thai soldier on the other side of the frontier gave a similar account, saying the fighting lasted about half an hour. No casualties were reported.

The fighting that began April 22 has killed 15 soldiers on both sides and one civilian, and is the worst between the countries in three years.

45,200 Cambodian evacuees flee home due to clashes with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The eighth day of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over disputed border areas had forced other 11,200 Cambodian people to flee homes, bringing the total number of evacuees to 45,200 by Friday evening, said a senior government official.

"Too many Cambodian evacuees have fled home in the latest rounds of fighting with Thailand," Nhim Vanda, the first vice- president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, told Xinhua by telephone on Friday. "We have never expected such great number of evacuees, so now our major concerns for them are clean water and sanitary facilities."

During the fighting, the villagers living as far as 18 kilometers surrounding the fighting areas at the 11th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province have forced to flee for safe shelters.

Cambodian, Thai troops break truce

PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai troops broke out again early Saturday in the disputed border area near the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, marking the ninth straight day of border clash, said a field military commander.

"The fighting started again this morning at around 4:00 a.m. at Ta Krabei temple, Thai soldiers launched the attack first," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle field.

"Thai troops have fired small arms, rockets and artillery at our troops. We have also opened fire to defend our territory, but we have not used heavy weapons to fight back yet."

It's too early to report casualties, he said.

Thai soldier killed less than one day after ceasefire agreed with Cambodia

April 29, 2011

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban explained that personal firearms were used during the clashes near two temples close to the countries' borders. Because of this, the ceasefire had not been considered breached. However, if heavy weapons are utilized in any occassion, Thaugsuban added, the agreement would no longer be valid.

BANGKOK, THAILAND (BNO NEWS) -- Less than one day after Thailand and Cambodia agreed to ceasefire, border clashes erupted overnight, killing one Thai soldier, as four others were injured on the eighth day of clashes, officials said Friday.

Thailand's 2nd Army spokesman Col. Prawit Hookaew told the Bangkok Post that sporadic skirmishes broke out hours after the ceasefire was announced, but the situation had begun to ease down, although it remained tense.

According to reports, at around 8:55 p.m. local time, hour-long fighting broke out just east of the Ta Kwai temple, on the border in Surin. Early Friday morning, at around 2 a.m., clashes continued for around three and a half hours, which resulted in the death of the Thai soldier.

Thai troops continue firing into Cambodia: Cambodian commander

PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Thai troops still continue launching artillery shells into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province on early Friday, just a day after both sides agreed to a ceasefire, said a field military commander.

"They have begun firing artillery shells at our troops at Ta Krabei temple at 4:50 a.m. (local time)," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle fields on Friday morning.

"Thai troops may not respect their superior because on Thursday, their military commander had met with our commander and reached a ceasefire, but this morning they still shell at us."

"However, we do not fight back as we comply with the ceasefire, " he said.

Fighting resumes along Thai-Cambodian border, spreads to new area

Cambodian soldiers inspect a multi-rocket launcher near the Cambodian-Thai border in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, 26 April 2011. Border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops after four days of fighting killed and injured soldiers on both sides and forced thousands of civilians to evacuate their villages near two disputed temples. Both sides blame the other for instigating the fighting. EPA/MAK REMISSA

Apr 28, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh/Bangkok - Cambodia said fighting between its forces and Thailand had resumed in four places along their disputed border as of early Thursday.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the clashes, which started the previous evening, involved heavy artillery and small arms fire, and were focused on the border around the contested temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabei in north-west Cambodia, as well as a village called Thmar Doun, which lies between the two temples.

Phay Siphan said fighting had also broken out at the border crossing town of O'Smach further east.

Hundreds of civilians fled O'Smach town late Wednesday, the Phnom Penh Post newspaper reported Thursday.

Phay Siphan said Bangkok had not replied to the proposal by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that the nations' two leaders meet at the May 7-8 regional summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta.

Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes continue for 6th day

BANGKOK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The border clash occurring nearby Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples in the disputed areas adjacent Thailand's northeastern Surin province early Wednesday morning marked the sixth straight day of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

New round of small arms firing erupted near the 13th-century temple ruins at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning and lasted for thirty minutes, according to Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the Thai army spokesman.

The spokesman told Xinhua over the telephone that Cambodian troops move toward the disputed areas triggered firing which involved exchange of small arms and mortar shelling.

Thai-Cambodia clashes continue for 6th day as civilian death raises toll to 14

Thai soldiers on armored personnel carriers take a position at the border during fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in Surin province, northeastern Thailand Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The worst fighting in years between Thailand and Cambodia spread Tuesday to a third stone-walled temple, as the neighbors exchanged artillery fire in border clashes that have killed 13 soldiers and displaced 50,000 villagers. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

April 27, 2011
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SURIN, Thailand — Officials say Thailand and Cambodia have traded fire for a sixth day as an increasingly bloody border dispute drags on.

Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd says one Thai civilian was killed Tuesday by Cambodian rocket fire, bringing the total dead in the wave of clashes that began Friday to 14.

Military officials from both nations say Wednesday's fighting centered around two crumbling stone temples from the Khmer Empire at Ta Moan and Ta Krabey which have been caught in crossfire since the weekend.

Gunfire exchanges broke out again at Cambodian, Thai border

Cambodian armored vehicles stand by in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

Cambodian soldiers leave for the disputed border area in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

Cambodian soldiers leave for the disputed border area in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province on April 25, 2011. Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire in the disputed border area for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Gunfire exchanges between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border area at the Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province broke out again late Monday, said a field military commander on Monday.

"The fighting started again this evening at 6:15 p.m. at the two temples," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle fields.

"Thai forces have fired both small guns and heavy artilleries on our troops over the areas," he said.

"We have also exchanged some gunfires to defend our territory integrity from invasion," he said.