Senior Cambodian official reacted to news of Thai encroachments

Radio Free Asia
By Zakariya
4th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

A senior official of Cambodian Foreign Ministry dismissed Radio Free Asia's report that Thai soldiers had moved border markers deep inside Khmer territories.

Mr. Long Visalo (pictured), Secretary of State of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that he does not believe that Thailand had moved border markers deeper inside Khmer territories in Battambang province as reported by RFA.

He said: "The French colonial authority had planted 73 border markers. In mid 2003 we and Thailand had planted the border markers in the areas and Thailand fully agreed with the new border markers that we planted. I don't believe that there is a movement of border markers because our technical teams from both countries went to examine the locations together. Secondly, we both used the 1:200,000 scale maps drawn by the Franco-Siamese Mixed Border Commission in 1907-1908. And the 2000's Memorandum of Understanding stressed that we need to use maps drawn by the Franco-Siamese Mixed Border Commission to solve the border disputes. But when they (the Cambodian army) use the 1961 maps, I cannot be responsible for that (for any loss of our territories)."

On 1st March, 2009, the commander of division 817, Mr. Srey Sokhorn, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that Thai soldiers had moved border markers deeper inside Khmer territories from between 40-150 metres at various points at Phnom Preuk in Battambang province, according to the 1961 maps.

Asked whether Thai soldiers had really moved the border markers deep inside Khmer territories or not, Mr. Long Visalo said: "I cannot comment because I don't know anything about it. But if our border soldiers saw that the Thais had moved the border markers deep inside our territories, they should report to the Ministry of Interior or Border Committee. But they didn't report, they only talk, how do I know anything?"

According to Mr. Srey Sokhorn, Thai soldiers had moved the border markers deep inside Khmer territories from 40-150 metres and they have built a paved road cutting through Khmer territories at Phnom Preuk in Battambang province, opposite of Thailand's Sakeo province.

Thailand moves border markers 150 metres deep inside Khmer territories in Battambang province

Radio Free Asia
By Sophal Mony
1st March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Khmer border police reported that Thailand had moved border markers deep inside Khmer territories at Phnom Preuk (Morning Mountain) in Battambang opposite Klong Hat district of Thailand.

Khmer border forces said that Thai soldiers had moved border markers at Phnom Ta Luos and Phnom Boek Tball at Phnom Preuk village in Battambang province opposite Klong Hat district in Thailand's Sakeo province.

Commander of battalion 817, Mr. Srey Sokhon, said that the encroachments were found out when he compared Cambodian map to the Thai map.

He said that Cambodia uses the 1961 map and found that Thailand had moved border markers inside Khmer terriotries at various points. He said that some points they had moved in 40 metres, 70 metres and 150 metres deep inside Khmer territories.

Mr. Sieng Southorng, governor of Battambang province, said that this problem occurred since 1996 during the re-integration of Khmer Rouge forces, but said that the government did not compare the maps because it is the job of the Military Region Five.

He said, according to the Military Region Five, Thailand had indeed moved the markers deep inside Khmer terriotries.

Mr. Sieng Bouthorng said that provincial authority cannot resolve this issue with Thailand, only the Cambodian Border Committee can.

Mr. Var Kim Hong (pictured), chairman of Cambodian Border Committee, said that he had not received the information yet. He said that the Military Region Five and the provincial authority should report to his committee and Interior Ministry about the encroachments. He said:"Please report to us, so we can help."

According to the commander of battalion 817, Thailand had encroached deep inside Khmer territories 40 metres, 70 metres and 150 metres at some points to the length of 3250 metres along the borders at Phnom Preuk. He also said that Thai soldiers had built a paved road cutting through Khmer territories at Phnom Ta Luos and Phnom Boek Tball opposite Klong Hat of Thailand's Sakoe province.