Gen. Srey Doek (L) holds hand with Thai Col. Chayan Huay Soongnern during a border talk at Phnom Trop on 18th October, 2008everyday.com
7th February, 2009
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
While the Thai Defence Minister visits Cambodia to discuss about the border issues, there are reports that Thai troops had crossed into Cambodia at the foot of Phnom Trop Mountain near Veal Entry, where Khmer and Thai troops clashed on 15th October, 2008.
Kampuchea Thmey newspaper has quoted commander of Cambodian border troops based at Veal Entry that from 5th to 6th February, a group of Thai soldiers secretly crossed into Cambodian territories at the foot of Phnom Trop Mountain west of the Preah Vihear temple. The same commander said that there have never been any Thai troops stationing in the area in the past, but now there has been a deployment of about 20 Thai troops west of Phnom Trop.
The same commander said that the Cambodian troops have encountered them and told them to retreat. The commander said that they were reluctant to retreat, but at the end decided to retreat. But on the 6th of February, the same group of Thai soldiers have crossed into Cambodian territories again. This time it appears that their commander was ordering them from behind. The Cambodian troops based there shouted at them to retreat by warning them that if they dare to move forward another two steps the Cambodian side will open fire.
Due to strong warnings from the Cambodian soldiers, those Thai troops have retreated immediately.
Gen. Srey Doek, commander of division 3, tasked with the protection of the Preah Vihear precinct, confirmed to Kampuchea Thmey that Thai troops had actually crossed into Cambodian territories at Phnom Trop. He added that he went to negotiate with the Thai side on the top of Phnom Trop Mountain on the morning of the 6th February.
During the unscheduled meeting, Gen. Srey Doek said that he told the Thai side not to send any more troops into Cambodian territories "or there will be problems". He said that the Thai side has agreed to his demand.
Gen. Srey Doek said that, by the agreement, troops on both sides have to stay in their designated camps and cannot be mobilised to any other place.
7th February, 2009
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
While the Thai Defence Minister visits Cambodia to discuss about the border issues, there are reports that Thai troops had crossed into Cambodia at the foot of Phnom Trop Mountain near Veal Entry, where Khmer and Thai troops clashed on 15th October, 2008.
Kampuchea Thmey newspaper has quoted commander of Cambodian border troops based at Veal Entry that from 5th to 6th February, a group of Thai soldiers secretly crossed into Cambodian territories at the foot of Phnom Trop Mountain west of the Preah Vihear temple. The same commander said that there have never been any Thai troops stationing in the area in the past, but now there has been a deployment of about 20 Thai troops west of Phnom Trop.
The same commander said that the Cambodian troops have encountered them and told them to retreat. The commander said that they were reluctant to retreat, but at the end decided to retreat. But on the 6th of February, the same group of Thai soldiers have crossed into Cambodian territories again. This time it appears that their commander was ordering them from behind. The Cambodian troops based there shouted at them to retreat by warning them that if they dare to move forward another two steps the Cambodian side will open fire.
Due to strong warnings from the Cambodian soldiers, those Thai troops have retreated immediately.
Gen. Srey Doek, commander of division 3, tasked with the protection of the Preah Vihear precinct, confirmed to Kampuchea Thmey that Thai troops had actually crossed into Cambodian territories at Phnom Trop. He added that he went to negotiate with the Thai side on the top of Phnom Trop Mountain on the morning of the 6th February.
During the unscheduled meeting, Gen. Srey Doek said that he told the Thai side not to send any more troops into Cambodian territories "or there will be problems". He said that the Thai side has agreed to his demand.
Gen. Srey Doek said that, by the agreement, troops on both sides have to stay in their designated camps and cannot be mobilised to any other place.
Gen. Srey Doek said that now the situation has returned to normalcy.
2 comments:
There are again confrontations at the border - west of Preah Vihear. This is dangerous, deplorable, it has to be defused, avoided in future.
But I continue to be surprised, time and again, that the Joint Communique of 18 June 2008, including the map produced by the Cambodian side, and the declaration of the Cambodian side is never referenced in such Cambodian reports.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/pdf/jointcommunique.pdf
In some mail exchanges before, I have been accused to disregard documents of 1904/1907/1962/2000 - this is not what I said; I just point to the fact that there is a document signed later, by a Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, saying that the 18.6.2008 map "supersedes" the former maps "at this stage." - And the Thai troops, mentioned in the present posting, are in "territories at the foot of Phnom Trop Mountain west of the Preah Vihear temple" - where the Cambodian side said, at that time, that "a buffer zone on the northern and western areas of the Temple" is not part of the Cambodian claims when applying for World Heritage listing.
I am not a legal expert, I am not "taking sides" - I just share my observation that there is never an official clarification how the 18.6.2008 Cambodian map and declarations relate to the ongoing conflict, and how the Cambodian side in the present and future border discussions intends to handle the Cambodian statements in the Joint Declaration. Just to say "forget it" is not appropriate for a document signed by a Deputy Prime Minister.
Norbert Klein
I shall reply to Mr. Klein's comments in due course soon to be titled :"Preah Vihear: Khmerization vs. Norbert Klein".
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