Cambodian and Thai troops clashed at Phnom Trop

Cambodian and Thai troops have briefly clashed at Phnom Trop, 5 kilometres west of Preah Vihear temple, on the first anniversary of the deadly clash here on 3rd April 2009 that killed at least 8 Thai soldiers, reports Kampuchea Thmey.

Mr. Chea Chon, commander of a battalion based at Phnom Trop, told Kampuchea Thmey that around 4:30am on Sunday, 4th April, there was a brief clash that lasted about 5 minutes between Cambodian troops and Thai troops based at Phnom Trop due to the drunkenness of the Thai soldiers. He said, the clash happened when he sent a Cambodian patrol group to check the mountain top after seeing unusual movements of Thai troops when they conduct troop rotations. When the Cambodian troops reached the mountain top, Thai troops shouted abuses at them and ordered them to retreat immediately or they will launch an attack. The Cambodian troops took up positions in their trenches and shortly, Thai soldiers spray bullets from M-16s directly at them.

Mr. Chea Chon said, the first time Cambodian troops didn't return fires. But because those Thai soldiers continued to fire at them, the Cambodian troops returned fires by firing RPD rockets and 12.7 milimetres machine guns. No one was injured from the clash.

The report said that, at 9:30am the next morning, 5th April, a Thai commanders at the Phnom Trop and the nearby Veal Entry frontlines came to apologise to the Cambodian soldiers by saying that the brief clash was triggered by some drunken Thai soldiers.

Deum Ampil reported that Gen. Chea Dara, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the Preah Vihear operations, confirmed the clash by saying that Thai troops also lauched a few rockets into Cambodian territories. He said he accepted the Thai apology but told them not to get drunk and fire at Cambodian troops again. He told them that when they get drunk they should shoot at each other, not at Cambodian troops.

By Khmerization
Source: Kampuchea Thmey and DAP News

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Thai soldiers arrested 10 Cambodians attempted to cross the borders

A group of Thai soldiers had arrested 10 Cambodians living in Kork Romiet commune, Thmor Puok district and Takriem in Battambang province on the morning of 10th November and brought them to Sakeo province in Thailand on the 12th of November, reports everyday.com.

Mr. Prak Sam, chief of Boeng Trakuon Checkpoint, the 10 Cambodians had been prevented from crossing the borders, but did not listen to the authority and was arrested by Thai soldiers when they crossed the borders. The 10 Cambodians had been sent to Sakeo city.

Mr. Prak Sam said the Thai authority refused to release the 10 Cambodians and said they will be sent to court for illegally entering Thailand.

By Khmerization

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Khmer migrant workers beaten by Thai soldiers

A group of 20 Khmer migrant workers had been severely kicked and beaten by Thai soldiers when a Thai employer had dumped them at the borders near Thmor Puok district in Banteay Meanchey province after they refused to accept to work with very little pay, report everyday.com.

On 13th November, a Thai employer went to the borders to offer jobs to 20 Khmer migrant workers to harvest rice from his rice-fields by offering 40 Baht ($1) per Rai (100m by 100m area). But when they were brought inside Thai territories, the Thaiemployer changed his mind and offered them only 35 Baht per Rai and they refused to work because they felt the Thai employer had cheated them.

The Thai employer was upset and transported them back to the borders and dumped them at Prasat Tbeng Border Pass. There, a group of Thai soldiers had kicked and beaten them, some with broken faces and noses, before they were sent across the borders back to Cambodia.

Khmerization

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[Thai] Army scraps sports day at border

Army chief Anupong Paojinda has cancelled a sports day scheduled for Saturday between Thai and Cambodian troops to stay in line with the government's attitude towards Phnom Penh, an army source says.

The move came after talks between the government and military leaders. It was decided the army should adopt a similar stance to the government towards Cambodia even though the military ties between the two countries remained good.

It would be an "unpleasant image" to see the government cut diplomatic ties with Phnom Penh while its soldiers played sports with Cambodian troops as if nothing had happened. The policies of the government and the army should be the same, the source said.

Thailand and Cambodia have seen their relationship deteriorate after Bangkok last year opposed Phnom Penh's unilateral move to list the Preah Vihear temple ruins as a World Heritage site with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The situation worsened after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his and Cambodia's economic adviser, and refused to extradite him to Thailand when Thaksin paid a four-day visit to Cambodia last week.

Hun Sen last week told Cambodia's deputy supreme commander Gen Chea Dara to meet Thai 2nd Army commander Lt Gen Weewalit Chornsamrit to ensure the soldiers of the two countries maintained a friendly relationship.

Gen Anupong had supported holding the sports day as a way to strengthen military ties after talking with Gen Chea Dara. The two sides have agreed not to reinforce troops at the border.

Although the army has decided not to go ahead with the planned sports day, the source said, Gen Anupong was still allowing Thai soldiers, who have frequent contact with Cambodian troops stationed near the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area surrounding Preah Vihear, to continue playing unofficial outdoor games. They could play volleyball, football and Petanque together as they have been doing, the source said.

17/11/2009
By Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

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