Cambodia Expresses Regret For Shooting At Thai Navy Helicopter

[webfact]

THAI-KHMER TIES

Cambodia expresses regret for shooting at chopper

THE NATION

Trat

Cambodia yesterday expressed regret over an incident last week in which a Thai Navy helicopter was fired upon by its forces, portraying it as a misunderstanding.

Local officials and military |officers from both sides met at |the Administrative Centre Auditorium in Trat's Klong Yai district before noon yesterday. The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour.

Among the participants were Royal Thai Marine Corps commander Vice Admiral Pongsak Puriroj; Trat Governor Benjawan Anpruang; Cambodian Army deputy commander General Keo Samual; the governor of Cambodia's Koh Kong province, Boun Lert; and Pad Supa, an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

On ThursdayDecember 15, the Navy Bell 212 helicopter was struck by machine-gun fire from the Cambodian side, causing damage to its rotor. At the time, the chopper was delivering food to Thai and Cambodian border soldiers based just 50 metres away.

Pongsak told a press conference after yesterday's meeting that the Cambodian side expressed regret for the incident and would take steps to see that it didn't happen again.

The Marine Corps chief said the helicopter was in Thai territory when it was fired upon, but that due to its proximity to the border, there was a misunderstanding over its location. He said the Thai Foreign Ministry would work with its Cambodian counterpart to negotiate compensation for the damage to the helicopter.

"Thailand and Cambodia still have amicable ties. We have to work together to improve trade and tourism," he said.

Keo Samual admitted it was the Cambodian side's fault and expressed regret over what happened. He explained that there had been a misunderstanding and flaws in communication.

At the end of the press conference, Pongsak and Keo Samual shook hands and embraced each other. The meeting participants later lunched together.

Meanwhile, Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday said he did not think the incident would have an adverse impact on border-dispute talks between the two countries. The General Border Committee meeting would focus on a different area of the disputed border, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

[Tropicalevo]

Sorry old boy. Did we shoot some of your chappies? please let us disc uss the back-hander compensation over a spot of tiffin.

Of course, any escalation of problems here cannot be allowed to happen. We have to pretend that all is OK on border watch under the Dubai regime.

[Thai at Heart]

Why the hell is it supplying food to BOTH Thai and Cambodian soldiers?

[jalansanitwong]

The Cambodians fired on a Thai helicopter allegedly supplying them with food ? maybe they dont like somtam or larp mooooooo?

[webfact]

Govt Urged to Clarify over Border Clash

The Democrat Party spokesman urged the foreign minister to stand up to Cambodia after it accused Thailand of trespassing on Cambodian territory.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut yesterday accused the foreign minister of ignoring his duty to protect the country's sovereignty after Cambodian troops attacked a Thai helicopter flying over the border area in Trat Province.

He stated that recently a clash broke out at the 71 and 72 boundary landmarks in Trat Province, which remains an area with an unsettled boundary dispute.

Consequently, both the Thai and Cambodian militaries still have stations there.

Chavanont added that after the incident, Cambodian Defense General Tea Banh claimed that Thailand was trespassing on Cambodian territory.

However, Thailand did not respond.

The Democrat spokesman urged the foreign minister to send a letter to his counterpart, countering the claim and assert Thai rights over the territory.

In the event that Thailand does not defend its territory, Cambodia will likely claim ownership of the area through the next General Border Committee, or GBC, meeting.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

[geriatrickid]

The Cambodians that engaged the Thai airship did so without authorization. The unit leader has been disciplined and the personnel responsible have been reprimanded. The action was neither approved, nor condoned by the central Cambodian command, nor the government. It was a local unit's poor decision. Nothing more. This is what the personnel are like in some of the border regions. No need to make something out of nothing.

[Reasonableman]

Yeah, its like that in Kashmir and Korea. Just friendly misfire and collateral damage. Nothing to get too excited about.

The Cambodians that engaged the Thai airship did so without authorization. The unit leader has been disciplined and the personnel responsible have been reprimanded. The action was neither approved, nor condoned by the central Cambodian command, nor the government. It was a local unit's poor decision. Nothing more. This is what the personnel are like in some of the border regions. No need to make something out of nothing.

[sparebox2]

Cambodia admit & pay compensation. Case close.

[Reasonableman]

Case certainly not closed, and this was not an isolated incident, but another one of a series.

To refresh some defective or selective memories:

http://www.historygu...der_dispute.htm

"February 4-9, 2011--Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces result in deaths among both the Thai and Cambodian military forces. Civilian deaths were also reported. As of mid-day on February 5, firm numbers of dead and wounded are not available, as both sides report widely divergent numbers. It appears that total deaths hover around ten.

Feb. 6

--Both sides fired mortar and artillery rounds across the border. Cambodia reported that the Preah Vihear Temple itself sustained damage from Thai artillery.

Feb. 7

--Thai forces attempted to recover casualties from the previous day's fighting, and again, combat with Cambodian forces resumed. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called the situation as a "big skirmish or a small war."

Feb. 8

--Cambodian troops reinforced their positions around the temple.

Feb. 9

-- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen referred to the recent fighting as a war, stating that "Thailand created this war. [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit must be responsible for the war." Hun Sen also said "This is a real war. It is not a clash."

April 7, 2011

--Thailand admitted using Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) during the earlier fighting. This class of weaponry is commonly referred to as cluster munitions.

April 22-28, 2011

--Renewed clashes along the disputed border erupted on April 22 and continued into the next day. Initial reports from Thailand indicated that casualties totalled eight dead and 32 wounded. The renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia involved rocket launchers and artillery. Cambodia claimed that Thai aircraft overflew Cambodian territory during the fighting, as well as claiming Thailand was again using cluster muntions.

As of 4/28/2011, casualties in the April fighting came to:

Thai military: 7 dead, 35 wounded

Thai civilians: 1 dead

Cambodian military: 8 killed, 17 wounded, one MIA

The renewed fighting comes after several weeks of peace, and a resumption of peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia."

Wishful thinking will not change the fact that the Preah Wiharn issue (among several other Thai-Cambodia hot issues) has been neither resolved nor magically vanished.

Cambodia admit & pay compensation. Case close.

[blackthorn2005]

The Cambodians fired on a Thai helicopter allegedly supplying them with food ? maybe they dont like somtam or larp mooooooo?

Can't be worse than Thai Air catering!

[IsaanUSA]

The Cambodians that engaged the Thai airship did so without authorization. The unit leader has been disciplined and the personnel responsible have been reprimanded. The action was neither approved, nor condoned by the central Cambodian command, nor the government. It was a local unit's poor decision. Nothing more. This is what the personnel are like in some of the border regions. No need to make something out of nothing.

Think about the poor guy flying the helicopter. I'm sure he's not cool with the outcome.

At least he's got a good story to tell! Thankfully no fatalities.

[tommyboy928]

The Cambodians fired on a Thai helicopter allegedly supplying them with food ? maybe they dont like somtam or larp mooooooo?

Not even neccery shot at this helicopters, they fall down by themself because poor maintance ... Generals dont even dear want fly with them.. if they offer me money i would not even think about take a ride even..

[wxyz]

was yingluck on it, did she strategically miss another meeting about her brothers return, or was she on her way to pick up her brother in cambodia?