SURIN, April 18 (TNA) -- Cambodian and Thai troops at the disputed border area have been reinforced following Saturday’s brief clashes in which a Thai ranger is reportedly still missing.
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire for about 15 minutes near the O'Smach checkpoint on the Thai-Cambodian border about eight kilometres east of a permanent checkpoint in Thailand's Kap Choeng district in the northeastern province of Surin.
Neither side has reported casualties. A ceasefire was ordered following negotiations, but troop reinforcements were seen arriving after the firefight ended.
One Thai Ranger is still missing and his companions are now searching for him.
Thai rangers at the scene of the shoot-out said that it took place after a series of provocations in which a number of Cambodians tried to build houses in the disputed border area. Thai authorities said that Cambodian soldiers ambushed Thai Rangers on patrol who discovered the encroachment.
Foreign news agencies reported from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh quoting senior officers as saying that Thai soldiers fired shots first after Cambodian troops ignored their demand to shift their location deeper into Cambodia.
The Cambodian authorities said after the Thais returned to their side they fired shots and Cambodia had to respond. They said no Cambodian soldiers were wounded.
Tensions along the disputed border area have intensified since July 2008 when UNESCO granted World Heritage status to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice in 1962 recognised the temple as belonging to Cambodia, a decision still challenged by Thailand.
Relations between the two neighbours worsened last November when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive, ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser and refused to extradite him to Thailand. (TNA)
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire for about 15 minutes near the O'Smach checkpoint on the Thai-Cambodian border about eight kilometres east of a permanent checkpoint in Thailand's Kap Choeng district in the northeastern province of Surin.
Neither side has reported casualties. A ceasefire was ordered following negotiations, but troop reinforcements were seen arriving after the firefight ended.
One Thai Ranger is still missing and his companions are now searching for him.
Thai rangers at the scene of the shoot-out said that it took place after a series of provocations in which a number of Cambodians tried to build houses in the disputed border area. Thai authorities said that Cambodian soldiers ambushed Thai Rangers on patrol who discovered the encroachment.
Foreign news agencies reported from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh quoting senior officers as saying that Thai soldiers fired shots first after Cambodian troops ignored their demand to shift their location deeper into Cambodia.
The Cambodian authorities said after the Thais returned to their side they fired shots and Cambodia had to respond. They said no Cambodian soldiers were wounded.
Tensions along the disputed border area have intensified since July 2008 when UNESCO granted World Heritage status to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice in 1962 recognised the temple as belonging to Cambodia, a decision still challenged by Thailand.
Relations between the two neighbours worsened last November when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive, ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser and refused to extradite him to Thailand. (TNA)
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