Thais and Cambodians watch a cockfight at Chong Sa-ngam market in Si Sa Ket’s Phu Sing district yesterday. Cockfights are popular among Thai and Cambodian people living along the border. JETJARAS NA RANONG
Markets and the excitement of cockfighting unite Thais and Cambodians every Sunday
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Published: 28/02/2011
Bangkok Post
Sunday remains a day of fun at Chong Sa-ngam market for civilians and soldiers from both sides of the Cambodian border despite the continuing tensions.
The market, in tambon Phrai Phattan of Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district, opposite Cambodia's Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province, traditionally hosts a day of socialising, shopping and cockfighting tournaments between the two countries every Sunday.
Chong Sa-ngam market is open every day but is most popular on Sunday, as that is when most people are off work.
Hundreds of Cambodians cross into Thailand from early in the morning, mostly to go shopping at the market. Among their number are Cambodian soldiers.
"Cambodian soldiers are welcome at the market but they must be unarmed," said an unnamed military ranger standing guard at the Chong Sa-ngam Pass border crossing.
"At this point, Thai and Cambodian soldiers are still good friends. We are not shooting at each other, nor are we enemies," said Mon Ni, a 25-year-old Cambodian soldier who visited the market yesterday with his wife.
"I don't want us to fight at all and I want both sides to be the same," the young Cambodian soldier said through a Thai-speaking friend.
Many Cambodians visit the market on Sunday because of the cockfighting.
"I came here to compete in the cockfighting and we're friends, not enemies. But let's see whose birds will win," said Mahatthi Chiam, a 40-year-old resident of Anlong Veng who owns a number of fighting roosters.
The cockfighting ring at Chong Sa-ngam market reopened yesterday after a break because of the violent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops.
"I am pretty confident my birds will win," said Sommai Latdachot, a 53-year-old Thai cockfighting entrant from Si Sa Ket.
He said he had just returned from a tournament in Anlong Veng in Cambodia.
"The Khmer soldiers there were the same; they are friends of Thai soldiers and [both sides] know each other well. Troop reinforcement is nothing unusual," Mr Sommai said.
There were a number of cockfighting matches yesterday but the one which garnered the most attention was between a Thai rooster named Puen Kon (machine gun) and a Cambodian cock named BM (short for the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher), owned by Mr Mahatthi.
The significance was not lost on the crowd, as BM-21 launchers were reportedly used by Cambodian troops during clashes with Thai troops on Feb4 and a number of the rockets landed in Si Sa Ket.
However, the crowd watched the match in good spirits and ultimately BM was defeated by Puen Kon.
"I told you _ the BM-21's fire is not really accurate," joked Jack, the 32-year-old owner of the winning Thai cock, as he teased his Cambodian counterparts.
"All right, my rooster is not 100 percent fit ... but no matter who won, we're still friends," said Mr Mahatthi.
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Published: 28/02/2011
Bangkok Post
Sunday remains a day of fun at Chong Sa-ngam market for civilians and soldiers from both sides of the Cambodian border despite the continuing tensions.
The market, in tambon Phrai Phattan of Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district, opposite Cambodia's Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province, traditionally hosts a day of socialising, shopping and cockfighting tournaments between the two countries every Sunday.
Chong Sa-ngam market is open every day but is most popular on Sunday, as that is when most people are off work.
Hundreds of Cambodians cross into Thailand from early in the morning, mostly to go shopping at the market. Among their number are Cambodian soldiers.
"Cambodian soldiers are welcome at the market but they must be unarmed," said an unnamed military ranger standing guard at the Chong Sa-ngam Pass border crossing.
"At this point, Thai and Cambodian soldiers are still good friends. We are not shooting at each other, nor are we enemies," said Mon Ni, a 25-year-old Cambodian soldier who visited the market yesterday with his wife.
"I don't want us to fight at all and I want both sides to be the same," the young Cambodian soldier said through a Thai-speaking friend.
Many Cambodians visit the market on Sunday because of the cockfighting.
"I came here to compete in the cockfighting and we're friends, not enemies. But let's see whose birds will win," said Mahatthi Chiam, a 40-year-old resident of Anlong Veng who owns a number of fighting roosters.
The cockfighting ring at Chong Sa-ngam market reopened yesterday after a break because of the violent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops.
"I am pretty confident my birds will win," said Sommai Latdachot, a 53-year-old Thai cockfighting entrant from Si Sa Ket.
He said he had just returned from a tournament in Anlong Veng in Cambodia.
"The Khmer soldiers there were the same; they are friends of Thai soldiers and [both sides] know each other well. Troop reinforcement is nothing unusual," Mr Sommai said.
There were a number of cockfighting matches yesterday but the one which garnered the most attention was between a Thai rooster named Puen Kon (machine gun) and a Cambodian cock named BM (short for the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher), owned by Mr Mahatthi.
The significance was not lost on the crowd, as BM-21 launchers were reportedly used by Cambodian troops during clashes with Thai troops on Feb4 and a number of the rockets landed in Si Sa Ket.
However, the crowd watched the match in good spirits and ultimately BM was defeated by Puen Kon.
"I told you _ the BM-21's fire is not really accurate," joked Jack, the 32-year-old owner of the winning Thai cock, as he teased his Cambodian counterparts.
"All right, my rooster is not 100 percent fit ... but no matter who won, we're still friends," said Mr Mahatthi.
3 comments:
Budhist nation, practice uncivilse, these people enjoy others suffering. They will be punished.
Bangkok Post avait publié ce texte dans quel but ?
C'est marrant tout ça !
Mais que ce journal avait oublié , ces thai sont originaires khmers.
Voyons ! ils ont les mêmes coutumes , même traditions , des chansons en khmer ( groupe Khmer Surin , Burei Ram ..) , se communiquent en khmer , le combat de coq ...
Ceci prouve bien que Le terrain de 4,6 km2 appartient au Cambodge et non à la Thailande.
Pourquoi ce gouvernement thai cherche des petites bêtes , foutez donc la paix aux frontaliers khmers !
La réalité vient des thailandais , eux-même ! et sans trop de difficultés à comprendre !!
My friend this has got nothing to do with religions...religions are achieved through the individual not as a whole. The whole world is uncivilized. Name one country that you think is civilized? The answer is None...nada! So far Buddhism is the most peaceful religion I have seen in the whole world. Buddhism neither extreme or fanatic.
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