Thai supreme commander admits Thai soldier’s death

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Thai Supreme Commander, General Boonsang Niempradit, declared on 05 August that one soldier of Thailand’s aggression troop in Preah Vihear temple area indeed died. Earlier, the general denied any Thai soldier death in Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak pagoda, saying that it was just a rumor because he did not receive any report from lower ranking soldiers on this death yet. Boonsang Niempradit, who will retire in the near future, claimed that the death report by foreign and Cambodian new media was only a rumor. Nevertheless, the latest report by a Thai newspaper posted on its website in the afternoon of 05 August, indicated that the information sent by lower ranking Thai soldiers to the Thai Supreme Commander indicated that one of its soldiers died at Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak temple, and that the death was attributed to heart disease.

[Thai] Military urges reversal of Cambodia support

Monday, July 14, 2008
TNA

The Foreign Ministry should inform Cambodia and all concerned countries and organisations that Thailand is revoking the joint communique issued to support Cambodia's bid to register the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site, Supreme Commander Boonsang Niempradit said.

Speaking after a seminar with with academics and others with an interest in the temple dispute, Gen Boonsang said measures taken to cope with the disputed areas surrounding the temple are the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry.

The army is responsible for taking care of the country's sovereignty only, he said.

He said any actions on the matter must be taken transparently and with public acknowledgement.

Because of this, the ministry should prepare easy-to-understand documents to clarify all issues the public had doubted.

Pisanu Suvanajata, the deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of East Asian Affairs, suggested the government should join the seven-nation International Coordinating Committee (ICC) to manage the Preah Vihear temple to help protect the country's sovereignty.

Thai involvement would benefit the country as it would be able to air its opinions concerning the national sovereignty, he said.

Feb 1 is the deadline for the submission of documents to join the committee to be set up under the World Heritage Committee's resolution.