The Nation
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday dismissed rumours that Thai troops had shot down an aircraft in the border province of Si Sa Ket.
"No, there has been no shooting," Prayuth said, adding that officials were examining the unidentified objects found in Ban Phum Saron on Thursday.
"At this point, I cannot confirm what they are exactly. But they look like parts of a satellite or a fuel cylinder," the Army chief said. He added that similar objects had been found in the same area in 2003.
The Army chief said he wondered why the parts, if they really came from a satellite, had not burned up while tumbling down to Earth. He reiterated that no espionage aircraft had been found hovering over Thailand.
"There's no shooting. There's no war," he said, adding that Cambodia and Thailand had friendly ties and that military officers from both countries met for talks often.
"There have been visits by both sides," Prayuth explained.
However, the two countries have a long-standing conflict about the ownership of land surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple, and the bilateral ties were badly fractured during the previous administration. The International Court of Justice is looking into the case after Cambodia filed a petition.
Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha said yesterday that he had discussed the issue of the mysterious objects with Prayuth and Second Army Region chief Lt-General Tawatchai Samutsakhon.
"They are probably parts of a satellite," he said.
According to Yuthasak, no aircraft from Cambodia or Thailand was hovering near the spot where a loud bang was heard and the objects found later.
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