Gen. Chea Dara, commander of Cambodian armed forces, read the map to locate the site of the fighting. The map indicated that the "site" is actually locating in Cambodian territories.PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A brief gunfight broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops at a disputed border zone Wednesday, escalating a conflict that officials from both sides fear could result in a war between the neighbors.
Cambodian army commander Brig. Gen. Yim Pim said the fighting later paused while commanders from both sides tried to negotiate a cease-fire. There were no casualties on the Cambodian side, he said.
It was not immediately clear how many troops were engaged in the gunbattle. Each side said the other fired first.
The clash came a day after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull back its soldiers from disputed territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry said it had prepared aircraft in case an order comes down to evacuate its citizens from Cambodia. There are an estimated 1,000 Thais in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and 500 in the city of Siem Reap.
The conflict is the latest flare-up in a decades-long dispute over a contested stretch of jungle near the Preah Vihear temple. The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over some surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site, leading some in Thailand to fear that its claims over the nearby land would be undermined.
Cambodia deployed about 800 troops to the border after the UNESCO decision, and Thailand sent some 400 soldiers. Both sides pulled back most of their troops in late August, but passions flared again recently.
A brief gunfight broke out between the sides earlier this month, with one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers wounded. Three days later, two Thai soldiers lost legs when they stepped on land mines.
Associated Press Writers Jocelyn Gecker and Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok, Thailand contributed to this report.
1 comment:
Why thing is different?
During the deadly fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops over Preah Vihea Temple a day before announcing from Khmer PM Hun Sen, when he warn that Eagle field will be the dead zone for the battlefied, and with his altimatum on Tuesday last week, Thai Prime Minister Somchai call on all thai people who do business or work in Cambodian must turn back to Thailand and Thai government will send a 300 seat Airplane (Jet) to bring their peopl from Cambodian immediately. The transportation had cunducted in the night time.
Unfortunately, Khmer Prime Minister, warn his people not to buy rice or other things because those things might be up price during that time while there are some traders might take this opportunity to earn more much money. Moreover, Khmer Prime Minister showed his carelessness and unability to bring back all Khmer who are working in Thailand but saying that all Khmer people must come back to their country by themselves with their own means.
Ha ha ha This is the careless responsibility of Khmer Prime Minister, who boasts himself as the strongest leader among Khmer people only.
Please learn to understand more deeply about all Khmer leaders from now on Kon Khmer Eay.......
I am serious...............
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