Armed forces form unified defence plan [Thai massive build up along the borders]

Thai Supreme Commander Songkiti Jaggabatara (L) with Cambodia's Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun during his visit to Cambodia on 24th August 2009.

Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Published: 18/02/2011
Bangkok Post

The Royal Thai Armed Forces has approved the use of the Chakrabongse Bhuvanart national defence plan which involves deploying troops of the three armed forces to guard the Thai-Cambodian border from Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat.

A military source said Songkitti Jaggabatara, the supreme commander, had approved the Chakrabongse Bhuvanart plan as the national defensive strategy for the eastern region.

The source said Thai troops mobilised near the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area around Preah Vihear Temple amounted to about 15,000. This was about the same number of Cambodian troops that have been deployed in the area.

Under the Chakrabongse Bhuvanart plan, the Army's Burapa Task Force will operate along the border in Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri provinces. The Suranaree Task Force will cover the lower northeastern provinces with the Phra Viharn 54 Operation Plan.

The navy's marines in the border protection force in Chanthaburi and Trat and other armed forces have been placed on standby. Altogether, more than 23,000 marines and air force troops will be deployed.

The source said the air force will send fighter jets to patrol along the border, while supporting land operations.

The air force could deploy the F16 fighter jets from Nakhon Ratchasima to the border area near Preah Vihear in Si Sa Ket province in less than 10 minutes.

ACM Itthaporn Subhawong, the air force commander, said even though the air force was prepared to deploy its F16 fighter jets, he believed it would not need to do so as confrontations between the two countries are "only small skirmishes".

He said he still believed the two countries could settle the dispute through peaceful negotiations.

On continual skirmishes in the disputed area, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Thai forces will fire back whenever Cambodia troops fire at them to protect the country's sovereignty.

Gen Songkitti insisted Thai troops had never opened fire at Cambodian troops first. "Troops of both countries don't want to fire at each other - we both lose," he said.