Thai Intelligence Probes New Cambodian Army Unit In Poipet

[george]

Thai intelligence probes new Cambodian army unit in Poipet

SA KAEO: -- Thai intelligence officres are investigating reports that some 200 Cambodian soldiers have moved to Poipet on the Thai-Cambodian border some two kilometres from the border crossing and casinos at the frontier.

A former Cambodian soldier, now a trader in Poipet, opposite the key Thai border district of Aranyaprathet, said some 200 fully armed Cambodian soldiers had moved to Poipet and built tents behind the airport since Tuesday.

The Cambodian soldiers visit Poipet market areas at night, causing fear among local Cambodians that fresh fighting with Thailand could erupt after the Thai government had kept silent regarding the Cambodian demand for over US$2 million compensation for damage allegedly caused by heavy Thai army gunfire during the April 3 border clash near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, affecting some 300 Cambodian households.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry earlier sent a diplomatic note to Thailand, asking for the compensation. It said that Thai artillery had destroyed 264 market stalls in front of Preah Vihear temple, affecting 319 Cambodian households.

However, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that the area in question belongs to Thailand.

Cambodian intelligence reports said that army unit was assigned had come into the area as a senior military commander planned to visit there in order to map out a new military restructuring plan.

Thai military intelligence is assessing the movements of the Cambodian unit, claiming that the practice violates an agreement made between the two countries barring additional troops of either country from being posted to areas adjacent to the border.

-- TNA 2009-05-23

[Dakhar]

Thai intelligence probes new Cambodian army unit in Poipet

SA KAEO: -- Thai intelligence officres are investigating reports that some 200 Cambodian soldiers have moved to Poipet on the Thai-Cambodian border some two kilometres from the border crossing and casinos at the frontier.

A former Cambodian soldier, now a trader in Poipet, opposite the key Thai border district of Aranyaprathet, said some 200 fully armed Cambodian soldiers had moved to Poipet and built tents behind the airport since Tuesday.

The Cambodian soldiers visit Poipet market areas at night, causing fear among local Cambodians that fresh fighting with Thailand could erupt after the Thai government had kept silent regarding the Cambodian demand for over US$2 million compensation for damage allegedly caused by heavy Thai army gunfire during the April 3 border clash near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, affecting some 300 Cambodian households.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry earlier sent a diplomatic note to Thailand, asking for the compensation. It said that Thai artillery had destroyed 264 market stalls in front of Preah Vihear temple, affecting 319 Cambodian households.

However, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that the area in question belongs to Thailand.

Cambodian intelligence reports said that army unit was assigned had come into the area as a senior military commander planned to visit there in order to map out a new military restructuring plan.

Thai military intelligence is assessing the movements of the Cambodian unit, claiming that the practice violates an agreement made between the two countries barring additional troops of either country from being posted to areas adjacent to the border.

-- TNA 2009-05-23

2million, I could buy Cambodia with that

Thai intelligence??????????

[dave_boo]

2million, I could buy Cambodia with that

Thai intelligence??????????

Was thinking the same thing; considering the forward fire control's performance in that live fire exercise, it's probably a bit of a misnomer.

Love how the Thai military gets their panties in a wad for Cambo doing the same thing they did at Preah Vihear. Of course the Cambodian army isn't shelling anywhere in the area they're purported to be either....

[Krungthepian]

This is interesting - sad, but perhaps not surprising. Hun Sen looks to be getting to the stage where he is a serious danger to decent relations with Thailand. He's not a pleasant individual, given he appears to sanction the slaying of political rivals or union leaders who "get in the way".

He seemed to get on very well with Thaksin, another ugly power-crazed and greedy leader quite happy to trash anything that gets in his way. There has been a lot of talk about them secretly plotting to set up joint ventures that would carve up the oil and gas concessions in the Gulf (currently in limbo cos they are in a zone claimed by both countries) as well as build five-star hotels on land claimed by both countries near Preah Vihear temple. I reckon Hen Sen's fairly obvious support for Thaksin in recent months, when the latter was trying to topple Abhisit's government, has greatly undermined relations with Bangkok.

People interested in Cambodia ought to read the most recent Global Witness report "Country for Sale: How Cambodia's Elite has captured the countries' extractive industries", which I think can be downloaded via the Net. It is a fascinating and very disturbing report, which suggests Hun Sen is on the verge of running a kleptocracy, and that he and the heads of the CPP have got an illegal and outrageous stranglehold on Cambodia's mining and oil prospects; millions being paid by foreign companies to get access to such prospects look to have been pocketed and not even declared on the national accounts.

Global Witness has been condemned by the Hun Sen government, but their researchers got a good reception when they presented this report at the FCCT not long ago. Global Witness says international donors have got to get real and seriously reassess whether they want to keep paying half of the Cambodian government's operating costs cos once the oil and gold deposits start producing, Hun Sen and his mates will be so wealthy they will be untouchable. The horse will have bolted.

Aside from Preah Vihear, which has been appallingly exploited by groups on both sides, there have also been some serious ruffles between the Thai foreign minister and Hun Sen. They may well hate each other. Hun Sen's claim for compensation at Preah Vihear seemed to be provocative. It was given short shift by Thailand, so the alleged posting of these troops is perhaps the latest response from the one-eyed PM in Takhmau (his home just outside Phnom Penh and he does have a glass eye).

Journos who knew him in the early 90s, say Hun Sen was lovely fellow in those days. Now you can go down to Sihanoukville and look at his huge mansion and look out towards Hun Sen Island, in the Gulf. He's turned into a real rogue, I think. One NGO leader I spoke to in Phnom Penh a few years back was convinced Hun Sen's personality had become so manic and psychotic they wondered if he was hooked on amphetamines.

But we need to acknowledge that, like Thaksin, he is a clever leader, because the Cambodian economy has done very well in recent years. But his brutal domination of the political scene has meant little justice for his people, and a "democracy" that is close to a sham. There are ugly reports of land grabbing all round the country and regular complaints about the poor being dumped in areas on the far outskirts of Phnom Penh with virtually no homes or services to make way for slum redevelopment schemes near the heart of Phnom Penh.

I really hope he doesn't continue in this manner, but everything suggests he will, and that his vow to retain power for many more years is quite possible.

[dieter1]

Global Witness report "Country for Sale: How Cambodia's Elite has captured the countries' extractive industries"

http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library...res_english.pdf

[Scott]

This could be an interesting development.

[unforgiven]

Thai intelligence probes new Cambodian army unit in Poipet

SA KAEO: -- Thai intelligence officres are investigating reports that some 200 Cambodian soldiers have moved to Poipet on the Thai-Cambodian border some two kilometres from the border crossing and casinos at the frontier.

A former Cambodian soldier, now a trader in Poipet, opposite the key Thai border district of Aranyaprathet, said some 200 fully armed Cambodian soldiers had moved to Poipet and built tents behind the airport since Tuesday.

The Cambodian soldiers visit Poipet market areas at night, causing fear among local Cambodians that fresh fighting with Thailand could erupt after the Thai government had kept silent regarding the Cambodian demand for over US$2 million compensation for damage allegedly caused by heavy Thai army gunfire during the April 3 border clash near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, affecting some 300 Cambodian households.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry earlier sent a diplomatic note to Thailand, asking for the compensation. It said that Thai artillery had destroyed 264 market stalls in front of Preah Vihear temple, affecting 319 Cambodian households.

However, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that the area in question belongs to Thailand.

Cambodian intelligence reports said that army unit was assigned had come into the area as a senior military commander planned to visit there in order to map out a new military restructuring plan.

Thai military intelligence is assessing the movements of the Cambodian unit, claiming that the practice violates an agreement made between the two countries barring additional troops of either country from being posted to areas adjacent to the border.

-- TNA 2009-05-23

2million, I could buy Cambodia with that

Thai intelligence??????????

ya I agree but this thing could get goofy. Both sides seem to be stuborn.

[unforgiven]

This is interesting - sad, but perhaps not surprising. Hun Sen looks to be getting to the stage where he is a serious danger to decent relations with Thailand. He's not a pleasant individual, given he appears to sanction the slaying of political rivals or union leaders who "get in the way".

He seemed to get on very well with Thaksin, another ugly power-crazed and greedy leader quite happy to trash anything that gets in his way. There has been a lot of talk about them secretly plotting to set up joint ventures that would carve up the oil and gas concessions in the Gulf (currently in limbo cos they are in a zone claimed by both countries) as well as build five-star hotels on land claimed by both countries near Preah Vihear temple. I reckon Hen Sen's fairly obvious support for Thaksin in recent months, when the latter was trying to topple Abhisit's government, has greatly undermined relations with Bangkok.

People interested in Cambodia ought to read the most recent Global Witness report "Country for Sale: How Cambodia's Elite has captured the countries' extractive industries", which I think can be downloaded via the Net. It is a fascinating and very disturbing report, which suggests Hun Sen is on the verge of running a kleptocracy, and that he and the heads of the CPP have got an illegal and outrageous stranglehold on Cambodia's mining and oil prospects; millions being paid by foreign companies to get access to such prospects look to have been pocketed and not even declared on the national accounts.

Global Witness has been condemned by the Hun Sen government, but their researchers got a good reception when they presented this report at the FCCT not long ago. Global Witness says international donors have got to get real and seriously reassess whether they want to keep paying half of the Cambodian government's operating costs cos once the oil and gold deposits start producing, Hun Sen and his mates will be so wealthy they will be untouchable. The horse will have bolted.

Aside from Preah Vihear, which has been appallingly exploited by groups on both sides, there have also been some serious ruffles between the Thai foreign minister and Hun Sen. They may well hate each other. Hun Sen's claim for compensation at Preah Vihear seemed to be provocative. It was given short shift by Thailand, so the alleged posting of these troops is perhaps the latest response from the one-eyed PM in Takhmau (his home just outside Phnom Penh and he does have a glass eye).

Journos who knew him in the early 90s, say Hun Sen was lovely fellow in those days. Now you can go down to Sihanoukville and look at his huge mansion and look out towards Hun Sen Island, in the Gulf. He's turned into a real rogue, I think. One NGO leader I spoke to in Phnom Penh a few years back was convinced Hun Sen's personality had become so manic and psychotic they wondered if he was hooked on amphetamines.

But we need to acknowledge that, like Thaksin, he is a clever leader, because the Cambodian economy has done very well in recent years. But his brutal domination of the political scene has meant little justice for his people, and a "democracy" that is close to a sham. There are ugly reports of land grabbing all round the country and regular complaints about the poor being dumped in areas on the far outskirts of Phnom Penh with virtually no homes or services to make way for slum redevelopment schemes near the heart of Phnom Penh.

I really hope he doesn't continue in this manner, but everything suggests he will, and that his vow to retain power for many more years is quite possible.

Ya hun Sen is a real threat to peace. Hes really operating unaposed and the soleless multinationals will enpower his megolamania , he needs putting down,sadly wet works is not operating anymore,or so says obama

[Scott]

It sounds like Cambodia is following the same path as Thailand has, with slight variations.

[Shotime]

"military intelligence" is what we call an oxymoron. Any kind.

[johnboy72]

"Thai intelligence"

Sounds suspicious from the start.

[selftaopath]

"military intelligence" is what we call an oxymoron. Any kind.

Didn't the caption read: Thai Intelligence? But also a very confusing thought. Is this the same intelligence who is monitoring every move of Toxic, but reports not knowing where he is? LOLOLOL All coming from LOS (Lack of Sanctions).

[khundon]

"military intelligence" is what we call an oxymoron. Any kind.

Didn't the caption read: Thai Intelligence? But also a very confusing thought. Is this the same intelligence who is monitoring every move of Toxic, but reports not knowing where he is? LOLOLOL All coming from LOS (Lack of Sanctions).

LOS= Lack of Synapse.