Fighting near Preah Vihear and in Surin

26/04/2011
Bangkok Post and AFP

Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed on Tuesday afternoon in the disputed area around Preah Vihear temple on the border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province, and again on the border in Surin province.

The fighting began about 1.30pm, with sounds of fierce exchanges involving both small arms and heavy weapons, local reports said.

Continuous gunfire could be heard from the area near Wat Kaew Sika Khiri Savara, around the Preah Vihear temple and Phu Makhua.

The violence reportedly erupted after Cambodian soldiers at Wat Kaew Sika Khiri Savara opened fire at a Thai F16 fighter which was flying along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Prayuth Chan-ocha is NOT interested in peace

Troops ready to fight with Cambodia if government orders: Thai army chief

BANGKOK, April 25 (MCOT online news) - Thai army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday reaffirmed the army is ready to engage in battle with Cambodia if the government orders so, standing firm that the Indonesian observers will be allowed to observe the border only if Cambodia withdraws its troops from the conflict zone and returns to dialogue.

The army chief made his remarks following criticism over the operations of the Thai military in the latest border clashes with Cambodia.

The renewed border clash occurred near the Ta Kwai and Ta Muan Thom temples in Surin on Friday. Sporadic clashes have been reported since then as border demarcation remains disputed by the two neighbouring countries despite attempts to resolve the problem through meetings of bilateral commissions at several levels.

Five Thai soldiers were killed while 35 were wounded during the four days of clashes. About 25,000 border area residents in Surin and about 4,500 others in Buri Ram have been evacuated from their homes to temporary shelters.

All's fair in love and war

5/03/2011
Bangkok Post

Soldiers at the border have learned there are times when their gentlemanly ways will not win the day.

Playing hardball may be necessary when either party in a dispute resorts to all ways imaginable to get what it wants.

The clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops last month in Si Sa Ket highlighted the critically precarious state of the border situation between the two countries.

The tension was brought to the boil after Cambodia built two roads through the disputed area with Thailand near the ancient Preah Vihear temple early this year.

One road leads to the Hindu temple and the other to the old patrol base where Thai soldiers used to be stationed close to the Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda built by Cambodia.

Explosions heard from Cambodia believed attempted provocation [-What proof does Thailand have?]

Si Sa Ket, Feb 16 (MCOT online news) -- More than 30 explosions heard from inside the Cambodian border through last night (Feb15) which are believed to be an attempted provocation by Cambodian soldiers, but Thai troops held their fire and did not respond.

Sao Thongchai subdistrict official Chokchai Saikaew in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district told the media Wednesday morning that from 2-4am he heard bomb-like explosions from the border area pending demarcation, near the 4.6 square kilometre contested area in Rung sub-district of Kantharalak.

Mr Chokchai said he heard 30 to 40 explosions, like bombs or artillery shells, through the night, but that they stopped in the early morning. He did not know where the sound came from, but Thai troops stationed at the border did not fire in response as no shells landed on Thai territory.

Si Sa Ket governor Somsak Suwansujarit said he stayed overnight at Rung sub-district to give moral support to border villagers and heard the explosions.

Thai troops continue to throw grenades in front of Cambodian troops

14 Feb 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Thai troops threw grenades in front of trenches occupied by Cambodian troops for several days consecutively, starting since 07 February, in order incite Cambodian soldiers to fire at them so that they may stage a major attack back on Cambodia. At 11:30PM last night, a report indicated that Thai troops threw 15 grenades in the direction of trenches occupied by Cambodian soldiers in Phnom Trop, but there was no injury. Thailand aims at inciting clashes between the two troops in order to undermine the UN Security Council meeting which will take place on Monday.

33 grenades thrown by Thai troops

General Srey Doek, commander of intervention troop unit no. 3, indicated that, last night, starting from 11:30PM to the morning hour, Thai troops threw 33 grenades in front of trenches occupied by Cambodian soldiers. This is the largest amount of grenades thrown in any one night, starting from 07 Feb.

[Thai] Army beefs up temple forces [-Thailand is looking to provoke a war with Cambodia?]

Foreign Ministry fears border talks derailment

23/06/2009
By WASSANA NANUAM and THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

The army has deployed a battalion of troops backed by heavy weapons near Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket province in case of further clashes with Cambodian soldiers.

Army chief Anupong Paojinda had ordered the Lop Buri-based artillery to send the battalion of troops with 12 large artillery weapons to Pha Mor E-Daeng Cliff national park, a source said yesterday.

Gen Anupong also ordered a company of special warfare troops to guard the border area in the northeastern province with a battalion of infantrymen as reinforcements. There are now 3,000 infantrymen securing the border.

The source said the additional troops and weapons were not sent to provoke clashes with Cambodian troops but were there as back-up. Thailand had a clear policy not to use force to solve border disputes with Cambodia.

The wrangling over the historic temple ruins and recent strong reaction from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had sparked speculation of more clashes between the two countries.

The army commander will today fly to the border area in Si Sa Ket, the source said.

The Foreign Ministry has expressed concern that Thailand's objection to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site last year could have a negative impact on border talks.

Vasin Teeravechyan, head of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission, said Thailand's position could obstruct border negotiations, including the 4.6 square kilometre area claimed by the two countries close to the temple.

The commission will wait for a response from the World Heritage Committee on the Thai position in Seville and the outcome of talks between Cambodian officials and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban in Phnom Penh this week. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has travelled to the Spanish city for talks with the WHC.

If the talks in Seville and Phnom Penh do not go smoothly, it could disrupt the collaboration pledged by the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Hun Sen, during Mr Abhisit's recent visit to Cambodia on June 12.

The Thai World Heritage Committee last week informed the Thai cabinet about its decision to oppose the registration of the ancient Hindu temple.

It said last year's listing had violated the registration process and increased conflicts along the Thai-Cambodian border instead of promoting cultural conservation and tourism between the peoples of both countries.

Who needs any bloody Thai cooperation on Preah Vihear, just get the invading Thai troops out of Khmer territories! Thailand, Go home!

Thai Khadi Research Institute urges govt not to cooperate with Cambodia over Preah Vihear

January 26, 2009
The Nation

The Thai Khadi Research Institute of Thammasat University Monday urged the government not to provide any cooperation to Cambodia over Preah Vihear temple management before the demarcation is completed.

Srisak Wallipodom, president of the institute met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, at the Government House to submit the demand.

He also demanded the government to fire Pongpol Adireksarn as the chairman of Thailand's World Heritage Committee.

Srisak also urged the government to file an appeal with Unesco to demand that revocation of the registration of Preah Vihear as a world heritage site.