Cambodia Threatens War With Thailand Within 24 Hours

[wensiensheng]

Lets see now. The Thai armed forces conduct a review of the hardware most needed to protect it's borders and settles on........submarines. It will be interesting to see how they could be deployed to sort out this problem! Actually, I dont think they have completed the purchase uet, so maybe that particular piece of ego mania will get cancelled.

[imaneggspurt]

I'm flying to PP today - first time there.

Being based in Thailand I'm now wondering if I should postpone. I do actually want to be able to return here!

It might be nationalistic rhetoric and an attempt to intimidate, but "war" isn't a word you should bat around lightly.

Bugger.

You are not Thai i take it ?.you will be fine,i am riding over the ban laem border on friday with a friend on 2 bikes, we were there a few years ago when anything thai in pp was set on fire, we took off the thai plates and rode helmetless ( so they could see we were farang ) and had no problem

[Plus]

The disputed zone is to the left of the road leading up to the temple, Cambodia "proper" is under the cliff.

[bully]

The days of constantly moving borders has come to an end. The area in dispute falls in Cambodian territory making a far stretch to be considered Thai. Besides, as I understand it Thailand failed to represent their case in the UNESCO decision, missing all deadlines and extensions to file the papers needed to participate in the process.

If Thais are on Cambodian soil and refusing to retreat when asked to, they are only asking for an escalation. How can a government be so high on itself, to risk the lives of its citizens, its reputation on a world stage.

I love Thailand, but they continue to baffle me with their unique form of logic.

,,Unique form of logic,, The best I description ever heard about my lovely Thailand. Something you need to cary with you where ever you go and whatever you do in Thailand.

[imaneggspurt]

This is becoming a joke, the sad thing is innocent young soldiers on either side could die because some prats want to keep face.

IF this goes off it wont be a war,it will be a slaughter, lives will be lost on both sides but the winner is inevitable,.lets hope these war statements were made by paper tigers,.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

This might just give Thailands 700 or more Generals something to do. (Besides playing golf)

and having a social sip or ten

[thaidrew]

All smoke and mirrors, Behind the scenes the deal has probably already been struck with TS, for him to come back, like a knight in shining armour, and negotiate the saving of Thai, and pick up the kudos plus the land he wants to build a new casino city in Cambodia. Definitely sounds like a political timed operation to me. Thaidrew

[Loptr]

Perhaps the Generals are trying to get the PAD & PPP in BKK to focus on something else besides bickering and destroying their tourist industry...

[coocooforcocoapuffs]

I'm flying to PP today - first time there.

Being based in Thailand I'm now wondering if I should postpone. I do actually want to be able to return here!

It might be nationalistic rhetoric and an attempt to intimidate, but "war" isn't a word you should bat around lightly.

Bugger.

You are not Thai i take it ?.you will be fine,i am riding over the ban laem border on friday with a friend on 2 bikes, we were there a few years ago when anything thai in pp was set on fire, we took off the thai plates and rode helmetless ( so they could see we were farang ) and had no problem

thanks for the photos, it really illustrates how stupid we can be. fighting over a hill. producing an international conflict to increase poll ratings. sending young men to blow the crap out of each other. this wag the dog stuff has got to stop. there needs to be a button to turn off a government when it becomes mad and dangerous. hit the switch, now!

[sgtpeppers]

Cambodia cant possibly sustain a "war" in this area, Thailand has got the better strategic position, firepower, resources.

Edited October 14, 2008 by sgtpeppers

[ratcatcher]

This might just give Thailands 700 or more Generals something to do. (Besides playing golf)

and having a social sip or ten

Perhaps the government should send the 700 seasoned generals to the front line to face the Khmers and leave the young inexperienced troops in the barracks.

That way Thais could reduce the number of generals and still have an army.

Siem Reap!

[Plus]

Sorry, in my prevoious message I said the disputed area is to the left of the temple. In those pictures it is actually to the "right", ie. at the foreground.

The following map shows Thai claims.

[h90]

here we go !!! Maybe a good war will help the thai politicians to get their sh*t strait

There is no such thing as a good war. maybe time for you too head back home and get your head out of the darkness

Depends on the point of view. Weak corrupt leader often started a war, as an external enemy unit inside.

[h90]

Cambodia cant possibly sustain a "war" in this area, Thailand has got the better strategic position, firepower, resources.

Not if the army is not united. If parts of the army works against the other parts.

[Screws]

Any pollies willing to say "this war is so important to us I am going to send my first born to lead the front line?"

[Seneque]

I think thais are basically quite good at compromise .... but it has to go their way !

[Erich]

I'm sorry, but for me this sounds as if the actual Thai government is looking for an opportunity to move our eyes away from the actual situation here in Thailand , by provocating "only a little bit" at the Cambodian border and the other side steps in and is shouting WAR. Even the Thai people don't eat the "tomjam kung" when it is just coming out from the kitchen.

have a good day

Erich

[Crushdepth]

It's just amazing that the Thai/Cambodian governments can't sort this out through discussion. They redefine 'useless' on a daily basis.

[PhilHarries]

Well said Chief! No such thing as a good war.

Unless you are an undertaker or arms dealer................or a politician.

There'd be a lot less wars if politicians had to lead the troops into battle.

As far as I see it the area, apart from the temple, is pretty useless and certainly has no natural resources with the only viable access to the temple from the Thai side. So why don't they come to a compromise and have it as a dual administration area. They could agree an investment budget and split it 50/50, have a 50/50 split of admin personnel and licensed vendors on the site and split the revenue same way. They'd have to come up with an agreed access corridor in from the Cambodian side but, hel_l, that is something that should be easy to arrange it's not like they are at war.............yet.

Simplistic? Yes but I always look for the simple solution.

[Meridian007]

All smoke and mirrors, Behind the scenes the deal has probably already been struck with TS, for him to come back, like a knight in shining armour, and negotiate the saving of Thai, and pick up the kudos plus the land he wants to build a new casino city in Cambodia. Definitely sounds like a political timed operation to me. Thaidrew

+1

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the situation. T.V. has had people talking about what situation Thaksin will use to return, seeming victorious. This could well be it.

If it goes down this way people, none of you can claim that it wasn't previously orchestrated. Now hopefully some Thai people have seen this and will think about it while Thaksin is paraded back in to Thailand.

[anon467367354]

The news on the television specifically used the word WAR. George's post seems spot on the mark.

[animatic]

This is just a pretty blatant way to promote nationalism and break the will of the PAD.

The direction of causality is exactly the opposite. This is a blatant provocation by the military to undermine the Thai government & assist the ultra-nationalistic & fascistic PAD. Having initiated a civil war in the streets of Bangkok to try to overthrow the government, they are now so desperate they would risk a real war with all that involves.

I think the complete inverse.

If there is war or the threat of war,

it is LESS likely the current government will come down,

and ity distracts people from the current bad situation

and ralleys them around the flag. Win win for incumbents.

Just remember Thaksin's LARGE financial connections with Cambodian power brokers...

He could have just asked his buddy's for a well timed distraction,

and cure for lil bro in laws eminent abrupt resignation.

But also consider Thaksin's got many many friends in the military

that he has strategically placed. It could also be that some clique is making trouble

on the eastern front as a distraction to both Anupong and for the populace.

And the Cambodians are responding to a thorn in their side that keeps coming back.

Or even BOTH of the above in tandem. 'Thaksin triangulating'

fighting in the street, Cambodian and Laos borders AND loose cannons in the military.

All designed to take eyes of Somchai and his boys in Parllement

wanting a free reign to re-write the constitution...

so they can save the country better! yada yada yada.

Of course the Thai leaders in the field have to step on their puds

and 'invade Laos', minimally, just to get to Cambodia faster.

So a dual front campaign across a huge border.

Just dumb and dumber.

Edited October 14, 2008 by animatic

[MHM]

Christmas is coming and once again pantomime season is upon us

"It's our temple"

"Oh no it isn't"

"Oh yes it is"

"Oh no it isn't"

"Oh yes it is"

Boom bang kaboom

(Repeat)

[george]

Anupong, PM call urgent meetings on border row

BANGKOK: -- The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Anupong Paochinda, on Tuesday morning held an urgent meeting with relevant army officials to discuss the deepening border row between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting was held at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat, meanwhile, called another urgent meeting with armed force commanders and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the situation after Cambodia told Thailand to withdraw troops from the disputed border area before noon Tuesday.

On Monday, the Cambodian authority said a "large-scale" armed conflict may happen, if the Thai troops fail to be withdrawn from the border area near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear immediately.

In the meantime at Khao Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear) National Park, many Cambodian soldiers with full arms were dispatched near the temple and most of them were former troops of Khmer Rouge who were very familiar with the border surroundings and environment.

Thai armed forces consequently had tightened security around the national park.

However, the Commander of the Second Army Region, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn, on Tuesday morning claimed that the situation at Preah Vihear had returned to normal, as troops from both sides engaged in more talks and shared a better understanding.

The Thai soldiers will do their best to protect the country’s sovereignty, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak added.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-10-14

[Thai at Heart]

It's just amazing that the Thai/Cambodian governments can't sort this out through discussion. They redefine 'useless' on a daily basis.

The Thais can't even sort out their own internal problems through discussion.

[F1 Visa Runner]

Of course! We all know how the media works. HEADLINES HEADLINE HEADLINES.

The point is that this is a TEXT based forum. THE TEXT DOESNT DISAPPEAR!

You can search for it for a long time. Thaivisa is also high rated in Google which means it many times comes up on the first page about things regarding Thailand.

I just call this making it all worse. This counrty really has a problem with how its viewed from people outside of Thailand these days.

THINK!

[george]

The news on the television specifically used the word WAR. George's post seems spot on the mark.

World media is talking about 'war". I don't write news articles, I select news from our news feed and publish them, even if its considered "bad" news. I consider this Breaking news.

Google news:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=...8&scoring=d

[ratcatcher]

I understand your sentiments but in fairness to George, I don't think he's exaggerating or overblowing the situation.

Check these 2 links. The word WAR is used in both articles. Both papers available on-line. BBC has not yet reported story but no doubt will.

http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/tops...s.php?id=131403

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/10/14...al_30085967.php

This is news and fact.

Edited October 14, 2008 by george

[animatic]

Cambodia cant possibly sustain a "war" in this area, Thailand has got the better strategic position, firepower, resources.

It won't be just there,

'war' means total border, not just the flash point.

[cmiuc]

Looks like stepping in it all over the place these days...

I only see this to be the beginning of it's pangs of distress..

Its like the caterpillar metamorphosing and becoming a moth or butterfly? The deeds of the skeleton are showing through, the culture is changing from old to new, so it seems it has to go through these pangs so that maybe it can become a real nation of people like everywhere else is...

I'm seeing so much corruption surfacing in schools these days, but it seems that MOE is starting to react to these truths...

So a little off topic, but, I hope Thailand can withdraw and never mind a little piece of land that really will never ever be a financial gain for this country. its too far out in the sticks for both Cambodia and Thailand... When I went there, I was never impressed.

Impression of the things to come...