Hundreds of Cambodian tanks were seen being trucked out of their bases in Longvek town heading toward the Khmer-Thai borders.
By Khmerization
Sources: Koh Santepheap, everyday.com.kh and Kampuchea Thmey
Cambodian military sources said that tensions along the Khmer-Thai border in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces have heightened after Thailand reinforced troops and conducted military exercises in the areas.
The sources said that Thai troops had conducted military drills by firing live ammunition about 3 kilometres from the contentious Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province on the morning of Friday, 28th January.
At the same time, there are reports that about 100 Thai troops have sneaked in to occupy the nearby Ta Moan Thom temple at around 7-8 p.m on Thursday night. They only withdrew from the temple at 2 p.m the next day when confronted by Cambodian troops.
In Preah Vihear province near Preah Vihear temple, there are also reports of tensions after the Thai Army reinforced their troops and conducted military drills in the areas when Cambodia refused a Thai demand to remove the Cambodian flag from the compound of Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda. Cambodian military sources said that on Thursday night, the Thai Army had trucked in about 8 to 9 truckloads of troops to the area and threatened to dismantle the pagoda gate and pulled down the Cambodian flag by force.
In response to the Thai threats, top Cambodian military commanders had been ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen to move their command bases to the Khmer-Thai border areas, including Deputy Commander-in-Chief Chea Dara, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Kun Kim, Gen. Srey Doek, Commander of Preah Vihear Intervention Forces, Gen. Kheng Somedh, Commander of Engineering Unit as well both Mr. Hun Sen's sons, Maj-Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander of Royal Cambodian Army and Hun Manith.
At the same time, Mr. Hun Sen had ordered the Defence Ministry to reinforce border defence and to send thousands of troops and tanks to the areas.
On the morning of Friday 28th January, hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers had been seen trucked out of their bases at Longvek town in Pursat province, heading toward the Khmer-Thai borders. Gen. Chea Dara cannot be reached for comments regarding the troop mobilisations. Gen. Srey Doek, when reached by telephone, refused to comment by directing all questions to 4-star Gen. Kun Kim who then said that he is on a plane and could not comment.
However, Maj-Gen. Reth Sitha, Deputy General Staff of Mr. Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit and Commander of the Tank Unit, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gen. Hing Bunheang had ordered the transportation of tanks to the border areas in Preah Vihear province. And Lt-Gen. Chao Phirun, Director of Technical Material and Logistics at the Ministry of Defence, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian commander-in-chief (Pol Saroeun) had ordered him to mobilise tanks and armoured personnel carriers to defend the Preah Vihear areas against any Thai invasion. He added that the Cambodian Army was well equipped with armoured personnel carriers, tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and multiple rocket launchers, which he said some of them had already reached the border areas on Friday.
Cambodian military sources said that tensions along the Khmer-Thai border in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces have heightened after Thailand reinforced troops and conducted military exercises in the areas.
The sources said that Thai troops had conducted military drills by firing live ammunition about 3 kilometres from the contentious Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province on the morning of Friday, 28th January.
At the same time, there are reports that about 100 Thai troops have sneaked in to occupy the nearby Ta Moan Thom temple at around 7-8 p.m on Thursday night. They only withdrew from the temple at 2 p.m the next day when confronted by Cambodian troops.
In Preah Vihear province near Preah Vihear temple, there are also reports of tensions after the Thai Army reinforced their troops and conducted military drills in the areas when Cambodia refused a Thai demand to remove the Cambodian flag from the compound of Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda. Cambodian military sources said that on Thursday night, the Thai Army had trucked in about 8 to 9 truckloads of troops to the area and threatened to dismantle the pagoda gate and pulled down the Cambodian flag by force.
In response to the Thai threats, top Cambodian military commanders had been ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen to move their command bases to the Khmer-Thai border areas, including Deputy Commander-in-Chief Chea Dara, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Kun Kim, Gen. Srey Doek, Commander of Preah Vihear Intervention Forces, Gen. Kheng Somedh, Commander of Engineering Unit as well both Mr. Hun Sen's sons, Maj-Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander of Royal Cambodian Army and Hun Manith.
At the same time, Mr. Hun Sen had ordered the Defence Ministry to reinforce border defence and to send thousands of troops and tanks to the areas.
On the morning of Friday 28th January, hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers had been seen trucked out of their bases at Longvek town in Pursat province, heading toward the Khmer-Thai borders. Gen. Chea Dara cannot be reached for comments regarding the troop mobilisations. Gen. Srey Doek, when reached by telephone, refused to comment by directing all questions to 4-star Gen. Kun Kim who then said that he is on a plane and could not comment.
However, Maj-Gen. Reth Sitha, Deputy General Staff of Mr. Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit and Commander of the Tank Unit, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gen. Hing Bunheang had ordered the transportation of tanks to the border areas in Preah Vihear province. And Lt-Gen. Chao Phirun, Director of Technical Material and Logistics at the Ministry of Defence, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian commander-in-chief (Pol Saroeun) had ordered him to mobilise tanks and armoured personnel carriers to defend the Preah Vihear areas against any Thai invasion. He added that the Cambodian Army was well equipped with armoured personnel carriers, tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and multiple rocket launchers, which he said some of them had already reached the border areas on Friday.
11 comments:
We must flex our muscles, not to intimidate, but show that we are not easily intimidated and bullied by Thailand. We must get our tanks and artillery ready for the defense of our borders in the event that Thais do invade us again.
If khmer agreed to take down the flag, next, ah thai will have khmer take down Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda. Don't do it! Hun Sen.
It was a good decision to purchase those battle tanks and APCs several months ago. This is the reasons why it so. A very clever move by Cambodian government. Cambodia can no longer allow to be pushed to the corner, kicked, punched, and spitted on, at anytime the enemy wishes. The game is over. This is a 21th century, Cambodia is entering a new era. The ara of backing down, run and hide is over. That was the old days. Today is a new day. A day of regaining honor and respect is upon us. Thailand has disrespect and insult Cambodia honor and dignity long enough. Very often, Cambodia just play friendly for centuries for the sake of peace and hormony amongst the neighbors. Thailand saw this as a sign of weakness. It's about time Cambodia standing up against an aggressor. If Thailand want to fight Cambodia bad enough, then Cambodia must fullfill Thailand's wishes.
I urge and encourage all Khmer anywhere, whether; in Cambodia or around the world. You are needed to provide supports at any mean necessary. We are Khmer, we all have a duty and obligation to defend our homeland. Our homeland is being threaten by centuries old enemy who still have wish and dream to wipe us out from the face of the earth. Our troops are sacraficing themselves for the honor of our nation. We must put aside our minor differences. Our nation is at risk. We cannot afford to fall. If we fell, it means the end of Khmer. Do Not fail our ancestors wishes. UNITED WE STAND, SEPERATED WE FALL.
Great 242 I agree and more demanding than you to!!!
Fucking right, dammit. Let's fight.
Let's grant Thais what they wish for - a bloody war! Perhaps, Cambodia should also send mercenaries to Southern Thailand to train the muslim movements.
I would rather see our Cambodian governments buying more better weapons than these Tanks and Armors Vehicle, i don't see any anti-air missile systems, we should consider buying Buk-M1-2, Tor-M1 or something very high tech weapons...Cambodia must stand up and strenghtening her power yes!! There will be future invation for these neighbors if we don't upgrade ourselves...
correction= these neighbors country will invade us again in the near future, if we don't upgrade our military Yes!!
Modernization of Cambodia military is slowly taking shape. Given another 5,10,or 15 years, Cambodia miltary will not be like today, that's a promise. What Cambodia have now in her military inventory are not the greatest but something to get by. Cambodia didn't expect to have war any time soon. Thank to Thailand aggression, it makes Cambodia rethink. Cambodia now have reasons to build up the military. Currently, Cambodia only spent about $250 millions or so on defense, that is just about 3-5 percents of Cambodia GDP.
Reconstruction is the main focus for Cambodia. When Cambodia economy improve, more money will be available to upgrade those old weapons. Militarily, Cambodia now is at a disadvantage. So that could explain the level of Thailand's aggression. Thailand trying to do away with a Cambodia now before Cambodia become strong. Nevertheless, Cambodia will not be deterred by an enemy who hadn't proven itself to defeat any nation with its show and tell war machines and battle-inexperience troops.
I agree with 6:13am! CAmbodia didn't really expect to have war again or go to war again? that's why cambodia don't bother to have good weapons, but i think this is a wake up call for cambodian government, if they(Govts) don't do something about their military power in the future, there will be more insulting from neighbors country again and again...Don't just sitting around and too relax!!, too peacefull! Cambodia must stand up and strenghtening her power, the world has changed...
Ek O'dumb Hun Sen has said! Chum Hean King-Kok! Step by Step, we will buy weapons one piece at the time...We don't need to buy the whole thing at one time? Well, if you got money that's another story...Yep, one piece at the time! We don't need jet fighter, we need missile to shot them down!!
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