Cambodian army engineers constructing road toward Ta Moan Thom temple.Source: Koh Santepheap newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization
After border tensions at Ta Moan Thom temple in 2008, the Cambodian government has ordered the Cambodian Army Engineering Unit to start building a road leading up to the temple which is situated on top of the Dangrek Mountains.
But when the road construction has nearly reached the temple, a group of Thai soldiers tried to stop the Cambodian side from continue building the road.
According to Col. Neak Vong, commander of the Ta Moan Thom precinct, on 7th September 2009, 100 Thai soldiers from units 960-961 and 962 of Battalion 2607 under the command of Maj. Pinthakk Say-Ngam equipped with DK75 and DK82 rocket launchers have pushed into occupy the temple compound. Col. Neak Vong said he had sent 100 Cambodia troops also to the area and the two sides had a tense confrontation for three days, from 7th to 10th September.
On 7th, he went to negotiate with the Thai commander and they withdrew but the next morning they came back by bringing more equipments to fence off the temple, but the Cambodian soldiers strongly protested and they hurriedly jumped in their trucks and drove off, leaving behind some equipments.
On 9th, the Thai side sent 100 troops to the area and the Cambodian side responded by sending 100 troops to area, causing heightened tensions. At 3 pm, Maj. Pinthak Say-Ngam request for a negotiation and the Thai side left the area afterward after the talks.
The Cambodian Army Engineering Unit is building a 600-metre road toward the gate of Ta Moan Thom temple. They need to build only 100 metres more to reach the temple gate when Thai soldiers stopped them.
Under the 1907 treaty and according to the 1908 map, Ta Moan Thom temple is located inside Cambodia. It has been under the control of Cambodia until 1998, but when the Khmer Rouge movement disintegrated in 1998 the temple was abandoned when temple guards defected to the government side.
The Thai side took the opportunity and asked the Cambodian government to allow them to help conserve and restore the temple for tourism. The Cambodian government gave the permission. Both Cambodian and Thai tourists have unrestricted access and there were no troops based in temple. But after Thai troops occupied areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple on 15th July 2008, Thai troops also moved to occupy Ta Moan Thom temple in August of the same year. But after months of tense confrontations, both countries had agreed to withdraw troops from the temple awaiting border demarcations by Joint Border Commission.
Reported in English by Khmerization
After border tensions at Ta Moan Thom temple in 2008, the Cambodian government has ordered the Cambodian Army Engineering Unit to start building a road leading up to the temple which is situated on top of the Dangrek Mountains.
But when the road construction has nearly reached the temple, a group of Thai soldiers tried to stop the Cambodian side from continue building the road.
According to Col. Neak Vong, commander of the Ta Moan Thom precinct, on 7th September 2009, 100 Thai soldiers from units 960-961 and 962 of Battalion 2607 under the command of Maj. Pinthakk Say-Ngam equipped with DK75 and DK82 rocket launchers have pushed into occupy the temple compound. Col. Neak Vong said he had sent 100 Cambodia troops also to the area and the two sides had a tense confrontation for three days, from 7th to 10th September.
On 7th, he went to negotiate with the Thai commander and they withdrew but the next morning they came back by bringing more equipments to fence off the temple, but the Cambodian soldiers strongly protested and they hurriedly jumped in their trucks and drove off, leaving behind some equipments.
On 9th, the Thai side sent 100 troops to the area and the Cambodian side responded by sending 100 troops to area, causing heightened tensions. At 3 pm, Maj. Pinthak Say-Ngam request for a negotiation and the Thai side left the area afterward after the talks.
The Cambodian Army Engineering Unit is building a 600-metre road toward the gate of Ta Moan Thom temple. They need to build only 100 metres more to reach the temple gate when Thai soldiers stopped them.
Under the 1907 treaty and according to the 1908 map, Ta Moan Thom temple is located inside Cambodia. It has been under the control of Cambodia until 1998, but when the Khmer Rouge movement disintegrated in 1998 the temple was abandoned when temple guards defected to the government side.
The Thai side took the opportunity and asked the Cambodian government to allow them to help conserve and restore the temple for tourism. The Cambodian government gave the permission. Both Cambodian and Thai tourists have unrestricted access and there were no troops based in temple. But after Thai troops occupied areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple on 15th July 2008, Thai troops also moved to occupy Ta Moan Thom temple in August of the same year. But after months of tense confrontations, both countries had agreed to withdraw troops from the temple awaiting border demarcations by Joint Border Commission.
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