Thai troops crossed into Cambodian territories at Samlaut to put "demining signs"

Mine-clearing signs that Thai troops had planted inside Cambodian territories at Samlaut.

Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper
30th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Thai demining troops (TMAC) had sneaked into Khmer territories at Samlaut in Battambang province to plant 6 demining signs on 25th March. The Cambodian side protested and the meeting had been scheduled for 30th March.

Mr. Oul Sarin, deputy commander of police at Samlaut, said: "The spots where Thai troops had planted the signs are located about 200 metres west of Cambodia's Soksan Border Post or north of Border Point 203."

Mr. Oul Sarin said, after the Cambodian patrol walked pass the spots, the Thai deminers sneaked in to plant the signs and when the Cambodian border police asked them to remove those signs they said "no we won't remove them, we leave them for discussion".

Khmer border police said that the Thai did this many times before. They came in to plant the signs and later did the mine-clearing and declared that those parts of the lands Thai territories.

Col. Poum Chan, police commissioner of Battambang, said the meeting will be held on 30th March and that the Cambodian side will demand that the Thai remove the signs.