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| Thai and Cambodian soldiers eat together at Ta Kwai [Ta Krabey] temple in Surin’sPhanomDong Rak district, about 140kmfrom thePreah Vihear temple. The two sides engaged in deadly border clashes in April. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD |
23rd July, 2011
By Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
SURIN : Thailand and Cambodia's leaders may not be talking about their border problems, but on the ground, troops from both sides are already forging bonds.
Thai soldiers have invited their Cambodian counterparts to spend time with them at temples they have occupied on their side of the border.
Col Mang Mao, the commander of Cambodia's 423th Infantry Brigade is one of two Cambodian soldiers sent to spend 24 hours with two Thai soldiers at the Ta Kwai [Ta Krabey] temple in Ban Ta Miang of Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district.
This is a measure to ensure Thai and Cambodian troops stationed in the disputed area have a chance to talk first to prevent any conflicts breaking out.
Col Mang Mao said border tension in Surin has eased since the July 3 election in Thailand.
"Cambodian soldiers hope that after Thailand has a new government, negotiations will resume. Then soldiers from both sides can stop fighting each other.
"In the past, in April in particular, the clashes were very violent. Soldiers of both countries suffered losses," he said.
Col Nat See-in, the commander of the Thai 26th Ranger Division, said two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers would be stationed at the Ta Kwai temple together around the clock.
Thai troops have occupied the nearby Ta Muan temple, but have allowed five unarmed Cambodian soldiers who are part of the Cambodian military's coordination team to spend six hours a day with the troops there as a trust-building measure.
These steps, intended to ease tension and prevent unnecessary armed confrontation between the two countries' soldiers, are in line with the policy of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian military leaders, said Col Mang Mao.
"They wanted Cambodian unit chiefs at the border to solve any disagreements through negotiations, not the use of force or shooting as in the past. They don't want the dispute to escalate."
Col Nat said the border tension lately has eased markedly.
"But we must not be reckless. We must be disciplined and stringently abide by the agreements between troops of the two countries," he said.
Several battalions of troops from both sides are still camped around Ta Muan temple and trouble could break out.
Capt Sen Nee of the Cambodian army who has been stationed at the Ta Muan temple said Cambodian soldiers were happy that Pheu Thai Party won the general election. They believed Pheu Thai would focus on holding truce talks with Cambodia rather than waging war.
Bangkok Post
SURIN : Thailand and Cambodia's leaders may not be talking about their border problems, but on the ground, troops from both sides are already forging bonds.
Thai soldiers have invited their Cambodian counterparts to spend time with them at temples they have occupied on their side of the border.
Col Mang Mao, the commander of Cambodia's 423th Infantry Brigade is one of two Cambodian soldiers sent to spend 24 hours with two Thai soldiers at the Ta Kwai [Ta Krabey] temple in Ban Ta Miang of Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district.
This is a measure to ensure Thai and Cambodian troops stationed in the disputed area have a chance to talk first to prevent any conflicts breaking out.
Col Mang Mao said border tension in Surin has eased since the July 3 election in Thailand.
"Cambodian soldiers hope that after Thailand has a new government, negotiations will resume. Then soldiers from both sides can stop fighting each other.
"In the past, in April in particular, the clashes were very violent. Soldiers of both countries suffered losses," he said.
Col Nat See-in, the commander of the Thai 26th Ranger Division, said two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers would be stationed at the Ta Kwai temple together around the clock.
Thai troops have occupied the nearby Ta Muan temple, but have allowed five unarmed Cambodian soldiers who are part of the Cambodian military's coordination team to spend six hours a day with the troops there as a trust-building measure.
These steps, intended to ease tension and prevent unnecessary armed confrontation between the two countries' soldiers, are in line with the policy of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian military leaders, said Col Mang Mao.
"They wanted Cambodian unit chiefs at the border to solve any disagreements through negotiations, not the use of force or shooting as in the past. They don't want the dispute to escalate."
Col Nat said the border tension lately has eased markedly.
"But we must not be reckless. We must be disciplined and stringently abide by the agreements between troops of the two countries," he said.
Several battalions of troops from both sides are still camped around Ta Muan temple and trouble could break out.
Capt Sen Nee of the Cambodian army who has been stationed at the Ta Muan temple said Cambodian soldiers were happy that Pheu Thai Party won the general election. They believed Pheu Thai would focus on holding truce talks with Cambodia rather than waging war.
8 comments:
Be careful with Siam trick
What happen if they put poision in Mee KaTang Idoit?
Just a few week a go Thai soldiers genocided 11 innocent Khmer men in cold blood.
Khmer soldiers should not shake hand or sit and have dinner with those Thai invaders.It's disgusting.
To me I feel like I am having dinner with a bunch of culprits that raped my wife or my daughter in my own house.
Dignity first.
True Khmer
These Thais soldier may be a sniper just want to take a close look at their target range...
I thought khmer army take control over Ta Krabei and Ta Maon...Why these thief sitting here having a meal with our soldier?
Yeah, I thought that Cambodian troops are in control of these two temples; if this artical is true, then we have not been told the truth by our commanders/government.
Does anyone have details to verified about who is controling these two temple?
I have been to temple site twice in last 10 months with Thai GF and both times I was able to shake hands of both Cambodian & Thai soldiers. Also they were sharing smokes and eating together back then, not just now. So why don't they just make it a neutral area of about a 3 km Radius from each Temple site and go halves in the Tourist entrance fees. Have signs at entrance saying Thai/Cambodian historical temple sites. Then both governments happy and no soldiers or civilians killed. EASY......
I have been to temple site twice in last 10 months with Thai GF and both times I was able to shake hands of both Cambodian & Thai soldiers. Also they were sharing smokes and eating together back then, not just now. So why don't they just make it a neutral area of about a 3 km Radius from each Temple site and go halves in the Tourist entrance fees. Have signs at entrance saying Thai/Cambodian historical temple sites. Then both governments happy and no soldiers or civilians killed. EASY......PS: Thai army were in control of the temple site and Cambodian army just at the bottom of stairs in the jungle.
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