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By Sav Yuth
11th September, 2008
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Cambodian military officials in Oddor Meanchey province said that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been sent to the Khmer-Thai border at Ta Krabey temple in Kork Kpous commune, Ampil district to prevent Thai troops from being re-occupied the temple which is located in Cambodian territory.
Commander of Battalion 422 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Mr. Pol Then, has said on Thursday the 11th that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been transported since Wednesday night to the Ta Krabey temple in between Thmor Daun district which Thai troops had been trying to occupy. And the military confrontation had been very tense.
The same military official said that up until Thursday, Thai and Cambodia troops are still besieging each other in many layers.
Mr. Pol Then said: "Many of my soldiers have been sent there since last night and two more truckloads of troops are being sent to reinforce us. A moment ago the situation has been eased because we agreed to negotiate on the temple building. Now they don't know how to withdraw. Yesterday we were inside the temple and they came to encircle us from behind the temple. So we sent the troops to encircle them as well, but they sent the troops to encircle us in a second layer."
According to Cambodian military sources, up until Thursday afternoon there were about 140 Thai soldiers in the area and that they have already occupied the temple. Cambodian military sources said that at about 8pm Wednesday night about 12 Thai soldiers have forced their way in to occupy the Ta Krabey temple to open the way for other troops to move in.
According to a military official based at O'Smach who spoke on condition of anonymity said that a Cambodian soldier has fired a single shot in the air to stop them from moving in to occupy the temple but the Thai troops were not deterred.
The same military official said: "They moved in at night time and our troops tried to push them back by firing into the air but they still moving in."
Governor of Ampil district, Mr. Chap Phat, said that Ta Krabey temple is located about 6km east of Thmor Daun district and that area is uninhabited.
Mr. Chap Phat said that district officials are trying to go to the areas to assess the situation but were unable to get there because they were unable to cross the many rivers which were flooded due to heavy rains.
Mr. Chap Phat said: "This morning I tried to go there but the floods have cut the roads so we cannot cross the rivers. The area is uninhabited."
At Ta Moan Thom temple which were located nearby, there were reports that the Cambodian side has sent more troops to the area, while Thailand has sent more troops to the area also which their troops have already re-occupied the temple more than a week ago.
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Read Phnom Penh Post report on Thai occupation of Ta Krabey temple.
By Sav Yuth
11th September, 2008
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Cambodian military officials in Oddor Meanchey province said that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been sent to the Khmer-Thai border at Ta Krabey temple in Kork Kpous commune, Ampil district to prevent Thai troops from being re-occupied the temple which is located in Cambodian territory.
Commander of Battalion 422 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Mr. Pol Then, has said on Thursday the 11th that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been transported since Wednesday night to the Ta Krabey temple in between Thmor Daun district which Thai troops had been trying to occupy. And the military confrontation had been very tense.
The same military official said that up until Thursday, Thai and Cambodia troops are still besieging each other in many layers.
Mr. Pol Then said: "Many of my soldiers have been sent there since last night and two more truckloads of troops are being sent to reinforce us. A moment ago the situation has been eased because we agreed to negotiate on the temple building. Now they don't know how to withdraw. Yesterday we were inside the temple and they came to encircle us from behind the temple. So we sent the troops to encircle them as well, but they sent the troops to encircle us in a second layer."
According to Cambodian military sources, up until Thursday afternoon there were about 140 Thai soldiers in the area and that they have already occupied the temple. Cambodian military sources said that at about 8pm Wednesday night about 12 Thai soldiers have forced their way in to occupy the Ta Krabey temple to open the way for other troops to move in.
According to a military official based at O'Smach who spoke on condition of anonymity said that a Cambodian soldier has fired a single shot in the air to stop them from moving in to occupy the temple but the Thai troops were not deterred.
The same military official said: "They moved in at night time and our troops tried to push them back by firing into the air but they still moving in."
Governor of Ampil district, Mr. Chap Phat, said that Ta Krabey temple is located about 6km east of Thmor Daun district and that area is uninhabited.
Mr. Chap Phat said that district officials are trying to go to the areas to assess the situation but were unable to get there because they were unable to cross the many rivers which were flooded due to heavy rains.
Mr. Chap Phat said: "This morning I tried to go there but the floods have cut the roads so we cannot cross the rivers. The area is uninhabited."
At Ta Moan Thom temple which were located nearby, there were reports that the Cambodian side has sent more troops to the area, while Thailand has sent more troops to the area also which their troops have already re-occupied the temple more than a week ago.
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Read Phnom Penh Post report on Thai occupation of Ta Krabey temple.
2 comments:
Khmerization,
I feel that in time like this ASEAN nations should be more proactive on easing the tension. Stick to rule of international law. We have treaties and maps as reference.
Thai must be out from Cambodia soil:
1) Preah Vihear vicinity
2)Ta Muen Toch - Ta Muen Thom
3) Ta Krawbey
4) Sdok Kok Toch
5) Sdok Kok Thom
The Thai belligerent act of invading Cambodia looks so bad on the international arena. No one support the Thais. Us Cambodians will fight to our last breaths to defend our sovereign nation.
Dear BlogByKhmer,
Thanks for your comments. I agree with you 100% on the issue of Cambodia's conflict with Thailand. Without a doubt, Cambodia has all the advantages, beside military strength. We've got the 1904-1908 treaty which was signed by Thailand and internationally recognised and is still in force. We've got the 1962 ICJ's verdict regarding PVihear. If we use these internationally-recognised treaty and court's verdict all the temples and lands that you've mentioned are located in Cambodian territories. The Cambodian govt.'s reactions to Thailand's invasions of Khmer territories are so pathetic, that's why Thailand keep violating our territories. If Cambodia is a bit more forceful by massing our troops on the border areas and by engaging the international community more forcefully then the Thai would not have dared to do this to us. Seeing the way Hun Sen reacted to Thai invasion of our borders, my prediction is that all the temples and areas occupied by Thailand recently or before would remain in Thai hands forever. If this is the case, the Cambodian people and the future Cambodian govts must hold Hun Sen accountable with act of treason.
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