Tense between Cambodia and Thai Troops Eased

2011-01-26
Xinhua

A brief tense between Cambodia and Thai troops near Preah Vihear Temple was finally eased and returned to normal, military sources at the border said Wednesday.

The sources said over telephone that some 30 Thai soldiers in black uniform came close to Keo Sikhakiri Svarak Pagoda near Preah Vihear Temple on Wednesday morning at which they were asked to return to their previous position by Cambodian troops.

According to the sources, the Thai troops were demanding a stone sign that says "Here Is Cambodia" to be removed from a site near the Pagoda where 20 Thai soldiers used to stay during the tense border conflict after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was registered as a World Heritage Site in July 2008.

The stone sign, however, was removed and the Thai soldiers also returned to their previous line after lunch time on Wednesday.

Since 2008, Cambodia and Thai troops have exchanged several rounds of military clashes that resulted in several dead and injured.

Standoff holds after Cambodia-Thai border clash

Sunday, April 05, 2009

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP) — Tensions eased but troops remained wary Sunday at the disputed Thai-Cambodian after gunbattles left two soldiers dead, Cambodian soldiers said.

Troops could be seen chatting and some even stowed away their weapons, but they said they remained ready to fight after their Friday clash -- the biggest burst of violence for months in a feud over territory near an ancient temple.

"The situation is not escalating, but if the Thais try to enter the banned area something might happen. If they don't come, there will be no problems," commander Bun Thean told AFP Sunday.

Soldiers exchanged rocket, machine-gun and mortar fire on Friday near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on the frontier, following a brief skirmish earlier in the day, officials from both sides said.

Thai and Cambodian commanders planned to meet at their disputed border Sunday and eat lunch together in attempt to further calm tensions, Cambodian soldiers said.

The area was the scene of several clashes last year after Cambodia successfully applied for United Nations world heritage status for the ruins in July, with four soldiers killed in a battle there in October.

The countries have been at loggerheads over the site for decades.

One Thai soldier died at the site of the clash Friday and another died in hospital later, while 10 others were injured, said the Thai military.

Cambodian officials reported they suffered no casualties.

Nine soldiers were still being treated in two hospitals in the northeast Thai city of Ubon Ratchathani, two of them in a critical condition, said the Thai army.

Despite the violence, Cambodian premier Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva sought to play down the latest crisis.

Both countries have said border committee talks would proceed along with meetings scheduled at a key regional summit next week.

The premiers are due to take part in a summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional partners in Thailand from April 10.

In 1962 the World Court awarded the ruins to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance is in Thailand, and landmines cover much of the disputed land.

Troops ready to fight following another landmine explosion

Thursday, October 30, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A report form the border indicated that Cambodian troops were getting ready to fight following a landmine explosion which took place on Tuesday night. RFA reported that Cambodian troops at various locations stationed in front of Thai soldiers in Veal Entry (Eagle Field) in Phnom Troap, and in the frontline near Preah Vihear temple, were getting ready to fight again between Tuesday night and Wednesday 29 October, following the sound of a landmine explosion which took place during Tuesday night, at about 250-meter from the Veal Entry line. According to Cambodian troops, following the sound of landmine explosion, both frontline Cambodian and Thai soldiers plunged into their trenches getting ready to fight again, and the confusion among both troops continued on until Wednesday.

Cambodian Army Officials Say New Clashes With Thai Troops 'Inevitable'

Camps abandoned by Thai troops
Tents belonging to Thai soldiers who are too scared to return back

29 October 2008
By SAMNANG
kohsantepheapdaily.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous

Preah Vihear Temple: Although Cambodia's and Thailand's leaders have done their utmost to ease military tension, so far the troops have still been observed to be on the state of alert.

Expressing their views, Cambodian military officials said that inevitable armed clashes would break out again, because both Cambodia and Thailand had already prepared forces and weapons: when problems arose, fighting would erupt.

A Cambodian military official on the front line near Preah Vihear Temple told Koh Santepheap on the morning of 27 October that military activities on the front had not eased. On the contrary, the standoff had grown tenser, causing troops to be on permanent sentry duty, having no time to have comfortable sleep.

The same military official also said that since after the shootouts (on 15 October 2008), Thai troops had been on high alert. All of them were wearing bullet proof jackets and helmets. And it was not just that, they also dug trenches and cut down trees to cover them.

The official went on to say that before the clashes, Thai and Cambodian, who took positions opposite each other, could chat or had meals together, but now it was not possible; they stayed away from each other. He added that even the sound from a gun being loaded or any other sound could startle Thai soldiers, causing them to jump into trenches. As such, one day there might be misunderstanding that could lead to new inevitable clashes.

As for Brig. Gen. Chea Keo, deputy commander of the Fourth Military Region stationed in the region of Preah Vihear Temple, told Koh Santepheap by phone at midday on 28 October that the situation concerning the standoff between the Cambodian and Thai troops in the area had eased gradually. He added that we plan to give a party to which Thai commanders and troops will be invited to restore mutual empathy, but the venue has not yet been fixed. It is not yet certain if it will be held in the compound of Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Monastery or at the front line.

Gen. Chea Keo also said that since the deadly clashes on 15 October, outside the monastery compound where it had been agreed that 20 troops from each side should be stationed, no soldier had yet been seen posted by either side.

The chief of staff of the 43rd Brigade, Lt. Col. Bun Thean, who had been posted to defend the field of Veal Entri on the hill of Phnom Troap, told Koh Santepheap at midday on 28 October that the Military Friendship bridge in the areas of Veal Entry and Phnom Troap where the shootouts broke out on 15 October remained intact, that both Cambodian and Thai troops stayed put in their initial positions, and that Thai soldiers no longer dared conduct patrols in an irresponsible manner as before. [passage omitted recalling the 15 October clashes between the Cambodian and Thai troops]

Situation Normal After Clashes: Top General

Thai soldiers, above, remain encamped across the border despite firefights with Cambodian units at three sites near Preah Vihear temple Wednesday.

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Preah Vihear province
17 October 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

Cambodia’s top military commander said Friday tensions had eased on the border near Preah Vihear temple, but soldiers on the front line worried of more fighting in the wake of three skirmishes this week.

Commanders in the field met for a second round of talks Friday, after gun battles at three sites near Preah Vihear temple left at least three Cambodians dead Wednesday.

The situation on the border was “normal” following the violence, but Cambodian soldiers were remaining vigilant, Gen. Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told reporters after meeting his Thai counterpart.

Ke Kim Yan also said the sides had not agreed to joint patrols, despite reported statements by the Thai side to the contrary.

Neither side has been able to agree on border demarcations, making joint patrols impossible, he said.

Meanwhile, soldiers on the front lines in the forested mountains surrounding Preah Vihear temple said they worried about more fighting, despite negotiations.

Both sides had ceased speaking to each other or shaking hands, as they had before Wednesday’s fighting, Cambodian soldiers said.