Military denies it laid mines

Wednesday, 08 October 2008
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

Preah Vihear Province

Cambodian officers deny they planted explosives on border

CAMBODIAN military commanders in Preah Vihear province, where Thai soldiers lost limbs to land mines on Monday, have denied laying new mines on the disputed border, countering claims by Thai troops that they are planting explosives.

"I completely deny the accusation by Thai soldiers that Cambodian troops are putting down new mines," said Yim Phim, commander of RCAF Brigade 43, which is stationed in the area near Preah Vihear temple. "All of these mines were laid during the war in the 1980s and 1990s," he added Tuesday.

The border area in northwest Cambodia remains one of the most heavily-mined regions in the world, the result of fierce fighting during the Kingdom's protracted civil war.

A senior provincial official in Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket province said Monday that the two wounded Thai troops "stepped on a land mine that was most likely planted by Cambodian troops before they left that area".

The mine incident followed last Friday's firefight between Cambodian and Thai troops that slightly wounded three soldiers and was the first armed clash to erupt on the border since a standoff over disputed territory began in July.

After an apparent detente that saw hundreds of troops from both sides deployed away from the border following a series of crisis talks between Cambodian and Thai officials, the violence has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the negotiations on land that both countries claim.

The de facto front line remained tense Tuesday, with Cambodian troops stockpiling ammunition, saying they were worried about a Thai assault.

Villagers living in the area also said they feared fighting. "The situation looks worse and worse every day," said restaurant owner Sieng Leng. "The soldiers sometimes tell me to leave.... The situation is still very confused and people are worried about security."

Bangkok continues to maintain that last week's shootout was started when Cambodian troops crossed into Thailand and that Thai rangers had only fired back in self-defence. But on Tuesday Thailand softened its tone towards the incident, which it had previously called a "brutal and aggressive act".

"The whole incident may have resulted from a misunderstanding," the Thai foreign ministry said on its website, adding that the land mines that wounded the Thai troopers "were likely placed there some time ago, though this had to be verified".

Khem Sophoan, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, the country's main demining agency, said he knew of no new plan to lay land mines. "Even if there was a plan, [RCAF] could not do it because it's illegal," he said.

Both sides have expressed cautious optimism that the border dispute will come closer to resolution when the prime ministers from the two countries meet Monday. "If the meeting is fruitful, it will help things, but we don't know what will happen," RCAF's Yim Phin said.

Soldier tells his side of border clash

Cambodian soldier Chi Meng shows where he was slightly wounded during last Friday’s firefight with Thai troops over disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple, which has been the focus of a prolonged military standoff between the two countries. Last week’s incident was the first eruption of violence since the crisis began in July. (Photo: Heng Chivoan)

Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Preah Vihear province

Thais suddenly opened fire while walking away, he says

WITH a mix of bravado and surprise, Cambodian soldier Chi Meng describes the few short minutes last Friday during which a simmering standoff with Thai soldiers over disputed territory on the two countries' border erupted in violence.

Like they had numerous times before, he said, Thai troops had come to chat with the seven Cambodians deployed some two kilometres from Preah Vihear temple, an 11th-century ruin and flashpoint for the continuing faceoff between the two armies.

"I told them that we couldn't negotiate the dispute here. I told them to leave the problem to the top levels of government to be solved," said the 33-year-old former Khmer Rouge fighter who said he joined the military after the movement's collapse in 1998.

The 16 Thai troopers turned away, he said, adding: "I didn't really think too much about it because Thai soldiers usually come to talk to us." But they suddenly swung on the Cambodians and opened fire.

"I would never have thought that the Thai soldiers had decided to fire on us after they had already turned away," Chi Meng told the Post Monday.

"We weren't paying attention and had to defend ourselves with a B-40 rocket and AK rifles," he added.

The Thai government has insisted it was Cambodian soldiers who intruded on Thai territory and provoked the shoot-out that left two Thais and Chi Meng wounded.

"The Cambodian soldiers suddenly opened fire at the Thai rangers who were unarmed, prompting the Thai unit stationed nearby to return fire to protect the Thai personnel in self-defence," a Thai foreign ministry statement released Sunday said.

But Both Chi Meng and Bang Chin, another Cambodian trooper involved in the clash, dispute the claim.

"The Thais were firing many bullets at us - they were aiming to kill us," Chi Meng said, claiming that he shot one Thai soldier in the stomach and adding: "I watched him drop his gun and flee."

I THINK THE THAI SOLDIERS WERE LUCKY THAT DAY.

Despite pleas for calm following the Friday fighting and the ensuing crisis talks between Cambodian and Thai military commanders in the area, two land mine blasts Monday that wounded Thai soldiers have put the front line back on edge, with some Cambodian soldiers convinced the Thais were preparing to mount an assault.

"From now on I won't allow [a similar incident] to happen," said Chi Meng. "I think the Thai soldiers were lucky that day. If we decide to attack, I don't think many of them are going to keep their lives."

Decades of Thai encroachment, isn't that enough patience for Cambodia?

Cambodia needs to be more patient

Tuesday October 07, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

The political temperature along the Thai-Cambodian border has gone up again since troops from the two sides briefly exchanged gunfire on Friday, wounding two Thai soldiers.

The Thai-Cambodian border has been tense since the time Phnom Penh moved to register the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site in July.

Tension had been building up after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's criticism that Thailand was politically unprepared to chair this year's Asean Summit and his denial of Cambodian encroachment on Thai soil at the Ta Kwai temple in Surin province in September.

It reached breaking point last Friday when nervous Cambodian troops opened fire on Thai soldiers patrolling near the Preah Vihear Temple, injuring two Thai para-military rangers from the Suranaree Task Force.

According to a Thai military report, the action was taken after the Cambodian soldiers consulted their supervisors by radio and were heard to receive instructions to fire at the Thai soldiers.

The Thai government has tried to use bilateral talks all along as a means to resolve the problems with its neigbour. Foreign ministers of the two countries met twice in late July and August.

However, the internal political problems in Thailand have made it difficult to bring the issue of negotiations before the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), since Article 190 of the Constitution demands that the holding of such talks first receive parliamentary approval.

Those closely monitoring the situation along the border understand very well that the meeting between the heads of the regional border committee from Thailand and Cambodia on Aug 29 to discuss the redeployment of troops in equal numbers was postponed due to such difficulties.

The postponement did not mean Thailand was trying to prolong the problem as Cambodia might get the impression.

Phnom Penh has tried to put pressure on Thailand by saying that if the country keeps delaying the process, the issue would be forwarded to a multilateral session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Nobody wants to go to war as fighting would only cause unnecessary deaths and destruction and benefit no one, especially border traders who will be affected the most.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat are due to hold another round of talks with their Cambodian counterparts on Oct 13. The Cambodian government needs to be more patient if it is serious about ending the border disputes.

Restraint urged in border dispute

Monday, 06 October 2008
Written by Thet Sambath and Brendan Brady
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIAN officials are urging restraint after a round of angry finger-pointing over Friday's shootout between Cambodian and Thai troops on the border near Preah Vihear temple.

"Cambodia has shown clearly that Thai soldiers are provoking confrontation, but our side is trying to continue negotiations and avoid any more fights," said Foreign Ministry Undersecretary of State Koy Kuong on Sunday, after one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were injured in the first military clash over disputed border territory since a standoff began in July.

Cambodia on Saturday accused Thai troops of trespassing and firing first. "Such armed provocation" could lead to "full-scale armed hostilities", a Foreign Ministry staement said.

Thai authorities responded later that day that Cambodian soldiers crossed the border and fired on unarmed Thai rangers in "a brutal and aggressive act".

Srey Doek, commander of Cambodian forces in the area, said after he met with his Thai counterpart Saturday that the situation had normalised.

Top military officials from both sides have insisted reinforcements would not be sent to the border. Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of RCAF, is scheduled to visit soldiers stationed along the border today.

Phay Siphan: Thailand presented their apologies to us for the incident which took place on Friday, and they recognized that their soldiers started it

A return to normalcy at the Cambodian-Thai border

06 October 2008
By Duong Sokha
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the original article in French
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Phay Siphan, the new secretary of state and spokesman for the Council of Ministers, assured on Monday 06 October that the situation is returning to normal at the location about 2 kilometers from the Preah Viheat temple, where a shooting between soldiers from the two countries took place.

“We visited the location. Officials from the two armies met each other on Saturday. Thailand presented their apologies to us for the incident which took place on Friday, and they recognized that their soldiers started it. To date, the meeting between the two prime ministers [Cambodia and Thailand] planned for 13 October in Phnom Penh, at the Council of Ministers at 9:30 AM, has not been changed. I hope that the border issue will be approached during the discussions,” Phay Siphan explained while indicating that Cambodian troops deployed at the border remain at their position.

On Saturday, Hor Namhong, the Cambodian minister of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the Thai embassy in Cambodia to express his wrath. Recalling the facts – i.e. that Thai soldiers trespassed into Cambodian territory of Phnom Troap and that they shot on Cambodian soldiers posted in the disputed zone of Preah Vihear and injured Cambodian soldiers – he explained that Cambodian soldiers returned the fire in “self-defense.” This exchange of fire between the two camps is a first since the start of border crisis between the two countries on 15 July.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia considers the action perpetrated by Thai soldiers as a serious armed provocation” which is contrary to the agreements concluded during the meeting of the two ministers of Foreign Affairs on 28 July in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and also on 18-19 August in Cha-am, Thailand, the ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated.

The Cambodian government “sharply protest,” – words written in capital letters in the communiqué – against this “deplorable and intentional armed provocation” by Thai soldiers. Hor Namhong called on the Thai government to prevent such incident from taking place again in the future, and he also warned that these incidents could lead “to very serious consequence, notably to the opening of general armed confrontations which would negatively affect the current efforts made by the two governments to find a peaceful and amicable solution to the current border problems.”

Furthermore, several overseas Cambodian associations have launched a joint petition on Sunday 05 October, in order to obtain 1 million thumbprints from their compatriots to call on the UN and member-countries to review “the issue of the violation of Cambodia’s integrity and sovereignty by neighboring countries,” the communiqué explained.

The need for a temple deal

Monday October 06, 2008
Bangkok Post EDITORIAL

The political crisis in Bangkok has caused several unfortunate consequences that were not foreshadowed. At the top of the list is the danger that the simmering Preah Vihear temple dispute might get out of hand. Last Friday, Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire which caused casualties on both sides before cooler heads stepped in. There are differing versions as to what caused this extraordinary exchange of hostile fire, and a full investigation should be held quickly. But it is far more important that the government focus more diligently on this and other matters of national interest which it has lately ignored.

That matter of national interest turned into a nasty matter of national security on Friday. According to the Foreign Ministry, Cambodian troops "were definitely inside Thai territory" and opened fire. The initial story from Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith agreed that Thai troops were in Thailand, but said they fired the first shot - a grenade which wounded two Khmer soldiers. Reports also agree the exchange of fire lasted less than two minutes, and a Thai soldier also was hit by Cambodian gunfire.

This is the danger of troops facing each other across a disputed, semi-jungle border. Any tiny misunderstanding or accident can cause a serious incident that can easily escalate. As history tells us, minor events have caused major wars.

A number of happy circumstances make war unlikely here. Both governments understand that an escalation of violence is in no one's interest. Similarly, senior military officers in charge of border security are in regular contact. Troops try to communicate any unusual movements to their counterparts across the frontier to avoid misunderstanding.

There is a vacuum, however, in top-level contact and negotiations. For a while, Khmer elections and post-poll formation of a new government left Cambodian without a foreign minister. Then, for the past three months or so, Thailand has lurched through four foreign ministers and a startling court case which has changed the shape of foreign policy. Since the resignation of Noppadon Pattama over the Preah Vihear temple issue, top-level relations with Cambodia have fallen into limbo.

None of the three ministers who followed Mr Noppadon has been able to focus on the important question of relations with Cambodia. Professional diplomat Tej Bunnag held a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in Siem Reap which was little more than a formality. Saroj Chavanavirat, another professional, barely had time to move into, and then out of, his office when his prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was disqualified by the Constitution Court. Current Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat has spent most of his working time at the United Nations.

The Preah Vihear temple issue is a top priority for several reasons. Peace and national security, territorial integrity, historical pride and international tourism are a few of them. The dispute over the land around the temple is well-known, but represents a festering sore. The neighbours have agreed that their foreign ministers should discuss and try to heal this wound. It is vital that they get down to it, before another military incident or ultra-nationalists further inflame the problem.

Mr Sompong and his ministry have a full plate of issues. But Cambodian relations, particularly discussions of the overlapping 4.6 square kilometres around Preah Vihear, should be at the top of the agenda. If the foreign ministers can get to work, they can make it clear that Friday's brief firefight is the last.

Thailand says Cambodia fired first in border clash

Sun Oct 5, 2008

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand accused Cambodia on Sunday of firing the first shots in a border incident in which three soldiers were wounded, saying it was "a brutal and aggressive act" that had violated friendly relations.

In a letter to the Cambodian government, Thailand's foreign ministry demanded Phnom Penh ensure there is no repeat of the incident near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

"The shooting by the Cambodian troops against the unarmed Thai paramilitary rangers is regarded as a brutal and aggressive act and is contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Cambodia and Thailand," the letter said.

Cambodia issued a similar protest on Saturday, accusing Thailand of "intentional armed provocation" and warning it could lead to conflict.

However, Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told Reuters that Phnom Penh had agreed to an investigation into Friday's exchange of fire and Thailand's foreign ministry said the situation at the border was calm.

Two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier were injured in what was the first clash in the disputed territory since the two countries agreed to pull back troops in August after a tense month-long stand-off.

Each country has accused the other of encroaching on its territory.

Foreign ministers of the often fractious southeast Asian neighbors agreed in July to find a peaceful end to the diplomatic and military spat, which centers on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the temple.

Both sides have claimed Preah Vihear for decades. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962 and the ruling has rankled in Thailand ever since.

The row earlier this year was sparked by protesters seeking to overthrow the Thai government, who attacked Bangkok's backing of Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear as a United Nations World Heritage site.

Political elements on both sides fueled the conflict for their own ends, but tensions eased considerably after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's victory in a general election in late July in which the temple, and nationalism, featured heavily.

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Ed Cropley and Alex Richardson)

Bangkok now claims that Thai troops were unarmed, did Thai soldiers shoot M-79 grenades with their bare hands?

Border shootout prompts protest to Cambodia govt [by Bangkok]

FIVE THREE TROOPS WOUNDED IN EXCHANGE OF FIRE

Sunday October 05, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL WASSANA NANUAM
Bangkok Post

"[Thai] Gen Vichit [Yathip] said a [Thai] soldier cracked under the strain and fired shots into the air, prompting the exchange of gunfire"

The Foreign Ministry yesterday protested to the Cambodian government for what it sees as aggression and a violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity committed by Cambodian soldiers. On Friday, Thai and Cambodian soldiers in the border area of Si Sa Ket province clashed.

Two Thai and three one Cambodian soldiers were wounded.

Cambodian charge d'affaires to Bangkok Ouk Sophorn was summoned last night to meet permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul at the ministry and was given an aide-memoire.

Speaking after the one-hour meeting, Mr Virasakdi said Thailand had protested to Cambodia after its troops opened fire on the Thai troops.

''The Thai government demands the Cambodian government ensure that a similar incident does not recur because this incident might affect attempts by both countries to seek a peaceful solution to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute,'' said Mr Virasakdi.

The Thai para-military rangers from Suranaree Task Force were patrolling along the Thai-Cambodian border inside Thai territory near Phu Ma Khua last Friday.

When they arrived in an area about one kilometre to the west of Preah Vihear temple, they discovered an intrusion into Thai territory by a group of Cambodian soldiers who were digging trenches in the area around Preah Vihear temple.

Four unarmed Thai para-military rangers were told to notify the Cambodian soldiers that they had intruded into Thai territory and asked them to leave.

But the Cambodian soldiers consulted their superiors by radio and were heard to receive instructions to fire at the Thai soldiers.

The Cambodian troops started firing their guns into the air. The Thai para-military rangers decided to leave the scene when the Cambodian soldiers opened fire at them, prompting the Thai unit stationed nearby to return fire to protect the Thai troops.

''The Thai government considers the intrusion of the Cambodian soldiers into Thailand's territory a serious violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

''Firing on unarmed Thai para-military rangers is a brutal and aggressive act and is contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between the two countries,'' said the aide-memoire.

Mr Virasakdi said digging trenches violated the agreement between the two armed forces made during the Special Meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Committee in Surin province on Aug 13, that both sides must refrain from digging trenches close to the Preah Vihear.

The Cambodians' action also violated the agreement between the two foreign ministers for soldiers from the two sides to exercise restraint, he said.

''Mr Ouk Sophorn was still adamant that the incident occurred inside Cambodian territory, according to their report,'' he said.

The Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh was summoned to a protest by the Cambodian government.

Former deputy army chief Vichit Yathip, who has a close relationship with Cambodian military leaders, said he had spoken to Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh about the clash.

Gen Vichit said a soldier cracked under the strain and fired shots into the air, prompting the exchange of gunfire.

Cambodian and Thai commanders meet at site of border skirmish

Sunday, October 05, 2008

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP) - Cambodian and Thai commanders met at their tense disputed border area Saturday amid accusations that each side had caused a border skirmish that left three soldiers injured.

One Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded when units exchanged gun and rocket fire during a brief clash Friday near an ancient temple in the area.

In an attempt to cool tensions Srey Dek, commander of Cambodian forces in the area, met with his Thai counterpart, Colonel Chayan Huaysoongnern, on Saturday afternoon at a Buddhist pagoda in the disputed territory, said the Cambodian cabinet spokesman.

"The two sides called for the situation to return to normalcy," Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan told AFP.

The foreign ministries of both countries issued formal letters on Saturday accusing the other's troops of trespassing and firing first in Friday's skirmish.

Cambodia's letter to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh warned that "armed provocation by Thai soldiers could lead to very grave consequences, including full-scale armed hostility".

Later Saturday the Thai foreign ministry responded with its own letter, given to a Cambodian diplomat.

"Thailand protested on two points -- that Cambodian soldiers trespassed into Thai territory and that Cambodian soldiers opened fire first," a foreign ministry official said.

The clash came amid attempts to make progress in talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute.

The dispute flared in July after the Khmer temple of Preah Vihear was awarded world heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

That spilled into a military standoff, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple, but the neighbours have continued to trade accusations of violating each other's sovereignty.

Phay Siphan said Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat was still expected to visit the Cambodian capital later this month to speak with Cambodian premier Hun Sen about the simmering border dispute.

"The talks between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers on October 13 in Phnom Penh will take place as planned," he said.

During an inspection of the skirmish site Saturday, Cambodian deputy commander General Chea Dara said Thai troops had intruded more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) into Cambodia.

"Our troops are patient but they must protect themselves too," Dara told reporters.

Thai troops appeared to be keeping their distance from their Cambodian counterparts on Saturday but a Cambodian officer said the Thais had dug a fresh trench on disputed land.

"Digging a trench breaches an earlier agreement between Cambodia and Thailand," said Major Meas Yoeurn.

Photos from Phnom Troap: Injured Khmer soldier TECK MIENG; Khmer soldier defending border BAREFEET

Teck Mieng (C), a Cambodian soldier injured during a clash with Thai soldiers, is seen at Phnom Trop mountain near the Thai border in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, October 4, 2008. Cambodia protested to Thailand on Saturday about a border shooting incident in which three solders were wounded and said in a letter to the Thai ambassador that such "intentional armed provocation" could lead to conflict. Two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier were injured in what was the first clash in the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear temple since the two countries agreed to pull back in August after a serious confrontation. REUTERS/Stringer
Cambodia soldiers sit on Phnom Trop mountain near the Thai border in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, October 4, 2008. Cambodia protested to Thailand on Saturday about a border shooting incident in which three solders were wounded and said in a letter to the Thai ambassador that such "intentional armed provocation" could lead to conflict. Two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier were injured in what was the first clash in the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear temple since the two countries agreed to pull back in August after a serious confrontation. REUTERS/Stringer

If what The Nation reports is factual, Tea Banh must be out of his mind when he said "Cambodia was NOT SERIOUS" about what happened at the border

Chavalit's aide calls Cambodian defence minister following clash

October 5, 2008
The Nation

Gen Wichit Yathip, an aide of Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, said Saturday that he had called and reached an understanding with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh over a border skirmish between Thai and Cambodian troops.

Wichit said Tea Banh affirmed with him that Cambodia was not serious about what happened at the border near Preah Vihear Temple.

The skirmish occurred Friday. Wichit both sides thought they were on their soil and did not intend to harm the other.

Cambodia warns Thailand of full-scale hostilities

Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The Cambodian government accused Thailand on Saturday of trying to provoke "full-scale armed hostilities" between the two neighbors after a cross-border gunfight.

Thai soldiers stationed in a disputed border area were engaged in a brief clash that wounded one Cambodian and two Thai troops on Friday several miles (kilometers) west of Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Thai forces entered Cambodian territory and were the first to open fire, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Cambodia strongly protests against this deplorable and intentional armed provocation by Thai soldiers," it said.

It warned that such a provocation "could lead to very grave consequences, including full-scale armed hostilities."

Tharit Charungvat, Thailand's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said a protest note would be delivered Saturday to the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok over the incident.

Tharit said Friday evening that Thai troops had been patrolling in their own territory when they encountered the Cambodian soldiers.

"The Cambodian troops shot at the Thai troops first, wounding two soldiers. One Cambodian soldier was also wounded after the Thais responded," he said.

Lt. Gen. Wiboonsak Ngeepan, the regional army commander for northeastern Thailand, said it was unclear if the Cambodians intruded intentionally or had strayed into Thailand because "the area is dense forest."

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said its troops returned fire in self defense after they were attacked by Thai soldiers. The attack was just over one mile (about two kilometers) west of the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple, it said.

The pagoda is where border tensions between the two neighbors erupted on July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's application to have the 11th century temple named a World Heritage Site.

Thailand sent troops to occupy the pagoda, also claimed by Cambodia.

Cambodia responded with its own troop deployment. The two sides came close to a shootout on July 17 when Cambodian monks sought to celebrate Buddhist lent in the pagoda.

Troops on both sides raised their weapons, but no shots were fired, and the Cambodians eventually backed down.

Since then there has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area, and talks have been held several times to resolve the conflicting claims, but without much progress.

Friday's clash was the most serious incident yet, and occurred despite repeated statements by both governments that they are committed to preventing violence.

Diplomatic letters fly; Thai, Cambodian soldiers confer next week after border clash

October 5, 2008
PNA/TNA

UBON RATCHATHANI, Oct. 4 — Thai soldiers guarding disputed border areas along the Thai-Cambodian border have been ordered to be "extra cautious in performing their duty" following Friday's clash which left two Thai and one Cambodian soldiers wounded as senior officers of both armies are expected to meet next week to create better understanding, Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak Neeparn, Thailand's Second Army Region commander said on Saturday.

Foreign Ministry Permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul invited Cambodia's charge d'affairs in Bangkok to lodge a protest letter, following Cambodia's presentation of a letter of protest in Phnom Penh earlier Saturday. The Cambodian foreign ministry letter to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh protested the Thai action in the border clash.

According to media reports from the Khmer capital, Phnom Penh said that Cambodian troops had only returned fire in self defence and went on to warn that "armed provocation by Thai soldiers could lead to very grave consequences, including full scale armed hostility".

Gen. Wiboonsak, who oversees security affairs in northeastern Thailand, told journalists after visiting the two wounded soldiers at an army hospital in Ubon Ratchathani that the shooting took place in a disputed area of Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia, and gave assurances that military officers on both sides would deal responsibly with the situation.

The Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement, issued Friday night, quoting Thai military sources as saying that the exchange of gunfire took place at about 3.45 pm when a Thai military unit patrolling the border about one kilometre west of the ancient Preah Vihear temple encountered a Cambodian military unit.

The Thai soldiers said the Cambodian troops had encroached about one kilometre into Thai territory, the statement said. Negotiations asking the Cambodian troops to withdraw as requested by the Thais failed.

"As the Thai military unit was moving out of the area to report to their commander, the Cambodian military unit opened fire at them," according to the Thai ministry statement.

"The Thai side was therefore compelled to return fire," the statement noted.

But Gen. Wiboonsak described the clash as an "accident" as Cambodian troops were rotating personnel at that time and Thai soldiers misjudged that they had encroached the Thai territory and the clash ensued.

The incident will be brought before next week's discussion between military personnel of the two countries, he said, adding that Thai troops would not be reinforced in the disputed area.

He said the two Thai wounded soldiers were now out of danger and are expected to stay at the hospital for one week.

Both Thai and Cambodian officials said the area was calm Saturday as an investigation was underway to determine how the incident occurred since troops on both sides have been ordered not to fire.

Tensions between the two neighbours flared up in July after Preah Vihear temple, which belongs to Cambodia, was awarded world heritage status by the UNESCO, angering Thai nationalists who still claim ownership of the 11th century temple.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.

Cambodia Protests Border Clash with Thailand

Thai soldiers sit near Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, some 543 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, 04 Oct 2008

By VOA News
04 October 2008

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry has formally protested Thailand's action in a border skirmish that wounded at least one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers.

A letter sent Saturday to the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh blames Thai soldiers for the incident, and says such provocation could lead to full-scale armed hostility.

The clash broke out Friday near the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple, which is at the center of recent skirmishes. Officials from both sides say the exchange lasted a few minutes. It is not clear who fired first.

The border dispute erupted in July after Cambodia won World Heritage status for the Preah Vihear temple. Both countries claim ownership of the surrounding land.

Cambodia and Thailand had up to 1,000 troops stationed along the border. By August, tensions eased as both sides agreed to pull back troops.

The new Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat says he will seek to make progress on resolving the conflict when he visits Cambodia October 13.

The International Court of Justice granted sovereignty of the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962. But many Thai nationalists rejected the court's ruling, which also left ownership of land surrounding the temple in dispute.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

Thailand lodges protest against alleged Cambodian intrusion

BANGKOK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thai Foreign Ministry lodged a letter to Cambodian embassy Saturday afternoon to protest against what Thai authorities alleged Cambodian soldiers' intrusion into Thai territory and acts to open fire at Thai para-military rangers, which led to two injuries on Friday.

Thai Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul on Saturday invited Cambodia's charge d'affairs in Bangkok to lodge a protest letter.

The response came after Cambodia's similar act of lodging a protest letter to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh earlier Saturday to blame Thai side for the Friday's border clash.

According to the Aide-Memoire issued Saturday by the Thai Foreign Ministry, the Thai side recorded Friday's clash, citing a report by the Second Army Region of the Royal Thai Army, that the Thai para-military rangers from Suranaree Task Force was patrolling along the border about one kilometer to the west of Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) Temple at around 3:45 p.m. 0845 GMT within Thai soil when they discovered the intrusion of a group of Cambodian soldiers into Thai territory.

Four unarmed Thai rangers asked the Cambodian soldiers to leave, but the latter received instruction from superiors and started firing guns, first into the air then at the Thai rangers, causing the Thai side to return fire.

Two unarmed Thai rangers were found injured after the exchange of gunfire, according to the account.

The letter went on to say "the above-mentioned intrusion of the Cambodian soldiers into Thailand's territory is a serious violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Furthermore, the shooting by the Cambodian troops against the unarmed Thai para-military rangers is regarded as a brutal and aggressive act and is contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Cambodia and Thailand. It also constituted a grave violation of the agreement between the two Armed Forces made during the Special Meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Committee Meeting in Surin Province on 13 August 20-8 that both sides must refrain from digging trenches in the area around Khao Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear Mountain)."

The Thai government thus "strongly protests against the said act of aggression and the violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity committed by the Cambodian soldiers," and demanded the Cambodian government to ensure that similar incident does not recur in the future.

Both sides have claimed their soldiers had acted in self-defense and accused the other side of intruding into their territory.

Earlier reports said one Cambodian soldier was wounded during the clash.

Meanwhile. Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak Neeparn, Thailand's Second Army Region commander said on Saturday that senior officers of both Thai and Cambodian armies were expected to meet next week to discuss the clash.

Wiboonsak, who oversees security affairs in northeastern Thailand, told journalists after visiting the two wounded soldiers at an army hospital in the northeastern border province of Ubon Ratchathani that the shooting took place in a disputed area of Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia, and gave assurances that military officers on both sides would deal responsibly with the situation.

But Wiboonsak described the clash as an "accident" as Cambodian troops were rotating personnel at that time and Thai soldiers misjudged that they had encroached the Thai territory and the clash ensued.

He added that Thai troops would not be reinforced in the disputed area.

He said the two Thai wounded rangers were now out of danger and are expected to stay at the hospital for one week.

Cambodian media reported that the Cambodian government was accusing Thai soldiers of being the first to open fire and went onto warn that "armed provocation by Thai soldiers could lead to very grave consequences, including full scale armed hostility".

Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat will visit Cambodia on October 13 to negotiate over the border dispute, Gen Wichit Yathip, an aide of Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, said Saturday.

Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in diplomatic quarrels and military stand-off tensions along the disputed border around Preah Vihear and at least two other ancient temples after Cambodia applied to UNESCO successfully to list the temple as World Heritage site in July, which resurrected sentiment among Thais who have been reluctant to accept the 1962 International Court of Justice verdict to award the ownership of the 11th-century temple to Cambodia.

Cold border standoff turns hot

Saturday, 04 October 2008
Written by Thet Sambath and Brendan Brady
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian and Thai troops suffered injuries during an exchange of gunfire Friday afternoon near Preah Vihear temple, in the first real military fighting of the prolonged border standoff, say Cambodian officials.

"One Cambodian was shot in the arm, and we believe one or two Thai soldiers were injured," according to Yim Phim, the commander of brigade 43, which is stationed in the area.

He said the incident started at around 3:00pm when about a dozen Thai soldiers approached a Cambodian army encampment at Phnom Troap, just a couple kilometres from the World-Heritage listed temple, and demanded troops there leave.

"They showed them a Thai-made map and told the Cambodians to get off the land. An argument went on for a while," said Yim Phim. "The Thais then withdrew about ten meters and started firing."

"Thai soldiers first fired an M-79 (grenade launcher), and Cambodians shot back with a B-40 (grenade launcher). Then both sides fired with machine guns," he said.

He said the Thai soldiers withdrew across the border after dark, around 5:30, while the Cambodian soldiers remained in their original position.

"In that area, soldiers from both countries used to stay close to each other, but the situation has changed and now everyone is on high alert."

Srey Doek, the highest-ranking military official stationed inside the Preah Vihear temple complex, told the Post Saturday morning that his Thai counterpart had requested to meet him Saturday afternoon in the local pagoda, but he still did not have authority from his superiors to attend.

Cambodian government and army leaders have thrown a wet blanket on the first reported violent military clash since the standoff began more than 11 weeks ago, characterizing it as a localized incident that would not threaten to spread to other points along the border.

Chea Morn, head commander of Military Region 4, which includes Preah Vihear province, corroborated that "a clash", as described by the brigade commander, had taken place, but said it was "just a small problem... and would be resolved."

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would contact its Thai counterpart to discuss to incident, but called it "a problem between the soldiers stationed in that area... and not a problem between the governments."

"The government's position is still that diplomatic negotiations must be used to solve this dispute."

Just earlier this week, in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York, top foreign affairs officials from both sides reiterated the commitment of their governments to resolving the dispute peacefully.

Phay Siphan said talks between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers on October 13 in Phnom Penh would proceed as planned.

Cambodia protests 'armed provocation'

October 4, 2008
AFP

Cambodia's foreign ministry has formally protested to Thailand over a border skirmish which left at least three soldiers injured, warning that Thai troops risked "full scale armed hostility".

One Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded when units briefly clashed near an ancient temple along their disputed border. They have swapped accusations of trespass and firing first.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly protests against this deplorable and intentional armed provocation by Thai soldiers," said Cambodia's foreign ministry in a letter to the Thai embassy obtained by AFP.

The letter said Cambodian troops had only returned fire in self defence and went on to warn that "armed provocation by Thai soldiers could lead to very grave consequences, including full scale armed hostility".

Thailand's foreign ministry earlier blamed its neighbour and said the three-minute exchange of gunfire came after Cambodian troops had crossed into Thai territory.

Cambodian officials said the area was calm and an investigative committee was inspecting the area to determine how the incident occurred since troops on both sides had been ordered not to fire.

The skirmish comes as the countries attempt progress in talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute.

Tensions flared in July after the ancient Khmer temple of Preah Vihear was awarded world heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Those tensions turned into a military standoff, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving just a few dozen soldiers stationed near the temple.

Soldier Injured in Border Skirmish: Officials

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
03 October 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

At least one Cambodian soldier was injured Friday afternoon in an exchange of gunfire between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Preah Vihear provincial border, in the first reported act of military violence in a prolonged standoff, a military official said.

Thai soldiers fired a grenade at a group of Cambodian soldiers, injuring a Cambodian in the leg, while a Thai soldier was wounded in the abdomen in the return gunfire, according to a reliable military officer in the area, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

"At 3:35 pm, around 10 [Thai soldiers] entered the Cambodian position, and Cambodian soldiers called to them not to enter, and they did not listen," the officer said. "And then they shot with the M-79 [grenade]."

The soldiers were nearly 200 meters from the Cambodian position on Phnom Troap, more than 1 kilometer from the Preah Vihear temple complex, the officer said.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told the Associated Press the Cambodian was “slightly wounded” when Thai troops fired an M-79 grenade from their own territory. Khieu Kanharith confirmed the Cambodian side had returned fire, AP reported.

A report from Ministry of Defense information office obtained by VOA Khmer Friday coroborrated the statements of the military officer and said both sides remained at a standoff at 5 pm.

The exchange of violence, which lasted only moments, was the first reported in an 11-week military standoff over Preah Vihear temple. Officials had cautioned that prolonged proximity between the troops could end in bloodshed.

Both Cambodian and Thai officials have said they are committed to peaceful resolution of the impasse, which began following the inscription of the temple, which abuts a disputed border area, onto a Unesco World Heritage list in July.

Defense Minister Tea Banh could not be reached for comment, and a person answering the phone of the Thai Embassy's first secretary said he was unavailable.

Cambodian, Thai troops said hurt in border clash

Friday, October 03, 2008
By SOPHENG CHEANG

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Soldiers from both Cambodia and Thailand were wounded Friday in a brief clash along their volatile border, officials from the two countries said.

Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said a Cambodian soldier was slightly wounded when Thai troops fired a grenade from their territory. He said Cambodian troops returned fire, with the "military incident" lasting less than a minute.

Thai officials initially denied knowledge of the incident, but a Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman later said Cambodian troops had encroached on Thai territory and had been the first to fire, wounding two Thai troops.

Tensions along the normally peaceful border between Cambodia and Thailand flared on July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's application to have a disputed 11th century temple named a World Heritage Site. Friday's clash took place about two miles west of the temple, Preah Vihear.

A spokesman for Cambodia's Cabinet, Phay Siphan, said the incident began after Cambodian troops intercepted a trespassing Thai patrol. He said the Thai troops retreated in response to a warning from the Cambodians, but then fired the grenade.

Cambodian troops returned fire with AK-47 assault rifles, with the exchange of fire lasting three to five minutes, he said.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Friday evening that the Thai troops had been patrolling in their own territory when they encountered the Cambodian soldiers.

"The Cambodian troops shot at the Thai troops first, wounding two soldiers. One Cambodian soldier was also wounded after the Thais responded," he said.

Lt. Gen. Wiboonsak Ngeepan, the regional army commander for northeastern Thailand, said it was unclear if the Cambodians intruded intentionally or had strayed into Thailand because "the area is dense forest."

Both countries have long claimed Preah Vihear, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.

After UNESCO approved the temple's listing as a World Heritage Site, Thailand sent troops to occupy the nearby Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, also claimed by Cambodia.

Cambodia responded with its own troop deployment. The two sides came close to a shootout on July 17 when Cambodian monks sought to celebrate Buddhist lent in the pagoda.

Troops on both sides raised their weapons, but no shots were fired, and the Cambodians eventually backed down.

Since then there has been a limited troop withdrawal from the area, and talks have been held several times on resolving the conflicting claims, but without much progress.

Before Friday's clash was reported, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh told reporters that he and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat would travel to Cambodia on Oct. 13 to discuss the border issue with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodian, Thai troops injured in gunfight at disputed border

Friday, October 03, 2008

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — At least three soldiers were injured when Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire Friday at the countries' disputed border near an ancient temple, Cambodian and Thai officials said.

The governor of Thailand's Si Sa Ket border province said the incident, which lasted less than three minutes, left two Thai soldiers injured.

"It happened around 3:45 pm (0845 GMT) in the disputed area and lasted for two to three minutes," Seni Chittakasem told AFP.

"Two of our troops were slightly wounded, and I heard three soldiers on the Cambodian side were wounded. The situation has returned to normal now," he said.

Cambodian officials said only one of their soldiers was hurt. They said the incident took place after more than a dozen Thai soldiers crossed into disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple.

"There was a clash but we don't know how many Thai soldiers got injured. On the Cambodian side, one soldier was injured in his left hand," said Hang Soth, director general of the Preah Vihear authority, the body tasked with conservation of the ancient Khmer site.

The Thai troops were stopped and turned back by Cambodian soldiers, said a Cambodian border police official on condition of anonymity.

Thai soldiers opened fire with M-79 rockets and M-16 assault rifles after re-entering their territory, the police official said.

Cambodian troops responded by shooting a single B-40 rocket and then opening fire with their AK-47 rifles, the official added.

A Cambodian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, later said a letter of complaint was being drafted to be sent to the Thai government.

The incident comes as both countries attempt progress in talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute. New Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is scheduled to visit Cambodia on October 13 to meet with his counterpart Hun Sen.

Much of the border remains in dispute, and the slow pace of clearing old landmines from the area has delayed its demarcation.

Tensions flared in July after the ancient Khmer temple of Preah Vihear was awarded world heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

Those tensions turned into a military standoff, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.

Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving only 20 troops from each side stationed at a small pagoda in the border area, while 40 Cambodian and Thai solders remain nearby.

Talks to resolve the dispute were postponed amid political turmoil in Thailand, and both countries swapped accusations of violating each other's territory.

However, the two sides held talks about the border dispute last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains in dispute.