Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Cambodia did not ask for ceasefire with Thailand: Phay Siphan

Col Neak Vong, deputy commander of Cambodia’s 402nd Brigade, centre, shakes hands with Thai soldiers after holding negotiations with Col Adul Boonthamcharoen, commander of the 26th Pararanger Military Regiment,on a ceasefire at Ta Muen Thom temple in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province yesterday. NOPPARATKINGKAEO
03 May 2011
By Phorn Rina
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Following the ceasefire agreement between Cambodian and Thai troops, a report indicated that this ceasefire was requested by Cambodia because (1) it needs to collect the remains of its dead soldiers, (2) Cambodia lacks weapons and (3) Cambodia lacks food.

On 02 May, The Bangkok Post quoted Thai military claiming that the ceasefire in Ta Moan Thom temple was done upon Cambodia’s request.

The same Thai military source added that Colonel Neak Vong, the commander of RCAF brigade 420, was the direct negotiator with Thailand and he allegedly told his Thai counterpart that Cambodia needs a ceasefire so that it may collect the remains of dead soldiers whose body are rotten. He also allegedly said that Cambodian soldiers lack weapons, as well as food, following the 10-day border clash.

In reaction to the claim above, Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Cambodian government and secretary of state at the Cambodian Council of Ministers, told RFA in the evening of 02 May that the Thai military quote by The Bangkok Post is exaggeration of the truth with the aim of encouraging Thai soldiers and population only.


He said that the ceasefire was initiated by Thailand’s request because Thailand is under a lot of international pressure, in particular from the US. Furthermore, the ceasefire comes at t a time when Thailand was defeated on multiple occasions, therefore, it took the opportunity to facilitate the life of its troops.

Phay Siphan said: “What you see on the Thai newspaper, that publication is entirely false, it is baseless and we reject them altogether. First, the photo of the meeting between commander Neak Vong and a Thai [soldier] by the name of Boonthamcharoen was done at Ta Moan temple, and in that meeting Neak Vong did not ask to collect any body either… The meeting that took place at Ta Moan temple was an excuse by Thailand to take picture for political reason, and what the Thai said are lies, I reject them all, I was the witness there…”

The Bangkok Post quoted Thai general Tawatchai as saying that during the one-week fight, 7 Thai soldiers died and several were injured. According to the government, the number of the Cambodian soldiers killed was 8.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cambodia highly respects international community and all concern counries in the world to stop fighing. But Thai continue to provoke fighting against Cambodia.. That is the aggressor behavior. They desrtot the fact and make up a fake movie such as the socall 2 dead Cambodian soldiers. There were doles. Abhisit and his army are stupid.


Abhisit and his army will be punished by Red shirt and peace loving prople

Anonymous said...

It is not about Abhisit who provokes this fight, it is the expansionism tactic of Hanoi. Hanoi cannot allow Thailand and Cambodia to unite like in 1700's. If the two unite, Hanoi will have problems.
Hanoi created this conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and Hanoi becomes again Cambodia's savior by sending army into Cambodia to permanently occupy her for ever.
You have to follow the current situations in South East Asia.
China needs Hanoi to put back Thaksin in power, and Hanoi uses this occasion to fulfill its expansionism in Cambodia.

Common Sense said...

11:19 PM

Would you kindly explain how Hanoi created this conflict? Please elaborate.

... said...

Just think why Cambodia never have a problem with Vietnam boarder. Only 1 per son who has problem with vietnam is Sam Rainsy.

Anonymous said...

1:12 AM,

You are plainly stupid to say that and very very very dumb. No Khmer people every believe you to say. You are the problem.