Heavier casualties in Preah Vihear
16 Oct 2008
Leang Delux from Preah Vihear
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
The day after the confrontations which led to the death of 3 Cambodian soldiers, it appears that at least 5 Thai soldiers were also killed.
Returning to the outcome of the shooting the day before, several Cambodian soldiers questioned by Cambodge Soir Hebdo have assured that there were at least 5 Thai soldiers killed and 2 injured near the stair step to the Preah Vihear temple. “Two bodies were discovered yesterday and 3 others were found today, we even helped our enemies carry the bodies,” one of the soldier explained.
A [Khmer] soldier using a GPS system was taking measurement along the border would have been the origin of the exchange of fire. He was fired on by the Thai camp, leading immediately to the chain reaction in at least three locations along the Khmer-Thai border.
On 16 October, at the end of the meeting decided yesterday between the two armies, the situation is returning to normal in Preah Vihear.
Army chiefs who met each others in Thailand, tried to avoid the worsening of the situation. Finally, as a goodwill sign, the 13 Thai soldiers who were rounded up, then disarmed in the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak pagoda were freed and their guns were returned to them.
Regarding the balance of forces, military brass decided to return to the situation which existed before the fighting, i.e., 10 soldiers of each country will be allowed to station in the pagoda, and 20 others are deployed in the surrounding area.
Srey Deuk, commander-in-chief of the Cambodian army in Preah Vihear, called the status-quo “a good result because there is no war,” while indicating that the two armies present agreed not to open fire.
Returning to the outcome of the shooting the day before, several Cambodian soldiers questioned by Cambodge Soir Hebdo have assured that there were at least 5 Thai soldiers killed and 2 injured near the stair step to the Preah Vihear temple. “Two bodies were discovered yesterday and 3 others were found today, we even helped our enemies carry the bodies,” one of the soldier explained.
A [Khmer] soldier using a GPS system was taking measurement along the border would have been the origin of the exchange of fire. He was fired on by the Thai camp, leading immediately to the chain reaction in at least three locations along the Khmer-Thai border.
On 16 October, at the end of the meeting decided yesterday between the two armies, the situation is returning to normal in Preah Vihear.
Army chiefs who met each others in Thailand, tried to avoid the worsening of the situation. Finally, as a goodwill sign, the 13 Thai soldiers who were rounded up, then disarmed in the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak pagoda were freed and their guns were returned to them.
Regarding the balance of forces, military brass decided to return to the situation which existed before the fighting, i.e., 10 soldiers of each country will be allowed to station in the pagoda, and 20 others are deployed in the surrounding area.
Srey Deuk, commander-in-chief of the Cambodian army in Preah Vihear, called the status-quo “a good result because there is no war,” while indicating that the two armies present agreed not to open fire.
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