OO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Border troops cope with cold, lack of water, slow meals

Story by WASSANA NANUAM

A Thai paramilitary ranger, holding kratin leaves in his left hand, enjoys his meal during a lunch break.

It was 1430hrs and his lunch was nowhere to be seen. So ranger Somnuek Khammungkhun decided to make do with grilled sticky rice to keep hunger at bay.

It was not the first time the ranger found himself munching on grilled sticky rice while waiting for his food to be served, since he and 500 rangers from the 23rd Rangers Regiment were deployed in the disputed 4.6sqkm border area next to the temple of Preah Vihear.

They used to have lunch at 1500hrs and dinner at 2100hrs. On some days when they first arrived their food did not turn up and it was the freshly grilled warm sticky rice that they banked on.

"It is alright. If lunch does not come, I will reach for sticky rice and instant noodles I carry with me," he said.

Sticky rice seems to serve him and his colleagues well. Most of them are natives of the northeastern provinces, including ranger Somnuek, 46, of Mukdahan, who have thrived on sticky rice.

"And when the food comes, we will share it with Cambodian soldiers to show our good will," he said.

The support system is not yet effective because the troops were first deployed on July 15. Cambodian troops, on the other hand, have been around and are much more familiar with the terrain.

The rangers tolerate not only uncertainty over meals, but also scarcity of water supply for both drinking and bathing.

Soldiers had limited drinking water and several of them tried to save it as long as they could by taking a few droplets - just enough to quench their thirst.

Fetching clean water from natural resources is out of the question. Water resources on the Thai side are contaminated with untreated waste water released by Cambodian villagers who crossed the border and built shops and other structures on Thai soil.

Moreover, they cannot wander far to find fresh water sources because the surrounding areas are not yet cleared of landmines.

The hardest thing to tolerate for Thai troops is probably the weather.

They have only plastic sheets to protect themselves from the sharp cold when night falls. Their makeshift lodgings are also made of plastic sheets.

"It is torture at night. It is cold and it gets worse when it rains. Our clothes are soaked and get dry only when the sun comes out," said ranger Likhit Kailuem.

Capt Katanyu Ruensamran, attached to the Buri Ram-based 26th Rangers Regiment, said that Thai troops have to be patient with provocation.

Cambodian soldiers have a way to provoke Thai troops, he said.

"Some asked us what we were doing on Cambodian soil. We bear with it. We can also claim that we are on Thai soil," he said.

According to Kanok Nettrakhawesa, commander of the Suranaree Task Force, the troops have meals late because they do not have food supplies with them. Food is sent on a daily basis and they are not allowed to cook.

Food is sent from a command post at Pha Mor E-daeng cliff which is about two kilometres away - but it is two kilometres over rough terrain and steep cliffs.

He said that sending food on a daily basis is a military tactic - to make Cambodian troops familiar with the sight of Thai troops walking up and down the disputed area.

"We need to move and make Cambodian troops familiar with our movements otherwise they will notice when we have rotations of forces," he said.

Second Army commander Lt-Gen Sujit Sitthiprapa has ordered rotations of troops every 7-15 days to ease stress.

Maj-Gen Kanok said he expects to discuss with local Cambodian authorities troop deployments to ease tension and confrontation.

Thai and Cambodian troops are too close for comfort, he said.

"An accident could happen. We have to take extreme precautions. But if something happens, I think our soldiers are ready to face it."