Cambodia says Thailand shot 50,000 shells in clash

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/

via CAAI

Associated Press

2011-05-03

Cambodia's prime minister says Thailand fired more than 50,000 artillery and mortar shells in more than a week of border clashes.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday some shells that landed in Oddar Meanchey province have not exploded and must be disarmed before civilians return to evacuated areas. Thai comment on his claims was not immediately available.

The fighting that started April 22 has quieted in recent days. But Thailand's state broadcaster MCOT reported a Thai soldier was killed Monday night, bringing the death toll to one Thai civilian and a total of 17 soldiers from both sides.

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Cambodia seeks UN court ruling on Thai border row

Troops from both sides have been camped out along the border for several days

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

via CAAI

3 May 2011

Another Thai soldier has died in border clashes with Cambodian troops, as Cambodia petitioned the UN's highest court to clarify a judgement at the heart of the dispute.

The Thai soldier became the 18th casualty of 12 days of fighting.

On Monday displaced villagers began returning home as clashes eased, but shooting continued through the night.

Cambodia wants the International Court of Justice to explain its ruling on ownership of a hilltop temple.

In 1962, the court awarded ownership of the temple of Preah Vihear to Cambodia based on a map drawn at the turn of the century. Thailand does not contest ownership of the temple but claims the surrounding area.

The recent fighting has for the most part taken place at two other temples some 150km (90 miles) from Preah Vihear.

But it remains the most prominent symbol of the dispute and a focus of nationalist sentiment on both sides.

'Matter of urgency'

In its submission to the court, Cambodia asked it to clarify the meaning and scope of its judgement concerning the temple of Preah Vihear.

Such an explanation could "serve as a basis for a final resolution of this dispute", it was quoted as saying in a statement posted on the ICJ website.

It asked the court to act "as a matter of urgency" because of the gravity of the situation.

The row has been festering between Thailand and Cambodia since Unesco awarded the temple World Heritage Status in 2008.

The latest fighting flared on 22 April around the temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, which lie in jungle areas that both claim.

A ceasefire was agreed on 28 April but fighting has continued - although officials say exchanges of fire have lessened somewhat.

"Even though clashes continued, it has become less intense and the use of heavy weapons has stopped," said Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

"Army representatives on both sides will meet twice a day to reduce tension and restore goodwill on the ground."

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One Thai soldier killed as border clash persists

http://news.xinhuanet.com/

via CAAI

BANGKOK, May 3 (Xinhua) -- One Thai soldier was killed and three others injured in overnight clash with Cambodian troops near Ta Kwai temple on disputed border between Thailand's northeastern Surin province and Cambodia.

According to Army Region 2, the cross-border clash began at 8 p. m. Monday night after mortars were fired at a Thai military base, triggering proportionate retaliation from Thai side. Small arms, mortars and hand grenades were used by both sides in the conflict but no heavy weapons were used.

Sporadic gunfire exchanges continued till 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The deadly border conflict since April 22 has brought the death toll to 18 including nine Cambodian soldiers, eight Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian.

Villagers who had just returned to their homes on Monday ran for their lives to shelter.

The clash occurred despite a ceasefire agreement reached between field commanders of both countries.

Over 100,000 residents in the two countries were displaced following the latest round of border clash.

Editor: Wang Guanqun

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Thai Army reinforced troops at Ta Moan Thom temple

Cambodian military sources from Oddar Meanchey province said that the Thai Army had boosted up its military presence at many locations near Ta Moan Thom temple (pictured) at around 8 p.m on Wednesday night, 2nd March.

The same sources told Reaksmey Kampuchea that at 8 p.m on Wednesday night, the Thai Army had mobilised and boosted up troop numbers at Choup Koki crossings, Ta Moan Thom temple, Thmor Daun village, Choup Angkanh and Ta Krabey temple in Banteay Ampil of Oddar Meanchey province.

The sources said that Thailand's main army units had camped about 20 metres from Ta Moan Thom temple and cut trees to build new bunkers and trenches.

The sources said that Cambodian troops are ordered to be on high alert and to dig in inside their trenches and bunkers.

Another source from Tropeang Prasat district in Oddar Meanchey province said that many truckloads of Thai black-clad soldiers had been brought in to the district and deployed at various locations east of O'Koup village.

Cambodian military sources at Preah Vihear areas had also reported of troop reinforcements by the Thai Army yesterday to areas near Preah Vihear temple. The Thai troop reinforcements were aimed at intimidating Cambodia not to bring in 17 foreign military attaches into the so-called "disputed zone" near Preah Vihear temple. Cambodia had reportedly ignored the Thai intimidation and successfully brought in those foreign military attaches into the areas.

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Clashes as evacuees move

Photo by: Reuters

A Cambodian soldier mans a position with his weapon in Oddar Meanchey province, near the Thai-Cambodian border, on Sunday.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

via CAAI

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 15:03Cheang Sokha

As sporadic fire at the Cambodian-Thai border continued for an 11th straight day yesterday, thousands of evacuees displaced in the conflict began to venture back to their homes.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement yesterday that Thai troops had fired machine guns, grenade launchers and shells on the frontline near Oddar Meanchey province on both Sunday night and yesterday morning.

Renewed fighting near to Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples came despite a ceasefire brokered by military commanders last Thursday and renewed twice since.

At least nine Cambodian troops have been killed since the fighting broke out on April 22. In Thailand, seven troops and one civilian are dead.

“Thai soldiers have not obeyed the ceasefire agreement and this is the 11th time that Thai troops violated the agreement,” the ministry statement said.

Soldiers on the frontline also reported continued exchange of fire. One Cambodian solider, who wished not be named, said yesterday: “I cannot sleep each night … they want to disturb us, though sometimes we shoot back at them and they cannot sleep either.”

In a now familiar scenario, each side accused the other of touching off the fighting.

Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Army, said yesterday: “The two sides say the same thing and accuse people of doing the same thing.”

He said added that Thai troops were choosing to fire “warning shots” after any suspicious movements, rather than aiming to hit Cambodian soliders. He added that Thai soldiers would only act in “self-defence”.

Meanwhile, the tide of evacuees moving away from the border – over 45,000 on the Cambodian side as of this weekend – appears to have turned as the intensity of the fighting dies down.

Keo Vy, cabinet director of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said late last night that over 9,000 families had returned home from shelters in Oddar Meanchey – the majority to houses farther away from the frontline.

“They can return whenever they think it is safe for them,” he said. “Even though they stay here [in Samroang town] and get rice and food from the Red Cross, they still want to return to their homes where is comfortable for them to live.”

Roughly 1,000 families, he added, had chosen to stay put at shelters in the meantime.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SAM RITH AND JAMES O’TOOLE

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RFA Khmer Webcast-KHM-050211-M

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Cambodian refugees call for International help

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France Calls for End of Border Hostilities

Photo: AP

A Cambodian military truck loads BM-21 multiple rocket launchers covered by a tent near the disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand in Uddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Thai and Cambodian military officers say the border between their two countries is calm after four days of clashes.

The government of France on Monday called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities” between Cambodian and Thai troops on the border, as fighting for the 11^th-straight day ended with a rising death toll.

Neither side has been able to honor a tenuous ceasefire agreed to by commanders on the ground last week. At least 17 people have been killed under artillery shelling, mortar attacks, rocket fire and small arms skirmishes since April 22.

In a statement, Bernard Valero, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, urged both sides to show “restraint and responsibility” and to “settle their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.”

France supports Indonesia’s Asean role to help broker a peaceful resolution and wants observers deployed to the border “soon,” the statement said.

Fighting has occurred at Ta Muan and Ta Krabei temples in Oddar Meanchey province and in areas near Preah Vihear temple, sending tens of thousands of civilians fleeing.

The leaders of both countries are expected to address the clashes at an Asean summit scheduled in Jakarta this weekend.

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Prawit ready for border talks

The gate at the Chong Jom border pass which separates Thailand’s Kap Choeng district from Cambodia’s O-Smach area remains locked yesterday with the O-Smach Resort standing in the background. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

3/05/2011
Wassana Nanuam and Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Sunday night flew to Paris to meet three legal advisers from France, Canada and Australia to discuss Cambodia's move.

Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon says he wants Thai-Cambodian border conflict talks to be held this month. Defence spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Gen Prawit was ready to meet his Cambodian counterpart on the condition that Cambodian soldiers stopped firing at Thai troops.

Gen Prawit had ordered the Thai military to contact Cambodian authorities to advance the bilateral General Border Committee meeting from June to this month as he wanted the panel to meet as soon as possible.

He said yesterday he had not yet arranged a meeting with Cambodian Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh as he wanted to ensure a truce was honoured.

"Now there is nothing to talk about. A truce must happen first. I believe there is a positive sign," Gen Prawit said.

Lt Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, commander of the 2nd Army, who attended a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command in Bangkok yesterday, said cross-border shellings by heavy artillery from both sides had stopped.

Although fighting with small firearms has continued, he believed peace would return to the border soon.

A military source said army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had ordered army deputy chief-of-staff Sirichai Ditthakul, who heads the army outpost in Surin, and army assistant chief-of-staff Wilas Arunsri to closely monitor and assess the situation and work out a long-term border solutions.

The Thai defence minister said Gen Prawit had discussed the border problem with Chinese authorities during a visit to China last week. He denied Gen Prawit had lobbied China for support.

"Gen Prawit did not make any request for China to negotiate with Cambodia because China will not intervene in the affairs of other countries. China supports bilateral solutions," Col Thanathip said.

He said Thailand and China agreed to continue with joint weapon development and large-scale military exercises.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has received Cambodia's petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ministry's Legal and Treaties Affairs Department is studying it.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said the ICJ sent Cambodia's request for legal clarification to the 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear temple.

He said the Legal and Treaties Affairs Department is studying the measures which were mentioned in the Cambodian statement issued last Friday.

The ICJ will consider whether to accept Cambodia's request and might interpret the ruling at the same time.

Mr Thani said the ICJ would inform Thailand at an appropriate time when to send information to defend the case.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Sunday night flew to Paris to meet three legal advisers from France, Canada and Australia to discuss Cambodia's move.

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