Photo by: Sovan Philong
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong speaks to reporters following his return from the United States today.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong speaks to reporters following his return from the United States today.
Cambodia and Thailand today accused each other of violating a permanent ceasefire proposed by the United Nations Security Council on Monday, both pointing the finger for a series of skirmishes late on Tuesday and early this morning.
Speaking to reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport after returning from New York, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong alleged Thailand opened fire on Cambodian positions with mortars and grenades.
“This is a violation [of the ceasefire],” Hor Namhong said.
“The shooting last night and this morning abused the recommendations of the UNSC.”
In its session on Monday, the 15-member council urged the two parties to “exercise maximum constraint” while continuing to work through bilateral and regional channels to solve the dispute.
It rejected Cambodia’s call to deploy UN peacekeepers and urged both sides to honour the ceasefire.
At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured on both sides during four days of clashes close to Preah Vihear temple during February 4-7.
The skirmishes were just the latest in a series of firefights that have broken out in the area sporadically since July 2008, when UNESCO listed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.
In a statement today, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thai forces fired grenades and 81mm mortars into the Phnom Trop area close to Preah Vihear between 9:00pm on Tuesday and 5:00am yesterday.
It said Thai troops were injured when their grenades hit tree branches and bounced back towards their positions.
“This violation of the ceasefire by Thai armed forces clearly shows that the real intention behind Thailand’s insistence on resolving the matter bilaterally is to use its overwhelming superior military forces to take over Cambodian territory in the vicinity of the temple of Preah Vihear,” read the statement.
It added that Cambodian troops did not respond to the Thai “provocation”.
Thailand has also accused Cambodia of triggering the skirmish.
Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said today that Cambodian soldiers initiated a series of attacks against a Thai outpost at Phu Ma Khua but were repulsed, according to a report in the Bangkok Post. There were no casualties, he said.
The Nation reported that five Thai soldiers were injured during a skirmish that lasted from 5:00am to 7:30am this morning.
One of them was seriously wounded and was rushed to a hospital in nearby province of Ubon Ratchathani, the paper reported.
Hor Namhong said that at the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, to be held in Jakarta on Tuesday, he will request that the bloc send observers to guarantee the ceasefire.
“When there is the meeting in Jakarta, I will request observers from ASEAN to monitor the ceasefire.
“Whether Thailand accepts or not we will see,” he said.
“Thailand accused Cambodia of invading them and opening fire first at them so why is Thailand afraid of receiving observers.”
Following the clashes today, military commanders from both sides met for about two hours at Phnom Trop, agreeing on seven points including a cessation of nighttime attacks, according to one soldier who gave his name only as Chamroeun.
“It is hard to believe the Thai side,” he said. “They are unfaithful.”
Following the recent border flare-up, the UN has withdrawn six staff from Koh Kong town, around eight kilometres from the Thai border, according to an internal email obtained today.
“Kindly be advised that travel to Koh Kong is currently restricted for all UN staff until further notice,” the email stated, adding that up to 70 percent of the town’s population had left due to recent tensions.
A UN spokesman said today that the organisation does not comment on staff security and safety. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY REUTERS
2 comments:
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don't Cambodia goverment transparency explain to cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian army are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian army you are decide the fade of your nation, Cambodian army as well as cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs,lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionairs, millionairs who sell out the country to be rich and make cambodian people suffer everyday as cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol ( Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education program?
Stop this nonsense, if the UN does not want to provide observers as requested by the thais, Khmers must provide the truths by simply installing video cameras along the border problems areas providing live feeds to the UN and the news organizations around world to show who are the thais perpetrators; to solve this problem that is created by the thais.
I am Khmer supporting the Khmer troops, especially those true patriots at the front lines. Also, for the thais soldiers... because as we all know very well that mostly the poor and less fortunate people became soldiers, and are being used as expendable pawns by the wealthy corrupted politicians to kill one another for political gains; which is a very very shameful act by the politicians. May God bless those good patriots at the front lines and protect them from harms on both sides, and guide those belligerant politicians away from their short sightedness so that those good patriots can return home safely to their spouses, children and families.
That is right, Khmers are being sqeezed by all sides, the viet, thais, laos. hun sen cannot protect Khmers at all and must be replaced by a truly wise leaders who will truly serve the Khmer people and territories.
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