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| Thousands of People’s Alliance for Democracy supporters join the movement’s protest near Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue. The yellow shirts gathered yesterday for the first day of what is expected to be a protracted rally. APICHIT JINAKUL |
26/01/2011
By Wassana Nanuam and Anucha Charoenpo
Bangkok Post
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has given the army the green light to conduct a military exercise near Preah Vihear temple to display its strength as Cambodia continues to lay claim to the disputed area.
The provocative move came after Thailand demanded Cambodia remove a stone tablet carrying a message in Khmer that accused Thai troops of invading Cambodia territory from that spot.
A senior army source who asked not to be named said yesterday the military exercise near the border was proposed by the army.
Thai gamblers would also be blocked from visiting Cambodian casinos close to Thai territory if Phnom Penh refused demands to remove the tablet.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand would follow proper procedures in handling border disputes with Cambodia.
''There are three steps to solving border issues. They include negotiations, intensified measures and the use of force. We will not move directly from Step 1 to Step 3,'' Gen Prayuth said.
The tablet was installed in front of Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara temple, about 300 metres from the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
''We must show our strength,'' the source quoted the prime minister as saying in his recent meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayuth.
The source said Gen Prayuth planned to deploy infantrymen close to Preah Vihear in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province.
The deployment will reinforce paramilitary rangers who are guarding a disputed area with no back-up.
''The army plans to conduct a drill that includes artillery fire close to the border,'' the source said.
The source revealed the military exercise was aimed at sending a message to Cambodia that Thailand is not only unhappy with the placement of the stone tablet in the disputed area but also Cambodia's continuing construction of a road to Preah Vihear.
The 3.6-kilometre road is being built on the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area next to Preah Vihear.
Cambodia has ignored Thailand's re peated protests against the roadworks. The source said Cambodia and China were accelerating the work on the road with the aim to facilitate visits to the Preah Vihear temple from the Cambodian side.
The source said Mr Abhisit also gave the nod to the army to prevent Thai gamblers from crossing the border to visit Cambodian casinos in Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province.
The source said the prime minister did not mention the possibility of border closure which would seriously affect local people.
as well as two Thai people: Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon who were prosecuted allegedly for trespassing and espionage on Cambodian soil. Mr Veera is still detained and verdicts on their cases are expected on Feb 1.
Mr Abhisit was also said to have agreed to allow the army to buy weapons it needed to handle the border situation.
The nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday urged the government to use the country's stronger military capacity to gain leverage over the Cambodian government in its negotiations with Phnom Penh on disputed border areas.
Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a core PAD leader, said the Thai military did not have to wage a war with Cambodia to regain Thai sovereignty over disputed areas along the border.
But it could use the country's military might to gain a stronger bargaining position.
The government has not tried to gain such leverage through the demonstration of Thailand's military capacity, Maj Gen Chamlong said.
''Consequently, it has allowed the Cambodian government to have the upper hand,'' he said.
''Our fighter jets can reach Cambodian skies in five minutes.''
Asked if such a demonstration of Thailand's military might would hurt the country's bilateral relationship with its neighbour, Maj Gen Chamlong replied: ''What are you afraid of more? Hurting the ties or losing territory?''
PAD spokesman Panthep Phongphuaphan said Thailand's military capacity was certainly higher than that of Cambodia.
The government should use this advantage in its effort to protect the country's sovereignty and pressure the Cambodian government to move Cambodian communities out of the disputed areas along the border.
More importantly, Thailand should revoke the 2000 memorandum of understanding with Cambodia as the agreement gave Phnom Penh greater negotiating powers and enabled Cambodians to continue living on Thai soil, Mr Panthep said.
28 comments:
General Prayuth , please jump from step one to step three , we can't wait to see it . We home you are not only barking when you are in the cage . This time ,POW will be jailed in Cambodia for as long as it can be .
We, Cambodian not affraid go to war with Thailand, we have stronger militaries as well. You, Thailand has stronger militaries and you get back up as your boss Americian will help you any time.
We Khmers have lived through wars we know what its like. These Thais know war through locomotive cocktail bombs and none live immunitions during street protests. Trust me, you don't want to go to war.
Are the PAD nutzzz?
I am not a pro Hun Sen but I dont like those Thai thugs either . I wish the war will break out again so we can see the face of those cowards . Thai Army are only strong against their own people .. especially those peaceful demonstrators. Against Cambodian Army , the first time , less than a minute after the fighting broke out , 10 Thai soldiers have been capured by Cambodian Army. See how brave Thai soldiers are ?
War with Thai is being brainwashed by Vietnamese to used Khmer people and money so Khmer will loss everything and Vietnamese will gain everything and takeover the whole Cambodia without any resistant by Khmer people are we crazy and stupid. Khmer fighting with Thai is like hanging yourself before you even try. Khmer is no match to any country in military. Thai military budget is $5 billion dollars compared to Khmer $300 million dollars or 2 new fighter jets.
During Hun Sen visited to Preah Vihear Thai fighter jets flew over Hun Sen was running like hell to safe place.
Khmer people must focusing on the Vietnam border not Thai.
5:09 AM
Let's make it short. Yes! Thai military has planty of budget as you stated. Why? because you get back up by U.S America can help you at any times.
let it be ,who will be get on stage and all of fighter are enjoy but the profit is china and united states .all weapon to use are from them .the piece of land must seek a solution for peaceful and comfort each other.
Abhitsit, can you let this yellow shirt people taste the war by shifting the problem to the border with Cambodia again. I want to see this. I don't think HUN SEN like that. Let's remove Hun Sen out of office and install the one is working with us.
Tharmasatt University,
Keochinda Pring
Thailand will pay a big price if they dare starting war again, they think they can intimidating cambodia with those airpower they have,...forget it? Those US planes that Thailand got from, will end up making pot and pan for viet/khmer rouge soldier cooking...
People, Ahbullshit vejajiva scared losing his power, so he used yellow shirt to help his ass OUt!!...that's all? Khmer soldier will kill them, if they come in and trying the same...method! Cambodia has so much weapons today, but we don't like to showing off like Thailand...did!
I heard Thailand trying to scare cambodia with their new F-jet fighter that they got from United State...I wonder if we have new weapons to shoot down this new F-fighter..?? PN-6 can't do it?
Thai can flex their muscles as much as they want to but they are not fighters, they are theives . Did you see those 10 Thai Prisoners Of War after the first fight broke out between Khmer and Thai at Preas Vihear Temple ? After the first few shots fired by Cambodia Soldiers , they ran into the Temple and left their weapons behind . If you were not there , at lease you saw the pictures of those Thai Soldiers and the weapon that have been conficated by Khmer Soldiers .
Never understimate your enemy. It's very obvious that Thailand alreay underestimated Cambodia. Thailand already claiming victory when there isn't a bullet fire yet. Whatever he case, I'm no war monger but I can tell you that Cambodia has become immune to war. After 35 years of pain and suffering from wars and 2 millions lives lost, Cambodia has very little to lose. So if Thailand want to take advantage of that, by all meant, the border is undispute, you're welcome to come over. However, don't think it's going to be a walk through the park. Thailand should learn a good lesson from communist Vietnam invasion and occupation of Cambodia in 1979. Pile of Vietnamese soldier dead bodies were stacked up as high as a hill after 10 years of fighting. So come on over, Thailand.
I'm Khmer/Thai and studing in Thamasatt University. To Keochinda Pring, I don't know if you are really Khmer or fake Thai but seeing your name "Pring" I believe you're not just 100% Khmer but 101%
Khmer. Why the hell you want these two nation to go to war? I don't think Khmer will scare Thailand a bit. Like someone just said, Khmer maybe immune/immuned to war. I think they can withstand us how long they can. They have lived through war and war is like nothing to Khmer. I wish you can say something more benefits toward the two nation. Khmer and Thai just like brother. To my understanding I think Khmer is like our oldest brother! We Thai created and became a country because of the Khmer commanders back in the old day that betrayed their leaders (King). Look at Ayuthaiyea and Sokothey. These tow major city were Khmer one time. Now it is our because those past commander betrayed their king. I hope we will not go to war just of lack of understanding and this will benefit Vietnam. Vietnam had always wanted to control Indochina and wanted to fight Thai so they use Cambodia as a client state to make trouble with us. I'd say Khmer Thai will never fight each other.
Khmer/Thai
What is the exact political stratagem of Thailand? Step one: use "Sect" as a nonmainstream religion to against Cambodia. Step two: internal political unrest in a country disseminates to its neighbor, Cambodia. Step three: using a piece of message bearing on a stone tablet in front of Wat Keo Sokha Kiri Swarak as an excuse to wage a war with Cambodia. From my perspective up to now, it could be a war coming soon as I have once foreboded: The WEST against the EAST---the western stealth fighters against the Chinese-homemade stinger missiles, the western warship carriers against the newly-homemade one of a kind: Chinese medium-range DF-21D and lastly, the British tanks against the Chinese tanks. I'm sure that if a dog barks will not bite, if the Thai prays the war must come. I can't say which country will win this unpopular war, but since my childhood of living in Cambodia, I surely knows that Cambodian Royal Army has more experiences in a battlefield. I'm thrilled to see the neighboring countries: Cambodia-Thailand to wage a war against one another. Not only I myself want to find out which country would win a battlefield, but people who live in the world as well. This war is between the WEST-EAST. May Buddha and Cambodian ancestors' spirits take care of our armed force at any place. And may Thailand and its people be perished all their lives into ashes.
The southern Thai Muslim brothers(Yala and Narathiwat) are waiting for that moment. If Thai and Khmer going to war, they will sneak the moment to gain their autonomy.
Wake up brothers in Yala and Narathiwat!!!
Khmer Muslim,
KP Cham
I heard rumors in Thailand that they want to remove Hun Sen regime.
Wow, the day is coming for Hun Sen!!
The provocative move came after Thailand demanded Cambodia remove a stone tablet carrying a message in Khmer that accused Thai troops of invading Cambodia territory from that spot.
A senior army source who asked not to be named said yesterday the military exercise near the border was proposed by the army.
Thai gamblers would also be blocked from visiting Cambodian casinos close to Thai territory if Phnom Penh refused demands to remove the tablet.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand would follow proper procedures in handling border disputes with Cambodia.
''There are three steps to solving border issues. They include negotiations, intensified measures and the use of force. We will not move directly from Step 1 to Step 3,'' Gen Prayuth said.
The tablet was installed in front of Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara temple, about 300 metres from the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
''We must show our strength,'' the source quoted the prime minister as saying in his recent meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayuth.
The source said Gen Prayuth planned to deploy infantrymen close to Preah Vihear in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province.
The deployment will reinforce paramilitary rangers who are guarding a disputed area with no back-up.
''The army plans to conduct a drill that includes artillery fire close to the border,'' the source said.
The source revealed the military exercise was aimed at sending a message to Cambodia that Thailand is not only unhappy with the placement of the stone tablet in the disputed area but also Cambodia's continuing construction of a road to Preah Vihear.
The 3.6-kilometre road is being built on the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area next to Preah Vihear.
Cambodia has ignored Thailand's re peated protests against the roadworks. The source said Cambodia and China were accelerating the work on the road with the aim to facilitate visits to the Preah Vihear temple from the Cambodian side.
The source said Mr Abhisit also gave the nod to the army to prevent Thai gamblers from crossing the border to visit Cambodian casinos in Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province.
The source said the prime minister did not mention the possibility of border closure which would seriously affect local people.
as well as two Thai people: Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon who were prosecuted allegedly for trespassing and espionage on Cambodian soil. Mr Veera is still detained and verdicts on their cases are expected on Feb 1.
Mr Abhisit was also said to have agreed to allow the army to buy weapons it needed to handle the border situation.
The nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday urged the gov ernment to use the country's stronger military capacity to gain leverage over the Cambodian government in its negotiations with Phnom Penh on disputed border areas.
Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a core PAD leader, said the Thai military did not have to wage a war with Cambodia to regain Thai sovereignty over disputed areas along the border.
But it could use the country's military might to gain a stronger bargaining position.
The government has not tried to gain such leverage through the demonstration of Thailand's military capacity, Maj Gen Chamlong said.
''Consequently, it has allowed the Cambodian government to have the upper hand,'' he said.
''Our fighter jets can reach Cambodian skies in five minutes.''
Asked if such a demonstration of Thailand's military might would hurt the country's bilateral relationship with its neighbour, Maj Gen Chamlong replied: ''What are you afraid of more? Hurting the ties or losing territory?''
PAD spokesman Panthep Phongphuaphan said Thailand's military capacity was certainly higher than that of Cambodia.
The government should use this advantage in its effort to protect the country's sovereignty and pressure the Cambodian government to move Cambodian communities out of the disputed areas along the border.
More importantly, Thailand should revoke the 2000 memorandum of understanding with Cambodia as the agreement gave Phnom Penh greater negotiating powers and enabled Cambodians to continue living on Thai soil, Mr Panthep said.
New tablet 'even worse'
Cambodian troops have removed a stone tablet placed near the Preah Vihear temple carrying a message accusing Thailand of invading the country.
But the tablet has been replaced with another that could ratchet up the tension even further between the two countries. It simply states the area is part of Cambodia.
The first tablet put in place last month at Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara, next to the Preah Vihear temple, read, according to the Phnom Penh Post: "Here! is the place where Thai troops invaded Cambodian territory on July 15, 2008."
This angered Thai troops, their commanders and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who claim the temple is located in a disputed area open to Thai troops.
A Cambodian armed forces officer who asked not to be named said the offending sign had been replaced, Phnom Penh Post reported.
Whether the new sign will be received any more favourably remains to be seen.
"Here! is Cambodia," reads the sign erected yesterday.
"I heard [the placement of the sign] was ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen," the officer said.
To Thai Air Force,
I'd or RCA'd like to see your fighter jets fly into Cambodia now. Let see if Chinese SAM can chase those jets. Please I dare you!
Come on!!
Our armed forces will crush the Cambodian army like flies.
I can't wait until our tanks roll into Phnom Penn and see the look on the Khmers' faces.
Proud Siam
May all the Thai lives be vanished into ashes soon thru the Chinese homemade one of a kind----DF-21D: Medium-range nuclear warhead missiles by the Cambodian armed force. I can't wait to see Thailand be destroyed in a blink of my eyes. The WEST against the EAST: the Thai stealth fighters against Cambodian Chinese-homemade stinger missiles, the western warship carriers against the Chinese medium-range nuclear warhead DF-21D and the British tanks against the Chinese tanks.
LOL, your tanks roll into Phnom Penh? You can't make pass PoiPet or Choam Ksaan!
it's ridiculous to read this article. Thailand wished to invade Khmer; are u damn serious abt that?? if so, u have to be prepared for the worse.
war is not all abt ur might but abt war strategies, sophisticated warfare. I tell u if 100 jet fighters fly into Cambodia, it will cost u much much money for little; and if only 10 of those 100 jets are shot down, u can calculate how much it cost.
the first week you wage war, there will be international intervention; then tell me who will get the most favor from international community, invader or defender of territory?
don't let the evil might fall into the wrong hand, man. we have lived along each other for hundreds of year and centuries more to come. let's hope our next generation can enjoy good friendship.
stop barking abt war with Cambodia, we kno u dun have the gut to do that.
I just laugh when Thailand threaten Cambodia with their jet fighters! Hey...don't forget to buy more spare parts and buy some more jet fuel!
It is good to know that Thailand jet fighters are more like a flying missile then a real jet fighter because it lack the avionic communication equipment which real jet fighter does have! ahahhah
The US ain't stupid to sell their jet fighters that can do the same thing as their jet fighters! It is a suicide to fly a clone into Cambodian airspace! Since Cambodian airspace radar system control by Thai company and I like to see Thai jet fighters bomb that one first! Ahahhahhah
the world will see siem is using their sizes in order to continue to steal and invade cambodia. imagine all the bigger countries of the world like china, the US, russia, etc use their sizes to conquer the smaller nations in the world. siem will pay for it big time bor using their sizes to justify their stealing and invasion of a smaller nation of cambodia! cambodia should consult with the UN council on this threat by use of force to invade cambodia and to continue to steal from cambodia like they did during the dark ages as well! will cambodia and the world let siem pad thugs do this to cambodia? we'll have to see!
yes, imagine china using its size to steal and invade thailand, etc or the US use it size to invade and steal from any smaller nation. will the world stand still to watch and allow this to happen? maybe it's the beginning of world war three, who knows! i'm sure if world war three happens, cambodia will make sure to reclaim the return of all of our old khmer provinces that all the neighboring countries stole from us including all old khmer provinces in thailand, koh tral and mekong delta region and wat phu and l'bak koun waterfalls, etc, etc..., all belongs to cambodia! cambodia will demand the return of all of these stolen lands and territories from them when world war three happens, you know!
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