Gaybutton Posted October 15, 2008 Posted October 15, 2008 They've really gone and done it! I had hoped it wouldn't come to this and that this dispute could be resolved amicably at the bargaining table, but now that the shooting has begun, of course, no one knows yet what will be next or where this will lead. I see no word in any of the media as to who shot first or what instigated it, but both sides are blaming each other. I also see nothing as to whether borders have been sealed and/or flights between Thailand and Cambodia have been canceled, but Thailand has issued warnings to Thai nationals in Cambodia to return to Thailand. Never a dull moment around here. I'll let the articles speak for themselves. Of course, as more news becomes available I'll try to post the significant items. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Gunfire at the Border Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat urged Thai nationals in Cambodia to leave for home immediately after a Wednesday afternoon military battle along the disputed border. "Thai businessmen who have no need to be in Cambodia now, please rush back to Thailand," Sompong told reporters. "We have our evacuation plan ready," he added. In the Northeast, officials told residents of the border to be ready to move out quickly in case hostilities resume and escalate. Thai and Cambodian troops reportedly exchanged gun fire for about 10 minutes at the border of Kantalak district, Si Sa Ket province at around 2.30pm. The incident reportedly occurred three kilometres from Phreah Vihear temple, and at the site of an Oct 3 clash which left two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian wounded. Thailand issued an official protest to the Cambodian government over that alleged border incursion. Cambodia’s Preah Vihear governor Prieb Tan claimed that Thailand started shooting at the Cambodian army first. Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, meanwhile, claimed that Cambodian soldiers started the shooting first by firing about seven to eight shots onto the Thai soil so Thai soldiers had to defend themselves by firing them back using small weapons. According to Col Sansern, four Thai army rangers were wounded while one Cambodian soldier was killed in the incident. On Tuesday, Col Sansern reiterated that Thailand would not shoot first, but warned that Thai troops were ready if Cambodian forces encroach into Thailand. The Thai army is ready to confront any incident to protect the country’s sovereignty, he said. Meanwhile, Thailand put air force fighter jets and C-130 transport planes on alert. The C-130s have been used in a previous operation to bring Thais back home from Phnom Penh. "Normally we have fighter jets on stand-by at various regional headquarters ready for operation within five minutes, but under the current circumstances we have increased our readiness," Grp Capt Montol Suchookorn was quoted by the AFP news agency. "I do hope the use of force is the last resort," he added. __________ The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Thai Troops Wounded in Clash with Cambodia - Army Spokesman By The Nation One Cambodian Soldier Killed : Thai Army Spokesman Four Thai troops were injured during a clash with Cambodian troops along Thai-Cambodia border on Wednesday, Army spokesman Sansern Kaeowkamnerd said. One Khmer soldier was killed during the clashes. The Thai troops were suffered from sharpnels of explosives and were rushed to a hospital in Si Sa Kaet province. They were injured in one of two clashes with Cambodia at Pa Mo I Daeng in Si Sa Ket province. Another clash Phu Ma Khur caused no casualty. They were first casualties of the Thai-Cambodia border conflicts which were flared up after Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum to open war if Thai troops were not withdrawn from the disputed area near the temple. However his ultimatum was shot down as the Thai army vowed to remain troops. __________ The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Govt to Protest to Cambodia over Battle The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite Cambodian charge d’affaires to Thailand Ouk Sophoin to receive an official protest, following the armed confrontation between troops from the two countries, Information Department director-general and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Tharit asserted Thai soldiers did not start the shooting, but the gunfight was acted in self-defence, as stated in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN). As for the evacuation plan for the Thais living in Cambodia, he said his ministry already coordinated with Thai Airways (THAI) to bring them home. Three THAI flights were available to the neighbouring country. Approximately 1,000 Thai people lived in Phanom Penh and about 400 to 500 Thais were in Siem Reap. Meanwhile, both sides accused one another for inciting the brief gunfight on Wednesday. Four Thai soldiers were wounded and one Cambodian soldier was killed in the gunfight, according to army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. __________ The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Thai Troops Ordered to Retaliate : Gen Anupong By The Nation Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda has assigned Thai troops along the border with Cambodia to be on high alert and to retaliate if attacked. Second Army Region Commander Lt Gen Wibunsak Neeparn said Anupong telephoned to him and ordered Thai troops along the border to be ready if attacked. "Gen Anupong ordered the Thai troops to retaliate if Cambodian side opened the attacks," Wibunsak said Wednesday. Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared up this week after Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum for Thailand to withdraw Thai troopers from an area new Preah Vihear temple. However Bangkok refused to withdraw the troops, saying most of the troopers were de-miners. Wibunsak said he assigned Maj Gen Kanok Netrakawesana, commander of Suranaree Task Force to meet with the Khmer side on Thursday in a bid to find ways to ease the tensions. Meanwhile authorities have warned people to stay away from the border with Cambodia in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district in case fighting should break out. Villagers have been advised to stay at home, to make merit at their temples, to check their underground shelters and to have belongings packed should they need to evacuate. Despite the warnings, people in provinces along the Thai-Cambodia border still flocked to give foods to monks on Wednesday in a ceremony to mark the Buddhist Lent which fall on Tuesday. __________ And this, from TNA _____ Fighting Stops, One Cambodian Soldier Killed, 5 Thais Injured BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) - Wednesday’s firefight between Thai and Cambodian soldiers has stopped, a senior Cambodian official said, while a Thai army spokesman reported that one Cambodian soldier was killed and five Thai soldiers were wounded. The Associated Press quoted Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim as saying that the fighting "has paused.'' A Cambodian army official said both sides were trying to negotiate a cease-fire and talks were underway. Reuters reported two Cambodian soldiers were wounded in a brief firefight. One Cambodian soldier was killed and four Thais were injured in the fighting over a disputed land near the Thai-Cambodia border, said the Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd. Thai foreign minister Sompong Amornvivat revealed that Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong talked to him by telephone on Wednesday morning. Both sides expressed regret over the border row and confirmed to adopt a peaceful means to end the dispute. Thailand and Cambodia will hold bilateral talks to end the border row, said the Thai foreign minister, adding that he would seek approval of an operational framework under the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) from the parliament. Department of Information director-general and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said he was informed by the Thai military that small arms and rocket propelled grenades were used in the clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers. Mr. Tharit said that Thai soldiers confirmed that they would not begin any shooting, but they are prepared to counterattack to defend themselves. Mr. Tharit added that the permanent secretary for foreign affairs would summon Cambodian charge d'affaires on Wednesday evening to lodge a protest note to Cambodia about the firefight. He said prompt evacuation depends on the situation. There are about 1,000 Thai nationals in Phnom Penh and about 500 Thais in Siem Reap. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with Thai Airways to prepare for possible evacuation, he said, adding three flights can be arranged in a day. (TNA) Quote
Gaybutton Posted October 15, 2008 Author Posted October 15, 2008 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Cambodia Claims Thailand Violated Airspace By Deutsche Presse Agentur Phnom Penh - Thailand violated Cambodian airspace hours before a border skirmish erupted on Wednesday, Cambodian officials said. Cambodian and Thai soldiers on Wednesday exchanged gunfire in a disputed zone near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border called Eagle Field, or Eagle Terrace, 300 kilometres north of the Cambodian capital, which is an important strategic point for access to Preah Vihear. "The Thai injuries were worse, but there were casualties on both sides," the director-general of Cambodia's Preah Vihear authority, which oversees the site, said by telephone. "The Thai fighter jet came 8:50 am and again at 10.07 am to disturb our airspace. Cambodian soldiers wanted to fight then, but they were placated for a while. "I do not know why fighting happened at 2.15 until 3.30 pm because I was not there," the head of Cambodia's Preah Vihear authority, Hang Soth, said by telephone from a meeting in Phnom Penh. He said there were casualties on both sides, but that the Thai side had borne the brunt of duel M-79, B-40 and AK-47 exchanges. Cambodian authorities said all civilians had fled the area and it was now regarded by both sides as a conflict zone. The Wednesday shoot-out at Eagle Terrage is important to the ongoing dispute over the Preah Vihear temple because whoever controls that area controls access to the temple, which is sacred to both sides. A similar clash at the same site on October 3 left two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian wounded. Quote
Guest luvthai Posted October 16, 2008 Posted October 16, 2008 How long before we see rockets and missels being aimed a t Bangkok and maybe event he airports? Scarry times. Tourism takes another hit. Quote
