Thai black-clad troop commander denies closing border gate: Thai soldiers were only warning tourists of the presence of armed Khmer soldiers

Thai troop commander said that Preah Vihear gate was never closed

02 July 2007
By San Suwith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Thailand’s Khav Sot newspaper indicated that its reporter from Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, said that the situation in Preah Vihear on Saturday afternoon is very desolated because there was no tourist crossing over to visit the temple. This situation is due to the presence of about 200 Cambodian soldiers armed with light and heavy guns who are spread out all over the place near the temple, after rumors were spread that the Thai soldiers plan to cross the border and take over the Preah Vihear temple back.

The Thai newspaper said that Preab Tan, the Preah Vihear provincial governor, issued an order to Ros Heng, the border gate post director, to expressly prevent the access of the temple to uniformed Thai officials, whether they are policemen, soldiers, or government officials.

A merchant who climbed the stairs up to the temple located on the Thai side told the Thai reporter that the reason Cambodia installed its troops on Preah Vihear mountain was because on Wednesday 27 June, a group of Thai army trainees from Ubon Ratchathani provinces visited the temple, they took pictures of the temple, and took notes of the different features of the temple. Their visit lasted until late in the evening, and they caused confusion among the Cambodian soldiers and police officers stationed there who thought that the Thai soldiers plan to re-enter and occupy the temple.

Colonel Thania Keatisan, the commander of the Thai black-clad soldiers stationed in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, said that he observed that the number of Cambodian troops around the temple is more than usual, and he told his soldiers stationed at the base of the mountain to warn tourists about the situation in the temple. He said that he did not close the gate.

The Thai colonel claimed that if tourists still want to climb to see the temple, no one will prevent them, they are asked to be careful only.

The Siamese colonel said that he reported the situation to his superior so that the situation can be resolved officially by high ranking officials from both sides.

Thai soldiers close entrance to Preah Vichear Temple

01 July 2007
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Cambodian border troop officials stationed on the top of the Preah Vihear temple mountain, located in Preah Vihear province, said that the black-clad Thai soldiers are closing the entrance gate providing access to the Preah Vihear temple, and that they do not allow the passage of tourists or Thai and Cambodian people from crossing into Cambodia. The border closing took place after a dispute occurred between local border troops from the two countries.

Colonel Pho Kruy, the commander of the Cambodian border troop based in Preah Vihear temple, said on Sunday 01 July morning that Thai black-clad soldiers from Sisaket province closed the border gate since Saturday after the Cambodian border troop called in Thai soldiers to let them know about the temple access restriction by uniformed Thai soldiers.

Colonel Pho Kruy said: “They want us to provide an answer about their plan to (have us) provide the access to two to three uniformed soldiers as if it is normal.”

According to Cambodian border gate officials, on 28 June, Cambodian border troops invited the Thai border commander for a meeting on the mountain of Preah Vihear temple. The Cambodian troop told their Thai counterparts that a new restriction has been imposed by because they may frighten tourists visiting the temple. However, Cambodia which no longer allows the access to the temple by uniformed Thai soldiersthis new restriction displeased the Thai border guards.

Meas Saroeun, the Preah Vihear deputy provincial governor, said that based on information reported by Cambodian border guards, in addition to the closing of the border entrance, Thai black-clad soldiers also posted signs all along the border.

Meas Saroeun said: “My subordinates reported that the Thai posted signs all over, but our authority went and remove all these signs and they destroyed them.”

On Sunday, no clarification can be obtained from the Thai border troop, and the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh cannot be reached either.

Var Kim Hong, president of the Cambodian government committee for border resolution, said that he did not receive any report regarding this issue from Cambodian border guards yet. “There’s no problem. The local authority, the Preah Vihear provincial authority, and our people based there, including the police and the army, they shouldn’t have any problem, let them bring their issues for us to help resolve together,” Var Kim Hong said.

Cambodian border guards stationed in Preah Vihear temple mountain said that the dispute between Cambodian and Thai border guards always happened, and on each occasion, the border gate was closed (by the Thai side). Nevertheless, the tension along the border was eased when the border defense troops from the two sides looked and found a common ground for understanding each other.