Hundreds of Thai troops had moved in to occupy Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svara pagoda, 300 metres from Preah Vihear temple, on 22nd July 2008, after they had invaded the area on 15th July, 2008, 7 days after Unesco inscribed Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site on 7th July 2008.Source: DAP News
Thai troops continue to dig in into Cambodian territory by digging trenches and building roads provocatively in preparations for a showdown with Cambodian troops and to fortify their defence frontlines.
Cambodian frontline troops reported that at 10 a.m on Friday 4th February, Thai troops began to dig trenches at 5 locations and building a road about 20 metres from the Cambodian frontline at Phnom Trop, located 5 km east of Preah Vihear temple, but had stopped their construction works at 6 p.m after a strong warning from Cambodian troops.
However, Cambodian frontline troops reported that Thai soldiers had re-started their construction works in the same area again. Cambodian troops had issued a stern warning to Thai troops again to stop their works. However, it is not sure if the Thai side had heeded Cambodia's warning.
Bangkok Post also reported that Thai soldiers yesterday resumed building a laterite road from Pha Mor I Dang cliff (Phnom Trop) to Sa Trao, an ancient reservoir situated on the northern axis of Preah Vihear where Thai border patrol police had been stationed. The road will be two kilometres long. The report said that the road was 70% completed and the armed clashes from 4-7 February had brought the construction of the road to a halt.
Thai Army sources said Cambodia was afraid that Thai soldiers would use the laterite road to reach Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda. Cambodian troops claimed that the constructions of this road by Thai troops had triggered the 4-7 February armed clashes.
The areas around the Preah Vihear temple surroundings had been a source of conflict between Cambodia and Thailand for 56 years. In 1907, France, Cambodia's colonial master, had concluded a treaty with Thailand, then known as Siam, when both side agreed that Preah Vihear temple situates under Cambodian sovereignty. In 1954, less than one year after France gave independence to Cambodia and taking advantage of Cambodian military weakness, Thai troops moved in to occupy Preah Vihear temple. Cambodia took Thailand to International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1959 and in 1962, the ICJ adjudicated to give Preah Vihear temple and the surrounding area to Cambodia. In actual fact, Cambodia had controlled the Preah Vihear surrounding areas for more than 100 hundred years and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty, the 1908 Franco-Siamese map and the 1962 verdict of the International Court of Justice put the area under Cambodia's sovereignty, until it was invaded by Thai troops on 15th July, 2008.
3 comments:
this times Cambodia going into Thailand that for sure. I'm sure something might happen the next 72Hrs.
If the clash happen again, it will be worse and more fierce than before, so Cambodia must be well prepared. The Indonesian observers, who not arrived yet, can do nothing if clashes occurred. However, the sooner they arrive, the lesser the likeliness of a clash.
But, Cambodia must take this case to international court. bilateral talks with Thailand will not produce anything because more than 2 years of talking did not yield any results, but only more fighting.
We try to be nice and make deal, while the fucking Thai's are building up their troops. What's the point in making deal, fuck it, just fight it all out.
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