Licadho officials visit injured farmers [-While the husband defends Cambodia's borders, his wife is beaten up in land-grabbing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ouqc0agFTA&feature=player_embedded

[Thai and Cambodian] NGOs call for observers, and end to hostilities

6/05/2011
Achara Ashayagachat
Bangkok Post

JAKARTA : Thai and Cambodian non-government organisations have jointly called for a ceasefire between the two countries and urged Asean to quickly deploy observers in the disputed border area.

Suntaree Saeng-ging, secretary general of the Thai NGO Coordinating Committee, and Thun Saray, president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, announced the joint statement, which was signed by some 40 organisations from both countries. They also called on Asean to pay more attention to the plight of displaced people from both countries and to settle the conflict through negotiations.

The current border conflict has forced villagers, especially women and children, to abandon their homes and threatened to prolong the sporadic episodes of violence that started in February. Because soldiers from both sides continue exchanging artillery and small arms fire, it was crucial for Asean leaders to play a leading role in ending the conflict, the two activists said.

Thai and Cambodian NGO representatives attending the Asean Civil Society Conference and Asean People Forum, which are running parallel to the Asean summit here, met with the press to air ideas on how to end the border conflict and on ways the two countries might cooperate.

Cambodia's army condemns Thailand for 10 straight days of arms attacks

PHNOM PENH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Sunday afternoon issued a statement condemning Thai troops for their ten straight days of armed attacks into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

"The repeated invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia have caused gradual damage to Cambodia, it is an unacceptable act," said the statement. "The Royal Cambodian armed forces (RCAF) strongly condemn this latest series of the attacks on Cambodia."

"We'd like to appeal to Thai troops to keep their repeated promises of ceasefire in order to avoid further costing human lives--either soldiers or civilians."

Sporadic clashes still continue between Cambodian, Thai troops

PHNOM PENH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia said on Sunday that Thai troops still continue launching mortar shells into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province throughout Saturday night until Sunday morning.

"Every night, Thai troops open fire at our troops at Ta Krabei temple," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle fields.

"On Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. (local time), they had used weapon M97 to shell at the temple," he said. "Then, occasionally, they continued to fire mortar shells at us at 2:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. this Sunday."

"Cambodian troops had fired back in early Sunday morning in order to defend our territory from the invasion," he said. " However, we had just used small guns to retaliate."

10 Thai troops injured in Surin after 'light weapons' clashes on border

May 1, 2011
The Nation on Sunday
Surin

Flare-up triggered by delay in informing units of ceasefire

Ten more Thai soldiers were injured in the Thai-Cambodian border clashes in Surin's Phanom Dongrak district on Friday night until yesterday morning, bringing the cumulative Thai casualties to seven deaths and 95 injuries in the nine days of clashes.

Among the four injured soldiers from Friday night's clash, First-Lieutenant Kosit Songsaengkajorn suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his neck and back and was transferred to Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, while others were airlifted to the Surin Centre Hospital and Weerawat Yothin Army Camp Hospital the same night. Six other soldiers were injured on Saturday morning.

The border clash reoccurred despite the fact that a ceasefire was agreed by Thai and Cambodian field commanders.

Second Army spokesman Prawit Hookaew said that the Cambodian side explained that it was because "some units weren't yet informed [of the ceasefire]" and "there were some rogue soldiers".

Cambodia to respect ceasefire despite alleged Thai mortar fire

Saturday, April 30, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia on Friday said that Thailand had broken a ceasefire agreed the day before by military commanders and endorsed by politicians in both countries, but that it would respect the deal.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said Thai artillery fired a number of mortars early Friday near Ta Kwai temple on the north-western border. The temple is one of a half dozen sites that have seen exchanges of fire since April 22.

He said six shells landed on Cambodian territory.

Border clashes end, 10 [Thai] soldiers injured

30/04/2011
Bangkok Post

The exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian troops along the border in Surin province which started early Friday night had stopped about 6.30am on Saturday, reports said.

A total of ten soldiers were injured in the fighting, 2 seriously. They all were admitted to Surin hospital and Veerawat Yothin military hospital, according to the reports.

The soldiers are:

1. Lt Kosit Songsaeng
2. Lt Veera Chaichaval
3. Serg 1st Class Boontien Srichan
4. Serg Pongsathorn Bangkaew
5. Pvt Krisada Promchak
6. Pvt Damrong Buakhao
7. Pvt Kraisorn Inchuay
8. Pvt Sarawut Chujamroon
9. Pvt Wanchai Bandith
10. Pvt Sumeth Panthong

Altogether 7 soldiers, one civilian were killed and 95 people and soldiers injured in the border clashes, which started last Friday, April 22.

New skirmishes on Thai-Cambodian border

30 April 2011
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Sporadic clashes broke out on the tense Thai-Cambodian border Saturday, both sides said, casting doubt on peace efforts as the countries’ bloodiest conflict in decades stretched into a ninth day.

The latest hostilities at two ancient temples on the disputed jungle frontier erupted just hours after Cambodia announced a second truce agreement in as many days, although Bangkok denied knowledge of a new deal.

“Even though there is a recent ceasefire agreement... Thailand still breached it,” Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters in Phnom Penh.

“There were exchange of firing last night and this morning,” he said. “It shows that we cannot trust our counterpart.”

Thailand, Cambodia clash at border for 9th day

04.30.11
By THANYARAT DOKSONE and SOPHENG CHEANG

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Troops from Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire at the countries' contested border again Saturday, marking the ninth straight day of clashes that have left at least 16 people dead and displaced nearly 100,000.

Cambodian Col. Suos Sothea said the shooting took place around dawn near the Ta Krabey temple. A Thai soldier on the other side of the frontier gave a similar account, saying the fighting lasted about half an hour. No casualties were reported.

The fighting that began April 22 has killed 15 soldiers on both sides and one civilian, and is the worst between the countries in three years.

Cambodian, Thai troops break truce

PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai troops broke out again early Saturday in the disputed border area near the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, marking the ninth straight day of border clash, said a field military commander.

"The fighting started again this morning at around 4:00 a.m. at Ta Krabei temple, Thai soldiers launched the attack first," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, told Xinhua by telephone from the battle field.

"Thai troops have fired small arms, rockets and artillery at our troops. We have also opened fire to defend our territory, but we have not used heavy weapons to fight back yet."

It's too early to report casualties, he said.

In Brief Thai and Cambodian evacuees wait and see

Friday, April 29, 2011
IRIN

One day after a ceasefire was reached between Thailand and Cambodia, more than 50,000 displaced civilians on both sides of the disputed border remain in temporary shelters, afraid to go home, aid workers say.

"Families will not return home before tomorrow. They need to be sure they will be safe," Leena Kamarainen, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Cambodian country office, told IRIN.

More than 26,000 people in four camps in Cambodia's northern Oddor Meanchey Province, and 31,500 in Thailand's 27 camps in northeastern Surin and Buriram provinces, will continue to receive relief kits and food from the Red Cross.

"The ceasefire is no grounds for return yet," said Patrick Fox, head of regional disaster management of the IFRC in Bangkok. The fighting, which began on 22 April, is the second time this year that the two neighbours have clashed over the Preah Vihear temple, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands on both sides.

Thailand voices disappointment over latest clash with Cambodia

BANGKOK, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Thai government was disappointed with the latest round of clash although both sides have earlier reached an agreement to a ceasefire, government spokesman said on Friday.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, Thai government spokesman, said the Thai government also felt sorry for the lost of lives of soldiers and civilian, Matichon online reported.

From eight days of clash, Thailand has lost seven soldiers and one civilian with more than 70 people injured.

Thai-Cambodia border tense as Phnom Penh claims truce

29/04/2011
AFP

Heavy weapons fire pounded the Thai-Cambodian border for an eighth day on Friday as Bangkok denied claims from Phnom Penh of a truce to end the countries' bloodiest conflict in decades.

The Cambodian defence ministry announced a peace deal on Friday, after clashes on the disputed jungle frontier shattered a previous short-lived ceasefire.

But Colonel Preeda Butraj, a spokesman for the Thai army in the country's northeast, dismissed suggestions of an agreement.

"I have to say that Cambodia is unreliable and untrustworthy. I don't know what their statement said but I suggest that we shouldn't trust it. We have to wait and see what the situation is like day by day," he said.

Thai military: Deadly fighting resumes at Thai-Cambodian border

April 29, 2011
By the CNN Wire Staff

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A Thai military spokesman says another soldier died from the clashes
• Military source: Unit-level commanders agreed to a cease fire Thursday
• Ancient temples are at the core of the dispute
• Indonesia offers to help resolve the crisis

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Fighting raged on along the turbulent Thai-Cambodian border Friday, one day after a military source said local commanders from both sides had agreed to a cease-fire.

Thai military spokesman Col. Sansern Kawekumnerd said Friday that another Thai soldier died and four soldiers were injured in the fighting.

At least six Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed in the clashes that started last week. Cambodia has said three of its troops have been killed in the fighting.

The cease-fire agreed upon Thursday was forged at the unit commander level but not at the higher levels of the militaries, a Thai military source said.

Thai army spokesman: 'We did not fire first' [-The Thai army didn't use cluster bomb either, remember that?]

April 29, 2011
Xinhua

The Thai army did not fire first during the latest round of clashes, an army spokesman told Xinhua on Friday.

"During the latest fighting over night which left one Thai soldier dead and another three to four injured, we did not fire first," Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Thai Army spokesman said in an telephone interview with Xinhua on Friday morning.

"The fighting continued from 09:00 p.m. on Thursday until 06:00 a.m. on Friday, during which the Cambodians fired small artillery and threw bombs at us and we have to fire back at them," the spokesman said.

The clashes happened less than 12 hours after ceasefire talks between Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thai Army Region 2 and Major General Chea Mon, commander of Military Region 4, during which both sides agreed to halt fighting.

The [Thai] government has no intention whatsoever of using the Thai-Cambodian border conflict for political gain (sic!); Suthep

Suthep slates foreigners' Thai analysis

29/04/2011
Bangkok Post

The government has no intention whatsoever of using the Thai-Cambodian border conflict for political gain, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, dismissed criticism by foreign analysts that the government might be using the border conflict with Cambodia to tout its political credentials.

Since the latest border spat erupted last Friday, foreign media outlets have offered wide-ranging analytical comment on the cause of the fighting.

US magazine Time interviewed a public policy analyst who said the Thai army was using the security dispute to attract attention, command influence and seek a prominent role in politics.

Duncan McCargo, professor of Southeast Asian politics at the University of Leeds in England, suggested in The Independent broadsheet newspaper that the border dispute was essentially the result of an ongoing struggle between Thailand's military, the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.

Thailand, Cambodia fighting continues despite cease-fire agreement

Thursday, April 28, 2011
AP

BANGKOK, Thailand — Military officials say border clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces are continuing despite a cease-fire agreement.

Cambodian Col. Suos Sothea said fighting broke out Friday near the Ta Krabey temple, which lies in a disputed zone along the frontier. Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd also said there had been clashes.

Soldier and civilian killed in fresh fighting

April 29, 2011
The Nation

One Thai soldier and one civilian were killed and 11 troops wounded in a new round of border fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces throughout Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, three Thai villagers based in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district have been arrested for allegedly providing target coordinates for Cambodia's rocket attacks as well as food and supplies to Cambodian soldiers.

Sanat Phimkao, a former village head, has been released due to insufficient evidence but as of last night, Khamphan Wongsa and Sermsuk Phochaile were still being detained by police for further questioning.

The arrests came after the military received information allegedly indicating they had shopped for supplies and food and delivered them to Cambodian soldiers.

The military was also suspicious because rockets from BM21 multiple launchers were landing frequently in Nong Khan Na village. Police found in their mobile phones a large number of numbers with area codes in Cambodia.

Thai-Cambodian Fighting Intensifies Amid New Diplomatic Efforts

An injured Thai soldier on a stretcher is helped to board a helicopter to be transferred to a hospital following the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia in Surin province, northeastern Thailand, April 28, 2011 (Photo: AP)

VOA News
April 28, 2011

Officials say Thai and Cambodian forces have agreed to a cease-fire, raising hopes for an end to fighting that has raged for a week in a disputed border area near two ancient Hindu temples.

Cambodian officials said the cease-fire was negotiated Thursday during a meeting of field commanders after some of the fiercest fighting since the skirmishes began on April 22. They said the sides had agreed to open a single border point to allow displaced villagers to return to their homes, and to meet regularly to avoid future misunderstandings.

Thai officials said earlier that one soldier was killed as fighting intensified and spread overnight, bringing the death toll in seven days of fighting to 15.

Thai-Cambodia clash toll climbs to 15

Thu, Apr 28, 2011
AFP

BANGKOK - Heavy weapons fire rocked the Thai-Cambodian border for a seventh day on Thursday as officials confirmed a 15th death in the bloodiest fighting between the neighbours in decades.

"One Thai soldier died during a clash this morning and four were wounded," Major Sukit Subanjui, deputy spokesman for northeastern region Thai army, told AFP.

Eight Cambodian and six Thai troops have died since fighting began on Friday along their shared border, prompting growing diplomatic pressure on the neighbours to end the conflict.

Bangkok has said a Thai civilian has also been killed.