A Change of Guard

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Saturday, 28 March 2009

Border situations at Preah Vihear on 27th March


Radio Free Asia
By Sam Borin
27th March, 2009
Translated in English by Khmerization

The Cambodian military has accused Thailand of sending 100 troops to occupy Veal Entry, Phnom Trop and Preah Vihear again on 25th March, 2009. After both sides were facing off each other for about six hour in a very tense confrontation, the 100 Thai troops began to withdraw at about 6 pm on the same day. The next day, they were again accused by the Cambodian military of sending another 30 troops into Veal Entry.

In an interview with Mr. Sam Borin of RFA, Mr. Phay Siphan (pictured), spokesman for the Council of Ministers, accused Thai troops of violating Cambodian territorial integrity.

Sam Borin: Please tell our listeners what is the situation in the Preah Vihear areas up to this Friday (27th March).

Phay Siphan: On Thursday we all know that the problems had occurred again, where 30 Thai soldiers had entered Veal Entry at 9:15 am, and after that our soldiers had chased them out at 10 am. This means that we have to re-negotiate about the troops movements again after the day before yesterday where about 100 Thai troops had entered about 900 metres deep inside Khmer territories to where armed clashes took place on 15th of October, 2008. This is the third time that Thai troops had been deployed there which is a strategic location in the Phnom Trop areas which situated northwest of the world heritage listed temple of Preah Vihear.

SB: According to what you just said, this is the third time they have entered the areas. What were their intentions?

PS: Yesterday, on Thursday, the Thai commanders based in the areas told international news media that there is no troop movements/mobilisations. If there were troop movements to the areas they must have the permission of the Cambodian side. After that, the same commanders told the same media that their troops were searching for water because there is a shortage of water in the areas. However, yesterday we've seen 30 more Thai troops entered the areas, so what the Thai commanders had claimed were untrue.

SB: In relations to the Veal Entry areas, our Cambodian leaders used to say that if they (Thai) just touched out hands (encroached a little bit?), there is no problem. But if they touched our heads (encroached a lot?) there won't be any patience. Now there were the events of the 15th of October 2008, the second and the third encroachments. Can you tell our listeners about how far can the Cambodian patience extend?

PS: As we said before, our solution is through diplomatic channels. After the eruptions of fighting on 15th October 2008, I have received a lot of telephone calls from foreign diplomats who congratulated the good disciplines (maintaining patience?) of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in response to Prime Minister Hun Sen's orders. We said before that Cambodia will not sit still and allow anyone to step on our feet and step on our hands at will.

SB: But at this moment, what will the Cambodian government do next?

PS: I believe that there will be a diplomatic aide-memoire to warn them again. But we will continue to talk with them, especially in regard to those areas. In relations to the demarcation issues, we will discuss them in the upcoming meeting scheduled for the 6th and 7th of April. We want to show our goodwill again and we still want to talk to resolve our problems as a civilised nation.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This guy Phay Siphan is ah youn Hun Xen!!!He is so crazy!!!he lie the khmers people in Cambodia vis RFA and the Hun Xen's TV that all khmers like Hun Xen's regime.
Ah Phay Siphan wouldn't go more to the foreign country ,because all khmers know him,he is ah youn Hun Xen!!!
He become something from Khmers when he will be in foreign country!!!!