Picture of Thai troops digging new trenches in the frontline. (Photo: Samnang)Koh Santepheap newspaper
16th November, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Despite calm along the disputed borders at Preah Vihear, the Thai side is still reinforcing the troops and their troops began digging new trenches. According to sources from the Khmer troops in the frontline, on the 12th of November, about 50-60 Thai troops have been seen sent to the area that was agreed to keep only 60 troops from each side. Those Thai troops were seen digging new trenches and cutting big trees to use as covers of their trenches.
The Khmer troops said that the new Thai trenches were bigger and stronger than the previous ones. They said that they’ve seen about 10 trenches and many more were hidden inside the jungle.
A Khmer commander of the Intervention Force of Division 12 has told Radio Free Asia by telephone that at 5am on the morning of the 8th November, the 10 Thai troops which were based at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak had begun to withdraw and by 6:30am on that morning all the troops have left the temple. But later they had returned.
The numbers of Khmer-Thai frontline troops had been cut down to 60 troops on each side between the 6th-8th of November. And at the same time, all the trenches are required to be filled up.
The troop re-deployments were agreed in a meeting between Khmer and Thai commanders held at the Red House in Thai territory opposite the Preah Vihear temple on the 6th of November.
Please note that the reinforcements and the trench-diggings by the Thai side happened at the same time as the Khmer-Thai ministerial meeting in Siem Reap which only achieved temporary agreements that need to be ratified by the Thai parliament before they can be signed.
Observers of the many Khmer-Thai meeting said that, whenever there is a meeting the Thai side always caused trouble because Thailand has no good intention to push for a fruitful result, especially during the meeting they have never respected the agreement, such as the reinforcements and the diggings of the trenches at the same time as the negotiations.
Gen. Srey Doek, commander of the Intervention Force of division 12, said that the Thai side did not dig any trenches, they just built a few camping shelters. He said that the Cambodian side has done the same. Gen. Srey Doek said that, those camping shelters were covered with sacks of sands and that those reinforced Thai soldiers just came only to build those camps.
Gen. Srey Doek said that the 10 Thai soldiers based at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda have not been withdrawn yet, they just change into civilian clothes. They are not forbidden from wearing military uniforms but they are forbidden from carrying weapons.
Please note that during a meeting of the two foreign ministers in Siem Reap on the 12th of November, 2008, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong proposed for the withdrawal of the Thai troops from Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda and from the areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple, but Thai foreign minister, Mr. Sompong Amornvivat, replied that the troop withdrawals have to be approved by the Thai parliament.//
16th November, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Despite calm along the disputed borders at Preah Vihear, the Thai side is still reinforcing the troops and their troops began digging new trenches. According to sources from the Khmer troops in the frontline, on the 12th of November, about 50-60 Thai troops have been seen sent to the area that was agreed to keep only 60 troops from each side. Those Thai troops were seen digging new trenches and cutting big trees to use as covers of their trenches.
The Khmer troops said that the new Thai trenches were bigger and stronger than the previous ones. They said that they’ve seen about 10 trenches and many more were hidden inside the jungle.
A Khmer commander of the Intervention Force of Division 12 has told Radio Free Asia by telephone that at 5am on the morning of the 8th November, the 10 Thai troops which were based at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak had begun to withdraw and by 6:30am on that morning all the troops have left the temple. But later they had returned.
The numbers of Khmer-Thai frontline troops had been cut down to 60 troops on each side between the 6th-8th of November. And at the same time, all the trenches are required to be filled up.
The troop re-deployments were agreed in a meeting between Khmer and Thai commanders held at the Red House in Thai territory opposite the Preah Vihear temple on the 6th of November.
Please note that the reinforcements and the trench-diggings by the Thai side happened at the same time as the Khmer-Thai ministerial meeting in Siem Reap which only achieved temporary agreements that need to be ratified by the Thai parliament before they can be signed.
Observers of the many Khmer-Thai meeting said that, whenever there is a meeting the Thai side always caused trouble because Thailand has no good intention to push for a fruitful result, especially during the meeting they have never respected the agreement, such as the reinforcements and the diggings of the trenches at the same time as the negotiations.
Gen. Srey Doek, commander of the Intervention Force of division 12, said that the Thai side did not dig any trenches, they just built a few camping shelters. He said that the Cambodian side has done the same. Gen. Srey Doek said that, those camping shelters were covered with sacks of sands and that those reinforced Thai soldiers just came only to build those camps.
Gen. Srey Doek said that the 10 Thai soldiers based at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda have not been withdrawn yet, they just change into civilian clothes. They are not forbidden from wearing military uniforms but they are forbidden from carrying weapons.
Please note that during a meeting of the two foreign ministers in Siem Reap on the 12th of November, 2008, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong proposed for the withdrawal of the Thai troops from Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda and from the areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple, but Thai foreign minister, Mr. Sompong Amornvivat, replied that the troop withdrawals have to be approved by the Thai parliament.//
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