A Change of Guard

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Saturday, 16 July 2011

Illegal Cambodian loggers add to tensions [Thai killings of 11 Cambodian loggers add tensions]

Thai and Cambodian soldiers during a heated argument over borderline near Preah Vihear temple in 2009.

Published: 16/07/2011
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

The felling of Siamese wood by Cambodian loggers could erode the already fragile relationship between Thailand and Cambodia. [Thai troops killed 11 Cambodian loggers].

Reports of Cambodians secretly crossing into Thailand to cut the trees are worrying 23rd Ranger Task Force chief Thanasak Mittraphanon, whose unit is already burdened with its mission to monitor the 4.6 square kilometre overlapping border around the World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple.

The illegal loggers are cutting the trees because the price of this wood has risen 100,000 baht a cubic metre, Col Thanasak said.

He believes they cut the trees almost daily.

Known by Thai locals as mai phayung, the wood is highly sought after by furniture makers for its hardness, resistance to insects and beautiful patterns.

The largest market for Siamese wood logs is China. The tree species is abundant around Preah Vihear and nearby areas in the Phanom Dongrak mountain range.

Thai military rangers have been ordered to take careful action when they spot Cambodian poachers in Thai forests.

"We shout at them," Col Thanasak said, explaining how the officers expel them.

This method works sometimes, he said, but if they still continue to cut the trees, the rangers have to make arrests.

In the worst case, some loggers open fire at the officers who then cannot help but react in kind to protect themselves.

But the military response has become a concern for Col Thanasak as the issue may further weaken Thai-Cambodian relations, which are sensitive following the border dispute near Preah Vihear.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Again and again this bitch, Wassana Nanuam from Bangkok Post, write to make Cambodia look bad.
I am now able to tell that it is her article just by the heading!
She has no journalistic value, as she always presented bias views, and never verified her sources.

I call on all Cambodian to join me in personally attacking her on Twitter.
Search for me on Twitter: DefendCambodia

Anonymous said...

If the Thai accusation is correct the Thai not entitle shoot to kill and the Thai soldiers responsible for Cambodian death must bring to justice,or one should be blame Cambodian gov for letting the Thai to walk over Cambodian citizens without any consequences.

The Thai must be warned of the consequences of the repercussion, Thai fisherman daily crossing to Cambodia water (Koh Kong and Kam pong Som area)fishing illegally and the Cambodian border patrol or navy entitle to shoot to killed to get even.

The Thai do it again and again because they can get away with it. it time for Cambodian gov to set the tough stand to whom, of who violate Cambodian people right and dignity will face the strong penalty,hence American invaded Afghanistan because Afghanistan sheltering terrorists that bombed the twin towers.

The Thai soldiers crimes against Cambodian people it beyond tolerance of any human being,The Thai may feel no pain or shames of their action is not surprise because of the nature bound of Thai cruelty is the norm amongst the Thai.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the first comment, Nanuam has no journalistic ethics and no journalistic values in her writing. She basically made up all stories vis-a-vis Khmer-Thai conflict to make Cambodia look bad.

Anonymous said...

This might seem unexceptional in a Thai increasingly hostile to Cambodian. But to Thai ranger at the border, Thai's Border arms Force ,has carried out a shoot-to-kill policy – even on unarmed local villagers. The toll has been huge. Over the past years Thai security forces have killed almost 20 people since 2008, turning the border area into a Asian killing fields. No one has been prosecuted for any of these killings, in spite of evidence in many cases that makes it clear the killings were in cold blood against unarmed and defenceless local Cambodian residents.

Shockingly, some Thai officials endorse shooting Cambodian who attempt to cross the border illegally, even if they are unarmed. Almost as shocking is the lack of interest in these killings by foreign governments who claim to be concerned with human rights. A single killing by US law enforcement along the Mexican border makes headlines. The killing of large numbers of villagers of Cambodian by Thai forces has been almost entirely ignored.

The border has long been crossed routinely by local people for trade and commerce. It is also crossed by relatives and friends separated by a line arbitrarily drawn by the Franco-Sian treaty 1904-1907.

Thai has the right to impose border controls. But Thai does not have the right to use lethal force except where strictly necessary to protect life. Yet some Thai officials openly admit that unarmed civilians are being killed. The Thai,journalist or mainstream media says or feel sorry for the victims, claiming that since these individuals were illegally entering Thai territory, often were "not innocent" and therefore were a legitimate target.

Though Thailand is a state with functional courts, apparently believes the system can act as judge, jury and executioner. This approach also ignores the many victims, such as a 16-year-old boy was burnt alive, who cutting down the tree and was burnt alive simply because he was Cambodian. Sadly, Thai officials have also suggested that such killings are acceptable if the victim was engaged in cutting down the trees in Thai territory.

The response of various government officials to allegations of a shoot-to-kill policy has been confusing: we do shoot illegal border crossers since they are lawbreakers; we don't shoot border crossers, we only shoot in self-defence,we never shoot to kill.It should understand that its behaviour will come under increasing scrutiny. Routinely shooting poor, unarmed Cambodian villagers is not how the world's democracy should behave.

(Human right)

Anonymous said...

Cambodia should sue Thailand for the crime against humanity not just the illegal loggers but the refugees that fleed the country during 1979. It might make sense to get other countries involved. It might take hard work to do research but you can nail them once for all for their crime. You can get other former refugees from different countries to help testify the past event and how Thai's soldiers killed mercyless. Thailand wanted to wash their bloody hand by pointing finger to Cambodian illegal actions and justify their shooting. Why thailand doesnt use court system to prosecut illegal logging, border crossing etc unless Thailand so barbaric doesnt know what is the court duties. Thailand goes around the world threaten everybody including Germany. German court award Thai's airplane to a German company and now FM Kasit is over at Germany to fight for airplane and threaten German that if the court rule not in their favor the relationship between Thailand and Germany will not be a good one. He claimed Thai's people is not happy with Germany. The threat is real because there are many Germanese living in Thailand. This is Thailand behavior from top to bottom. If you ask Burmese, they will tell you about how Thai's soldiers killed and torture the refugees, If you ask Loas and Vietnam, they will tell you the same horror story.

Anonymous said...

Warrior Blood absolutely right! I totally agree with Warrior Blood 100%! Cambodia should file a law suit against Thailand abusive, I use to live in K.I.D refugees Camp in Thailand, i was one of the victim that Thai soldier put in jail..I seen our people beaten with rifle M-16, our people were abused like animals..Thailand has law they should do so...Why beaten and shooting our people like animals??

Anonymous said...

let bring Adhisit admnistration to UN war crimes by using illegal weapons such cluster & poison gas... against Khmer peoples...

Anonymous said...

Bangkok post , writer Wassana is sucked, very poor writing

Writer Wassana, is SUCKED,

Anonymous said...

Thailand must respect human rights!