Thais hurt in landmine blast [ A clear case of Thai soldiers trespassing into Cambodia]

Cambodians build a concrete road to Preah Vihear temple to help troop movements in the disputed area near Phu Ma Khua. Thailand opposes the construction of the road. JETJARAS NA RANONG

Cambodians accused of 'expanding presence'

25th February, 2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

SI SA KET : Two Thai soldiers have been seriously injured after stepping on landmines while patrolling Phu Ma Khua [Phnom Trop] along the Cambodian border.

The incident occurred about 4pm yesterday.

The two were later identified as Sgt Pornpiboon Ngaosuwan and Cpl Sumet Boonsalee of the 16th Infantry Battalion in Yasothon province.

They have been admitted to Kantharalak district hospital in Si Sa Ket province.

Cambodian troops are ignoring Asean's urgent call for a truce with Thailand by continuing to fire shots in the disputed border area.

Cambodian soldiers yesterday fired three shots in the area where they are trying to expand their presence before the arrival of Indonesian observers today.

The Bangkok Post accompanied Thai soldiers to the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area in Si Sa Ket yesterday morning to observe the military presence. The delegation found Cambodia actively expanding its military bases and bunkers in the disputed area after the outbreak of hostilities from Feb 4 to 7.

Cambodian soldiers have also turned Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda into a military base equipped with anti-aircraft artillery in breach of the bilateral 2000 memorandum of understanding on land demarcation that prohibits any man-made physical changes in the disputed area.

An army source said Cambodian deputy army chief Hun Manet, son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, had told Thai army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan and 2nd Army chief Thawatchai Samutsakhon last Saturday that the pagoda would only be repaired as a residence for monks.

The pagoda was partly damaged during the recent border clashes.

Cambodian soldiers have built facilities to support reinforcements on the disputed part of Phu Ma Khua [Phnom Trop]. They have ignored repeated protests from the Thai soldiers overlooking them from the hill top.

Cambodian soldiers are also building two new roads from Keo Sikha Kiri Savara to Phu Ma Khua in a bid to occupy as much of the disputed area as possible.

"Cambodia will not readily stop because they want to advance and occupy as many parts as possible before soldiers and observers arrive from Indonesia," the source said.

There have been a number of clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops at Phu Ma Khua. Cambodian soldiers attacked a Thai base on the hill on Feb 5 and seriously injured a soldier who later succumbed to his injuries.

While this reporter was taking photographs of Keo Sikha Kiri Savara yesterday, Cambodian soldiers fired two warning shots from the pagoda and another from Phu Ma Khua. Thai soldiers and the reporter then left the area. If the third shot had come from the pagoda, there would have been another clash, the source said.

A truce agreed between the military leaders of the two countries last week would not be honoured as Cambodian soldiers were poorly disciplined and had proved they would not hesitate in firing on Thai soldiers in their own territory, he said.