Ta Krabey: Cambodian Ambassador in Thailand shoots straight from the hip

19 Sept 2008
By Alain Ney
Cambodge Soir Hedbo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

By reaffirming Cambodia’s sovereignty on the Ta Krabey temple, in spite of the military and diplomatic annexation attempts by Thailand, Ung Sean condemns Thailand’s intrusion.

Cambodia’s tit-for-tat response to Thailand: “Based on geographic maps, the Ta Krabey temple, also known as Ta Kwai in Thailand, is located inside the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia.” It was through this small correction, expressed in diplomatic language that the Cambodian Ambassador in Thailand sent in a letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This act constitutes a violation of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Cambodia,” Ung Sean wrote also.

However, on 16 September, the permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Cambodian Ambassador, in which he accused Cambodia of “violating Thailand’s territory” by sending in troops on the spot because, according to the Thai official, the temple is located inside the Thai province of Surin.

In the wake of the Preah Vihear dispute, Thai soldiers have multiplied their incursions in Cambodia’s territories, under the pretext that the border was not well defined.

Ung Sean recalled that, on 10 September, at 6:00 PM, about 100 Thai soldiers entered and occupied the Ta Krabey temple in spite of the repeated protests made by local Cambodian authorities. Thai soldiers moved out of the temple the following day.

The tense atmosphere endured since the listing of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO last July. With the current crisis in Thailand, the border resolution is dragging on.

Thai soldiers leave Cambodian Ta Krabey temple

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- After a tense two-day stand-off, Thai soldiers have withdrawn from Cambodia's Ta Krabey temple and are now stationed some 200 meters from the cliff-top sanctuary, national media reported Monday.

"Both (Thailand and Cambodia's) armed forces have withdrawn their troops from the temple," Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

On Wednesday last week, 145 Thai soldiers occupied the temple, which had been controlled by Cambodia for years, and refused to leave.

"The temple has always been under our control but when the Thai soldiers refused to leave we guarded the temple next to them," Ho Bunthy was quoted as saying.

The withdrawal came after meetings between Thai and Cambodian military commanders held this weekend, during which both sides agreed to withdraw all soldiers to their respective bases approximately 200 meters from the newly-contested site to "avoid armed confrontation", Ho Bunthy said.

Military: Thai soldiers seize Cambodian temple

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian military said that more than 100 Thai soldiers have seized control of the Kingdom's Ta Krabey temple and are refusing to leave, despite the best efforts of some 50 Cambodian soldiers who remain at the site, local media reported Friday.

The Cambodian soldiers, who have controlled the small temple for years, tried to defend the site by shooting in the air but that the Thai soldiers still marched in, Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

"They dared to enter because they know Cambodian soldiers got the orders not to use violence and shoot," Ho Bunthy said.

The Wednesday night incursion involved around 100 Thai soldiers who had previous tried to prevent Cambodian troops from accessing the temple by cutting down tress and using them to block the entry road, he said.

Ho Bunthy said that before the Thai soldiers entered the temple he ordered 50 Cambodian soldiers to stand in a "fence" formation to try to prevent them from entering but to no avail, adding that the Thais had been eyeing the temple for days.

Meanwhile, Chea Morn, commander of Military Region 4, said thatmilitary commanders on both sides are trying to solve the problem through negotiation.

"We are standing at the temple together now and we will negotiate with Thai military commanders later on," he was quoted as saying.

Thai Troops Enter, Exit Ta Moan Temple [-Thai troops enter and exit Cambodian territories at will]

Black-clad Thai soldiers seen here near Ta Krabei Temple, well inside Cambodian territory (Photo: Amatak, Koh Santepheap)

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 September 2008

About 100 Thai soldiers entered a small temple in the Ta Moan complex Wednesday, withdrawing quickly after negotiating with local military commanders.

The Thai soldiers occupied the temple after spotting a group of Cambodian soldiers in an area claimed by Thailand, said Maj. Sim Sokha, deputy commander of Border Protection Unit 402.

The Thai soldiers crossed 200 meters of Cambodian land to occupy Ta Krobei temple, before leaving, he said.

"The Thai and Cambodian sides agreed to withdraw their troops on each side," he said, calling the negotiations "very successful."

The Ta Moan complex, which has three temples on the Oddar Meanchey border, is a second site of contention in a military standoff that erupted over Preah Vihear temple in July.