A Cambodian soldier taking up position. A recently attempted truce between Thailand and Cambodia proved short-lived
BANGKOK --- AFP-- A THAI soldier was killed in fresh fighting with Cambodian troops, the army said on Tuesday, raising the death toll from the worst border clashes in decades to 18, despite some signs of easing tensions.
Three other Thai troops were wounded in the skirmishes late on Monday and early Tuesday, said Colonel Sukit Subanjui, a Thai army spokesman in the northeast border region.
"Both rounds of fighting involved assault rifles and mortars," he said.
Cambodia said one of its soldiers was wounded.
Despite the continued sporadic clashes, the situation had improved enough on Monday for many of the 85,000 civilians who had sought refuge in temporary camps or temples on both sides to return home, authorities said.
"The Thais that evacuated can return home because the gun battle has subsided," Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.
But he added: "We have to be fully vigilant."
Eight Thai troops and nine Cambodian soldiers have died since April 22 in the conflict around two disputed temples on the border. Bangkok has said a Thai civilian was also killed and some homes were damaged on both sides.
The neighbours have come under increasing international pressure to end the violence.
An attempted truce announced on Thursday after military-level negotiations proved short-lived, but the fighting has since become less intense and appears to be confined to a smaller area away from civilian populations.
The relationship between the two countries has been strained since the 900-year-old temple Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) surrounding area.
Cambodia on Thursday asked the court to clarify that ruling and also requested provisional measures including the removal of Thai forces from the temple area, according to a document published on the International Court of Justice website.
The most recent deadly clashes have been mainly centred around two temple complexes about 150 kilometres (90 miles) west of Preah Vihear.
"Both rounds of fighting involved assault rifles and mortars," he said.
Cambodia said one of its soldiers was wounded.
Despite the continued sporadic clashes, the situation had improved enough on Monday for many of the 85,000 civilians who had sought refuge in temporary camps or temples on both sides to return home, authorities said.
"The Thais that evacuated can return home because the gun battle has subsided," Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.
But he added: "We have to be fully vigilant."
Eight Thai troops and nine Cambodian soldiers have died since April 22 in the conflict around two disputed temples on the border. Bangkok has said a Thai civilian was also killed and some homes were damaged on both sides.
The neighbours have come under increasing international pressure to end the violence.
An attempted truce announced on Thursday after military-level negotiations proved short-lived, but the fighting has since become less intense and appears to be confined to a smaller area away from civilian populations.
The relationship between the two countries has been strained since the 900-year-old temple Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) surrounding area.
Cambodia on Thursday asked the court to clarify that ruling and also requested provisional measures including the removal of Thai forces from the temple area, according to a document published on the International Court of Justice website.
The most recent deadly clashes have been mainly centred around two temple complexes about 150 kilometres (90 miles) west of Preah Vihear.
6 comments:
I don't really care how we fight the war as long as we win there's no rule of engagement with the enemy like Thailand it is exceptional it is not the first and not the last we have been invading again and again from the a big empire to a small country because we have neighbor like Thailand .
our leader should re-think of our men underarms the number at least we have 2/3 to Thai lately we only have 1/3 we out numbers weaponry we far out by Thai.
1970 war and today war are differences Thai use conventional weapon and we still use cold war weapon we should modernize our weaponry system building medium size or long range SAM in an alternative that can turn the table around when fighting is out of control .
Communication system have to be improve if we can intercept or disrupted their communicate during the critical time is crucial in the Thai-Lao war1988 Thai end up bombing themselves because of Lao able miss-guide Thai RF communication.
True, our troops are outnumbered by Thai troops 1:3. The same with weapons and arsenal. We don't have air force and our tanks are still outdated and much less in numbers. Our navy is so small compared to Thai navy which has many warships and one aircraft carrier. Thailand has hundreds of thousands of rockets and missiles while Cambodia only has limited in stock. In the fight in February, our troops nearly run out of BM-21 rockets and now they probably run out already. Our military need to be upgraded.
3 May 2011 7:34 PM
We're poor we don't have the money to buy those rocket itself price from more then $1000 for 20Km range and some where $3000 for 40Km range .
We have to change our maneuver if we not teach Thai the lesion of war Thai never back off they think they can over run us may be we've to go for war for peace.
I still seeing our troops lacking of modern weapons today, all them BM21 rocket launchers are too old and outdated! I hope our Govts start to do something about upgrading our military power, this is a wake up call for cambodia and cambodian...for too relaxing, too peacefull, we have to be well prepared for everything...Don't just ignore and relax, Oh don't worry! today we resolve thing through TALKS! Not with Siam-thief! or Viet-thief! Everything must be well preapared!!!!!!!!!!!!! Khmer Empier lost so much of lands to Thailand because of too relax and too straight forward with our enemy!!!!!
I also remembered when the first fighting with Thai back in 2008, alot of our soldiers complaints that their rifles were stuck, jamp, not fire-out! Because their rifle were too rusty-rusted, they got so mad with their superior for negligence...Oh don't worry! We don't need weapons to resolve problems these days? But when Siam-thief showing up at our doorstep...everyone ran and grabbing bow and errow fighting against M16? I blamed our Govts alot...for negligence!!
Hun Sen should learn his lessons! This is wake up call for cambodian governments for too relaxing and too peacefull, not upgrading our military, you can't fight our enemy with WW2 WEAPONS TODAY...MAN?
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