UNCERTAIN WINDS OF CHANGE AT THAI-CAMBODIA BORDER

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- As the rock band, 'Scorpions', would put up its
favourite number, "Wind of Change" during a concert here, Thursday night, the
winds of change, following recent troop clashes at the Thai-Cambodia border,
remains uncertain.

The current ceasefire is still fragile although no new clashes were reported
in the last 72 hours after a four-day clash began last Friday, which left eight
people dead and many injured on both sides.

In fact, reinforcement of troops and more than two dozen tanks have been
mobilised to the border by Bangkok, and news reports from Phnom Penh indicated
that troops still maintained their frontlines there.

As the gun battle ceased, leaders from both nations began trading words and
accusations.

Bangkok categorised the incidents as "clashes" while Phnom Penh used the
word "war".

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen accused his Thai counterpart, Abhisit
Vejjajiva, of committing war crimes for waging war against his country.

News reports from Phnom Penh stated that Hun Sen, to a certain extent,
wanted Abhisit to be brought before the War Crimes Tribunal, for allegedly being
responsible for the four days of "clashes/wars".

Both nations pointed fingers at each other for starting the clash or war
first.

On the other hand, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya called Hun Sen a
"bully boy" for "bullying Thailand" as Phnom Penh started the clash first and
now pointed fingers at Bangkok.

Kasit said Hun Sen had created the perception as though Cambodia, a small
brother, was harassed by the big brother, and tried to gain sympathy from the
international community.

"Thailand will not allow Hun Sen, a bully boy, to bully Thailand," he said.

Heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and machine guns, were used during
the clashes or battles.

However, both sides now blamed each other for using cluster bombs.

Hun Sen was reported to have accused Bangkok of using the deadly bombs as
cluster munitions were found along the disputed border which were allegedly
fired from the Thai side.

Bangkok denied the allegation and claimed Phnom Penh used the cluster bombs
instead, as one of the former's soldiers was injured and later died due to
shrapnel from a cluster bomb.

"We only use conventional weapons. We had never used the cluster bombs. Sgt
(Sergeant) Thanakorn Poonperm sustained injury due to sharpnel from a cluster
bomb fired from the other side, and died later," said Thai Army spokesman
Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Phnom Penh had claimed that the clashes/wars started on Friday when Thai
troops brought bulldozers to build a road at the disputed border area which led
to the first shot being fired.

Both nations claimed a 4.6 sq km area which has not been demarcated, near
the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu Temple which is located in Cambodia, as
ruled by the International Court of Justice in 1962.

Both claimed ownership to the area, including a stretch to the temple's
entrance and its surroundings.

Both nations will address the clashes/wars issue at the United Nations
Security Council next Monday, with Thai represented by Kasit and Cambodia by its
foreign minister, Hor Namhong.

Indonesia, the current chairman of Asean, has been invited too, and will be
represented by its foreign minister, Dr Marty Natalegawa.

The future direction of the winds of change will probably be known after the
New York meeting.
-- BERNAMA


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