The Thai Navy Bell 212 helicopter was struck by machinegun fire from the Cambodian side, causing damage to the helicopter's rotor. At the time, it was delivering food to Thai and Cambodian border soldiers based just 50 metres away.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Posted by samnang
18 Dec 2011(Thai sources)-The Democrat Party on Saturday has lashed out at Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul for failing to lodge a protest with Cambodia after its troops shot at a Thai helicopter.
Cambodian soldiers fired at a navy Bell 121 helicopter near Trat province on Thursday as it was delivering food to marines. The helicopter made an emergency landing, but no one was hurt.
The Royal Thai Marine Corps, which insisted the helicopter did not cross into Cambodian airspace, protested the shooting in a letter to the Cambodian 3rd military region chief.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Mr Surapong should have sent a protest letter to Phnom Penh himself, but hasn't.
On Friday, one day after the shooting, Mr Surapong spoke to the media about his decision to return an ordinary passport to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The Democrat spokesman believes Mr Surapong has been lax in responding to the helicopter attack because he is tied up with the Thaksin issue.
Meanwhile, tensions have risen at the border with Cambodia near Trat as military rangers have been ordered to prevent Cambodians from entering Thailand in response to the attack on the unarmed Bell 121.
They have closed Ban Tha Sen border crossing in Trat's Muang district, opposite the Cambodian province of Pursat. Traders say they cannot sell their wares.
The navy's marine corps in Trat will hold talks today with Cambodian military officers from Koh Kong over the helicopter shooting.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday that an incident in which Cambodian forces fired upon a Thai helicopter near the Cambodian border last week was a misunderstanding and would not lead to a dispute between the countries.
He said he would clear up the misunderstanding, although reports had it that Navy commander Admiral Surasak Runrerngrom had issued a letter of protest against Cambodia and closed border checkpoints and goods-transit points.
The foreign minister said the incident would not inflame the border conflict because Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed cordial relations. He said he is scheduled to meet Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on December 29, which would give him an opportunity to discuss many issues.
Vice Admiral Pongsak Riroj said the helicopter of the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Prevention Command was attacked and damaged by Cambodian forces for unknown reasons while flying in Trat on Friday. The Thai military retaliated by closing two transit points for goods in Trat's Muang and Bo Rai districts, and 30 smaller border checkpoints in Chanthaburi and Trat used by Cambodia to buy supplies for military personnel and civilians.
The checkpoint at Ban Had Lek, however, remained open.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Posted by samnang
18 Dec 2011(Thai sources)-The Democrat Party on Saturday has lashed out at Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul for failing to lodge a protest with Cambodia after its troops shot at a Thai helicopter.
Cambodian soldiers fired at a navy Bell 121 helicopter near Trat province on Thursday as it was delivering food to marines. The helicopter made an emergency landing, but no one was hurt.
The Royal Thai Marine Corps, which insisted the helicopter did not cross into Cambodian airspace, protested the shooting in a letter to the Cambodian 3rd military region chief.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Mr Surapong should have sent a protest letter to Phnom Penh himself, but hasn't.
On Friday, one day after the shooting, Mr Surapong spoke to the media about his decision to return an ordinary passport to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The Democrat spokesman believes Mr Surapong has been lax in responding to the helicopter attack because he is tied up with the Thaksin issue.
Meanwhile, tensions have risen at the border with Cambodia near Trat as military rangers have been ordered to prevent Cambodians from entering Thailand in response to the attack on the unarmed Bell 121.
They have closed Ban Tha Sen border crossing in Trat's Muang district, opposite the Cambodian province of Pursat. Traders say they cannot sell their wares.
The navy's marine corps in Trat will hold talks today with Cambodian military officers from Koh Kong over the helicopter shooting.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday that an incident in which Cambodian forces fired upon a Thai helicopter near the Cambodian border last week was a misunderstanding and would not lead to a dispute between the countries.
He said he would clear up the misunderstanding, although reports had it that Navy commander Admiral Surasak Runrerngrom had issued a letter of protest against Cambodia and closed border checkpoints and goods-transit points.
The foreign minister said the incident would not inflame the border conflict because Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed cordial relations. He said he is scheduled to meet Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on December 29, which would give him an opportunity to discuss many issues.
Vice Admiral Pongsak Riroj said the helicopter of the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Prevention Command was attacked and damaged by Cambodian forces for unknown reasons while flying in Trat on Friday. The Thai military retaliated by closing two transit points for goods in Trat's Muang and Bo Rai districts, and 30 smaller border checkpoints in Chanthaburi and Trat used by Cambodia to buy supplies for military personnel and civilians.
The checkpoint at Ban Had Lek, however, remained open.
1 comment:
Come on! Don't be naive. If they (Thai) indeed were inside their border, do you think they would let us shoot without some sort of retaliations? You know how Thai behave. Don't ever ever ever trust the Thai or Viet.
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