(Photo: AP)19 January 2010
By Meas Mony
Free Press Magazine online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Military tension between Cambodia and Thailand is flaring up again when black-clad Thai soldiers were sent to station along the Preah Vihear province border, and in Anglong Veng in Oddar Meanchey province.
At the end of last week, a source from among soldiers posted in Preah Vihear temple zone indicated that several hundreds of Thai black-clad soldiers were sent to the border area in Phnom Trop. The source indicated that these Thai soldiers showed peculiar attitudes towards Cambodian soldiers, such as demanding that Cambodian soldiers filled back the trenches they built to protect themselves since long ago. In Anlong Veng, a report indicated that Thai patrolling border troops set up about 10 tents in the last four days. Currently, there are 100 Thai soldiers stationing in these tents located in front of Kbal Ansorm villager, Trapaing Prey commune, Anlong Veng district.
Nhim Chhoeun, a RCAF colonel, called the Thai troops’ action as being “unusual”. According to Colonel Nhim Chhoeun, last week, Cambodian troops stationed in Preah Vihear temple received additional supply of ammunitions and shoulder rocket ammunitions, and they also dug trenches in preparation for a fight.
Cambodia and Thailand clashed with each other 3 times already in 2008 and 2009, but the armed tension defused. However, a diplomatic war ensued when Hun Xen nominated Thaksin as his economic advisor. The current muscle flexing by Thailand is starting anew at a time when the border issue between the two countries is at a standstill.
At the end of last week, a source from among soldiers posted in Preah Vihear temple zone indicated that several hundreds of Thai black-clad soldiers were sent to the border area in Phnom Trop. The source indicated that these Thai soldiers showed peculiar attitudes towards Cambodian soldiers, such as demanding that Cambodian soldiers filled back the trenches they built to protect themselves since long ago. In Anlong Veng, a report indicated that Thai patrolling border troops set up about 10 tents in the last four days. Currently, there are 100 Thai soldiers stationing in these tents located in front of Kbal Ansorm villager, Trapaing Prey commune, Anlong Veng district.
Nhim Chhoeun, a RCAF colonel, called the Thai troops’ action as being “unusual”. According to Colonel Nhim Chhoeun, last week, Cambodian troops stationed in Preah Vihear temple received additional supply of ammunitions and shoulder rocket ammunitions, and they also dug trenches in preparation for a fight.
Cambodia and Thailand clashed with each other 3 times already in 2008 and 2009, but the armed tension defused. However, a diplomatic war ensued when Hun Xen nominated Thaksin as his economic advisor. The current muscle flexing by Thailand is starting anew at a time when the border issue between the two countries is at a standstill.
