Col. Neak Vong talks to Radio Free Asia reporter after negotiation with Thai soldiers.By Khmerization
Source: RFA
The military situations at Ta Moan Thom temple on 6th February was confrontational when a group of 30-40 Thai soldiers moved in to re-occupy the temple ahead of Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to the temple, which he eventually cancelled after the confrontations, reports Radio Free Asia.
A Cambodian commander who spoke on conditions of anonymity on 7th February said that on the morning of 6th February, about 30-40 armed Thai troops, armed with DK82 milimetres artillery and 12.7 milimetres artillery, pushed in to re-occupy the temple. "Yesterday, about 30 Thai troops armed with DK82 milimetres artillery and 12.7 milimetres artillery were deployed at Ta Moan Thom temple at 2:30 pm. We met and we decided that each side will only deploy 5 soldiers in the temple. Up until today there is no problems", he said.
Cambodian soldiers said on Sunday 7th February that a group of about 30 yellow-shirted protesters accompanied by journalists and TV camera crews entered the temple.
In another development, a group of Thai soldiers came at 7pm to an area in Banteay Chhmar commune in Thmor Puok district in Oddar Meanchey province and tried to evict Cambodian soldiers based on top of the mountain. "The Thai paramilitary came in last night and tried to evict our soldiers from Choup Matess Point. We didn't leave the mountain top but instead we reinforced more soldiers. They stayed there and we also stayed there", he said.
In Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak at Preah Vihear, the ten Thai soldiers based at the pagoda who used to return back to Thai territory at 4pm everyday didn't leave the pagoda on Saturday 6th, the day Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the area. They only leave at 7pm when Cambodian soldiers forced them to leave.
On Monday 8th February, the day Prime Minister Hun Sen was due to visit Ta Moan Thom temple, the military situations at the temple are still very tense. The tensions only eased at 1pm when Thai troops withdrew from the temple after Prime Minister had cancelled his trip to the temple.
Maj. Ngeth Nguon, commander of Batallion 422 based at Ta Moan Thom temple, said that on the morning of 8th February Thai soldiers moved in to occupy the temple and forbid Cambodian soldiers and tourists from visiting the temple. The situation returned to normal when those Thai troops withdrew at 1pm. "They (Thai soldiers) came in to the temple this morning (8th Feb.). There was a tense confrontation because they prevented us from entering the temple. We don't know the exact numbers but we can see about 30 t0 40 soldiers. There were about 50% of the black-clad soldiers and 50% paramilitary soldiers. Now the situations have eased because they have withdrawn at 1pm and now we can enter and leave the temple as normal", he said.
Col. Neak Vong, commander of Battalion 42, said on 6th Feb. a group of Thai troops moved into re-occupy the temple but withdrew after negotiations. But they returned again on Monday the 8th, he said.
The confrontations at Ta Moan Thom temple happened on the same day Prime Minister Hun Sen was scheduled to visit the temple which he eventually cancelled.
Source: RFA
The military situations at Ta Moan Thom temple on 6th February was confrontational when a group of 30-40 Thai soldiers moved in to re-occupy the temple ahead of Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to the temple, which he eventually cancelled after the confrontations, reports Radio Free Asia.
A Cambodian commander who spoke on conditions of anonymity on 7th February said that on the morning of 6th February, about 30-40 armed Thai troops, armed with DK82 milimetres artillery and 12.7 milimetres artillery, pushed in to re-occupy the temple. "Yesterday, about 30 Thai troops armed with DK82 milimetres artillery and 12.7 milimetres artillery were deployed at Ta Moan Thom temple at 2:30 pm. We met and we decided that each side will only deploy 5 soldiers in the temple. Up until today there is no problems", he said.
Cambodian soldiers said on Sunday 7th February that a group of about 30 yellow-shirted protesters accompanied by journalists and TV camera crews entered the temple.
In another development, a group of Thai soldiers came at 7pm to an area in Banteay Chhmar commune in Thmor Puok district in Oddar Meanchey province and tried to evict Cambodian soldiers based on top of the mountain. "The Thai paramilitary came in last night and tried to evict our soldiers from Choup Matess Point. We didn't leave the mountain top but instead we reinforced more soldiers. They stayed there and we also stayed there", he said.
In Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak at Preah Vihear, the ten Thai soldiers based at the pagoda who used to return back to Thai territory at 4pm everyday didn't leave the pagoda on Saturday 6th, the day Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the area. They only leave at 7pm when Cambodian soldiers forced them to leave.
On Monday 8th February, the day Prime Minister Hun Sen was due to visit Ta Moan Thom temple, the military situations at the temple are still very tense. The tensions only eased at 1pm when Thai troops withdrew from the temple after Prime Minister had cancelled his trip to the temple.
Maj. Ngeth Nguon, commander of Batallion 422 based at Ta Moan Thom temple, said that on the morning of 8th February Thai soldiers moved in to occupy the temple and forbid Cambodian soldiers and tourists from visiting the temple. The situation returned to normal when those Thai troops withdrew at 1pm. "They (Thai soldiers) came in to the temple this morning (8th Feb.). There was a tense confrontation because they prevented us from entering the temple. We don't know the exact numbers but we can see about 30 t0 40 soldiers. There were about 50% of the black-clad soldiers and 50% paramilitary soldiers. Now the situations have eased because they have withdrawn at 1pm and now we can enter and leave the temple as normal", he said.
Col. Neak Vong, commander of Battalion 42, said on 6th Feb. a group of Thai troops moved into re-occupy the temple but withdrew after negotiations. But they returned again on Monday the 8th, he said.
The confrontations at Ta Moan Thom temple happened on the same day Prime Minister Hun Sen was scheduled to visit the temple which he eventually cancelled.
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