Khmer And Thai Troops Clash At Border Near Temple

[webfact]

PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE DISPUTE

Khmer and Thai troops clash at border near temple

By Deutsche Presse Agentur

Phnom Penh - Cambodian and Thai soldiers exchanged fire early Sunday 20 kilometres from a disputed ancient temple site on Cambodia's northern border, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

General Chhum Socheat told the German Press Agency dpa that the clash occurred on the morning that Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was visiting the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.

Chhum Socheat said Thai soldiers had crossed 200 metres into Cambodian territory near an abandoned village 20 kilometres from the temple when they encountered Cambodian soldiers.

"When they saw our soldiers they shot at them, and after (our soldiers) shot back there was no more fighting," he said, adding that the Thai troops subsequently withdrew.

Chhum Socheat said none of the Cambodian soldiers were injured or killed, but he had no information on whether Thai troops had suffered casualties.

He said he did not expect further fighting since senior officers on both sides had since spoken with each other.

"Now it's quiet, they solved the problem by telephone," he said.

Late Sunday the Foreign Ministry said Hor Namhong was unaware during his visit that the clash had taken place, and had since returned to Phnom Penh.

The relationship between the two nations has been tense for more than a year with sporadic clashes between troops near the disputed area surrounding the temple. Much of the border between the two countries has yet to be demarcated.

Diplomatic relations worsened markedly in October when Cambodia appointed Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser.#

-- The Nation 2010-01-24

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[TerraPosse]

And what exactly were they doing on Cambodian territory? Surely they didn't expect to be welcomed with a puangmalai and cuppa of freshly brewed tea?!

[angiud]

Or something with some of the leaves of your avatar?

[slapout]

They were on their way to the local entertainment center, you know how hard it is to get directions to anyplace in this country.

[TerraPosse]

Or something with some of the leaves of your avatar?

If that was the case, they'd have been all chilled out...unless there weren't enough leaves to go around that is...

[basjke]

Maybe they wanted to go get their newyears presents back.

[dumball]

Nah , just like many posters on TV these days , they just wanted some excitement in their bored lives for a change and I am somewhat surprised on how many that has become of late .

[londonthai]

looks like premeditated provocation - your minister dates to come, so we will shot a little. Tit for tat

[zzaa09]

Just another installment of latest distractions. Nothing more, nothing less.

[PXR5]

"Now it's quiet, they solved the problem by telephone," he said

......

That's how easy it is to solve a problem.

I suppose the rest of the world does not have telephones to solve their problems ... and thus we have wars ! ! !

... dear warlords/presidents/and other please buy telephones ... it will save you a few bullets !

[BanTamo]

OK Bergen, call off your hounds and get back to the cafe!

[SomTumTiger]

Ready now for a another ridiculous Hun Sen comment.

[animatic]

Ready now for a another ridiculous Hun Sen comment.

Of course.

A distraction and solved by phone,

but now a photo op for slagging his friends enemies,

same same / dumb dumb.

[sharecropper]

This is absurd.

I mean, I read in the propagandist Bangkok rags, front page news no less, that the opposing troops had had a game of football at New Year and all the border problems were now resolved.

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding about the result, which someone failed to communicate properly but when the situation is explained fully there will be no more room for misunderstandings.

[Johpa]

They should perhaps bring back "Big Jew" Chavalit as he once negotiated with the Burmese to allow Burmese troops to move onto Thai soil. Perhaps he can now negotiate for Thai troops to move onto Khmer soil without risk.

[pete_r]

Border clashes - A time-tested recipe to distract the attention of the public from other issues.

[geriatrickid]

Border clashes - A time-tested recipe to distract the attention of the public from other issues.

So very true.

However, I am leaning towards a simpler explanation. The platoon leader got lost and when confronted by the Cambodians, panicked. Sometimes, these events arise out of stupidity and nothing more. I do not think the officers on either side at the site are looking to send their boys home in body bags.

[Brunus]

Probably the Thais were looking for a casino where to gamble. The Cambodians misunderstood their intentions

Seriously, when I read the title I was really surprised (in positive). I thought Thai army was fighting Khmer Rouge. Then reading the article I found out this is not true. Thai army has always supported those criminals and they always will until they will have a benefit....

[thepodest]

Man I wonder if it's actually Cambodias that shot at Thais first. I mean they are full of propaganda and so aggressive in their comments they make.

[animatic]

Most ALL of these events arrive out of stupidity.

Besides in this age of pocket GPS, good to 10 meters or so,

there is no excuse not to know EXACTLY where you are if you need to...

Edited January 24, 2010 by animatic

[Fishbucket]

Yes probably a manufactured diversion.

But it would be nice to know how many of those brave generals who overthrew the elected government , and put the tanks on the streets of bangkok, are out there nosing the khmer.

[Thai at Heart]

Yes probably a manufactured diversion.

But it would be nice to know how many of those brave generals who overthrew the elected government , and put the tanks on the streets of bangkok, are out there nosing the khmer.

As long as they are busy doing something else, hopefully they don't have time for a coup. Idle minds and all that.

[LomSak27]

They used the temple controversy for internal political ends, problem is these things sometimes take on a life of their own.

It's always so easy in theory, its reality that get messy.

[Samuian]

Well an article by the dpa, where did it come from, no author?

Does anyone know how reuters, dpa, ap upi and the various news agencies receive their news, are they, double checked?

why no other agency reports about this "clash"?

How much will a couple of lines bring, if they are published a s"news"?

\

-----

Figure this: "Tis "foreign correspondent sit's in his comfortable office in Pnom Phen, get's a phone call about "hot news" the "news" are passed as "hot and from a reliable source"...you figure it!

[webfact]

Misunderstanding causes Thai and Cambodian clash near Preah Vihear temple early Sunday

SI SA KET, Jan 24 (TNA) – After negotiations later in the day, Thai and Cambodian army officers said that fighting between military patrols of the two countries early Sunday in an area claimed by both neighbours was caused by misunderstanding and they agreed to jointly find a solution to ease the tension.

Two Thai army soldiers were wounded in the clash.

Col Thanet Wongcha-um, chief of staff of the commander for the Suranaree Task Force and Col Thawatchai Changprachak, commander of a special unit from Thailand’s Ranger Forces Regiment 23 met Maj-Gen Srey Doek, commander of Cambodia’s 3rd Reinforcement Division Sunday at an operation base in Kantharalak district following the clash.

The one-hour meeting agreed the clash was caused by misunderstanding and that soldiers of both sides would initially withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases before officials of the two countries will meet again Monday to discuss patrols in overlapping areas.

Meanwhile, provincial authorities in Si Sa Ket ordered villages along the border to conduct an evacuation drill in preparation for a possible new clash.

Lt-Col Nut Sri-in, commander of Suranaree Task Force Unit 163, earlier on Sunday said the fighting took place while a group of Thai Army Rangers were patrolling and confronted Cambodian soldiers who were felling trees in Kantharalak district bordering Cambodia.

As the Rangers shouted at the Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col Nut said.

The troops exchanged gunfire for over 20 minutes before the Cambodian soldiers withdrew into Cambodia. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-01-25

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[webfact]

BORDER CLASH

Clash was misunderstanding : PM

A brief fight between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on the disputed site near Preah Vihar Temple was caused by misunderstanding and has been resolved, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday.

There is no report of casuality from both sides after they exchanged gunfire early Sunday about 20 kilometers from the temple.

The premier said both sides have met and agreed to settle. "There would be no escalation of the situation," he said.

Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Monday, "It was a misunderstanding. I cannot say who first opened fire but the misunderstanding has been settled."

Thai army has insisted that the fight happened on the disputed zone while Cambodia claimed Thai soldiers crossed about 200 metres into its soil.

It continued that when the Thai soldiers saw the Cambodian troops the Thais shot at them. and the Cambodians returned fire and the Thais withdrew.

Col Thanet Wongcha-um, chief of staff of the Suranaree Task Force met Maj Gen Srey Doek, commander of the Cambodian troops Sunday in Kantharalak district following the clash.

The meeting agreed the clash was caused by misunderstanding and that soldiers of both sides would initially withdraw from areas near the clash site and return to their bases.

Meanwhile, Si Sa Ket province ordered villages along the border to conduct an evacuation drill in preparation for a possible new clash.

-- The Nation 2010-01-25

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[zzaa09]

Just a misunderstanding......for some 400 years.

[sharecropper]

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding about the result, which someone failed to communicate properly but when the situation is explained fully there will be no more room for misunderstandings.

Bizarrely and lamely predictable (re my above post):

Clash was misunderstanding : PM

A brief fight between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on the disputed site near Preah Vihar Temple was caused by misunderstanding and has been resolved, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday.

Edited January 25, 2010 by sharecropper

[mca]

"Now it's quiet, they solved the problem by telephone," he said.

" Welcome to callback service. For easing of tensions over a disputed border area, please press 1 "

[Fishbucket]

It would appear the thai army came across a bunch of Cambodian lumberjacks, dressed in red shirts, ...........then brainwashed reaction and training kicked in.,