ID :
177599
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 19:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/177599
The shortlink copeid
Cambodian, Thai troops clash at border for 3rd day
PHNOM PENH/BANGKOK (Kyodo) - Cambodian and Thai troops clashed near a disputed border area for the third consecutive day Sunday, resulting in more casualties on both sides, military spokesmen from both sides said.
Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense, told Kyodo News that Thai troops launched renewed attacks at around 9:50 a.m.
Military sources at the border said one Cambodian solder was killed and that two soldiers and a TV journalist were injured on Sunday.
The fighting subsided shortly around 1 p.m. but resumed around 3:30 p.m., according to Phay Siphan, spokesman of Cambodia's Council of Ministers.
Phay Siphan said that 300 to 500 Thai infantry were trying to occupy Ta Moan temple in Cambodia.
Thai military officials on Sunday confirmed that a fresh clash occurred at the border, saying Cambodia launched an artillery attack in the morning and that Thai troops responded with a counter-attack.
Thai local media reported that at least two Thai soldiers were wounded in Sunday's clash.
A total of at least 10 soldiers were killed from the two sides during the clashes Friday and Saturday along the border between Cambodia's Udor Meanchey Province and Thailand's Surin Province, according to Thai and Cambodian sources.
Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd and Defense Ministry spokesman Thanatip Sawangsaeng on Sunday reiterated that Thailand did not launch any attack to Cambodia, and the army was only defending against attacks by Cambodia.
He added around 27,000 Thai people had been evacuated from villages nearby.
Thanatip, meanwhile, rejected Cambodia's accusation that Thai aircraft were intruding into Cambodian airspace, saying the Thai military had only used helicopters to evacuate wounded soldiers from the clash site.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday in his weekly televised address that Thailand has no intention to invade Cambodia, but will fight back in the event of being attacked.
''The Thai government fully supports the army to protect our sovereignty when we are attacked, and we targeted only military spots in response,'' Abhisit said.
The Thai premier also said Cambodia was attempting to bring the border issue to the international stage by launching military attacks. However, Abhisit reiterated that the conflict should be solved bilaterally.
Also Sunday, Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will fly to Phnom Penh on Monday to have Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong sign a terms of reference for the deployment of Indonesian observers to the disputed Thai-Cambodia border area.
Natalegawa will later Monday head to Bangkok to have Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sign the document, he said.
Later Sunday, the office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia issued a statement saying Thai forces launched ''several thousand'' artillery shells, some of which landed 21 kilometers deep into Cambodian territory, ''displacing thousands of villagers and some of their houses were burnt to the ground.''
The statement also said Thailand ''has neither political will nor desires to have a permanent ceasefire since Bangkok has sought to prolong the conflict with Cambodia so as to suit the Thai administration's political interests.''
Thailand and Cambodia have overlapping territorial claims in the area, including over 4.6 square kilometers of land around Preah Vihear, an ancient temple registered as a World Heritage site in 2008.
The clashes since Friday have taken place at the temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabey about 200 km west of Preah Vihear, according to the Cambodian military. The disputed temples are known as Ta Muen and Ta Kwai in Thailand.
They followed deadly clashes in February between Cambodian and Thai troops near the World Heritage site.
Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense, told Kyodo News that Thai troops launched renewed attacks at around 9:50 a.m.
Military sources at the border said one Cambodian solder was killed and that two soldiers and a TV journalist were injured on Sunday.
The fighting subsided shortly around 1 p.m. but resumed around 3:30 p.m., according to Phay Siphan, spokesman of Cambodia's Council of Ministers.
Phay Siphan said that 300 to 500 Thai infantry were trying to occupy Ta Moan temple in Cambodia.
Thai military officials on Sunday confirmed that a fresh clash occurred at the border, saying Cambodia launched an artillery attack in the morning and that Thai troops responded with a counter-attack.
Thai local media reported that at least two Thai soldiers were wounded in Sunday's clash.
A total of at least 10 soldiers were killed from the two sides during the clashes Friday and Saturday along the border between Cambodia's Udor Meanchey Province and Thailand's Surin Province, according to Thai and Cambodian sources.
Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd and Defense Ministry spokesman Thanatip Sawangsaeng on Sunday reiterated that Thailand did not launch any attack to Cambodia, and the army was only defending against attacks by Cambodia.
He added around 27,000 Thai people had been evacuated from villages nearby.
Thanatip, meanwhile, rejected Cambodia's accusation that Thai aircraft were intruding into Cambodian airspace, saying the Thai military had only used helicopters to evacuate wounded soldiers from the clash site.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday in his weekly televised address that Thailand has no intention to invade Cambodia, but will fight back in the event of being attacked.
''The Thai government fully supports the army to protect our sovereignty when we are attacked, and we targeted only military spots in response,'' Abhisit said.
The Thai premier also said Cambodia was attempting to bring the border issue to the international stage by launching military attacks. However, Abhisit reiterated that the conflict should be solved bilaterally.
Also Sunday, Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will fly to Phnom Penh on Monday to have Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong sign a terms of reference for the deployment of Indonesian observers to the disputed Thai-Cambodia border area.
Natalegawa will later Monday head to Bangkok to have Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sign the document, he said.
Later Sunday, the office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia issued a statement saying Thai forces launched ''several thousand'' artillery shells, some of which landed 21 kilometers deep into Cambodian territory, ''displacing thousands of villagers and some of their houses were burnt to the ground.''
The statement also said Thailand ''has neither political will nor desires to have a permanent ceasefire since Bangkok has sought to prolong the conflict with Cambodia so as to suit the Thai administration's political interests.''
Thailand and Cambodia have overlapping territorial claims in the area, including over 4.6 square kilometers of land around Preah Vihear, an ancient temple registered as a World Heritage site in 2008.
The clashes since Friday have taken place at the temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabey about 200 km west of Preah Vihear, according to the Cambodian military. The disputed temples are known as Ta Muen and Ta Kwai in Thailand.
They followed deadly clashes in February between Cambodian and Thai troops near the World Heritage site.
