Hun Sen terms Friday border battle with Thai troops 'small clash'

By Puy Kea
PHNOM PENH , April 4 KYODO

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Saturday two short-lived border battles between Cambodian and Thai troops Friday near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was not a precursor to war ''but small clash.'' The premier made the statement while meeting with Cambodian military veterans southern Kampot Province .

He added Cambodia deserved to use ''self-defense'' after Thai troops entered Cambodian territory. Hun Sen said no Cambodian combatants were killed or wounded during the border clashes. In Thailand , Thawatchai Samutsakorn, deputy commander of the Second Army of Thailand, told reporters three Thai soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded during the two gun battles Friday. Hun Sen urged neither side to escalate the confrontation and to, instead, exchange ''dried fish rather than gunfire.'' Also Saturday, Gen. Pol Saroeun, Cambodia 's military commander-in-chief, said the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border has ''returned to normal.''

In a press statement released late Friday, Cambodia said a brief skirmish between Cambodian and Thai troops occurred at 7:12 a.m. and lasted for 7 to 8 minutes, after which another larger battle began at 2 p.m. and lasted for 35 minutes. It said Thai soldiers opened fire first in both incidents, but Thailand blamed Cambodia for making the first moves. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia 's Council of Ministers, said fighting took place at three places on the border, an area known as Eagle Field, an area 2 kilometers to its west known as Phnom Troap and in an area 2 km to the east of Eagle Field near the disputed Preah Vihear Temple . Despite the incidents, Phay Siphan said the planned meeting of the Joint Border Commission between the two countries will go ahead, and will be held in Phnom Penh next Monday and Tuesday. Also, he said Hun Sen will attend the summits of the association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue partners next Friday through Sunday in Pattaya , Thailand .
KyodoApril 04, 2009

Cambodia, Thailand clash along disputed border+

5TH LD: Cambodia, Thailand clash along disputed border+ (EDS: UPDATING WITH CAMBODIAN CLAIM 4 THAI SOLDIERS KILLED, THAI CONFIRMATION OF 2 DEATHS)

By Puy Kea PHNOM PENH, April 3 Kyodo

Cambodian and Thai troops clashed along their disputed border Friday, exchanging artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire which resulted in the deaths of at least two combatants. Cambodia's chief government spokesman Khieu Khanarith told Kyodo News that four Thai soldiers killed and 10 were captured in the fighting, but no Cambodians died. Earlier in the day, he had cited unofficial reports as saying two Cambodian soldiers died. A spokeswoman of a Thai army hospital in the border area told Kyodo News that two Thai soldiers were killed and another two seriously wounded, while another eight had less serious injuries. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers, told Kyodo News that following a brief skirmish between Cambodian and Thai troops in the morning, ''full battle'' erupted shortly before 2 p.m. and lasted for over an hour. He said the afternoon fighting took place at three border locations -- in an area known as Eagle Field, in an area 2 kilometers to its west known as Phnom Troap and in an area 2 km to the east of Eagle Field near the disputed Preah Vihear Temple. Negotiations between regional commanders of the two sides ended the fighting at 3:07 p.m., he said. A seller of souvenirs at a Cambodian market located along a stretch of road leading from the Thai border to the main gate of Preah Vihear Temple told Kyodo News the market was burned down by mortar fire. Gen. Srey Dek, Cambodia's frontline commander in the area, told Kyodo News by telephone that he held talks with his Thai counterpart for about two hours following the morning skirmish that lasted only about 5 minutes, ending around 7:15 a.m. He said he told him Cambodia will not ''intrude even 1 inch'' into Thailand but ''neither will it retreat 1 inch'' from its current positions unless Thai troops return to the positions they held before July last year when border tensions first boiled over.

After the negotiations ended, the general said, he had been under the impression that tensions had been defused, but subsequent events show that was not the case. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters that his government would rather continue negotiations with Cambodia than engage in confrontation with it. He said the latest incident might arise from a misunderstanding which should be resolved through negotiation. Troops from both sides have been facing off along the border near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since July last year. Fighting in the area last October left dead and injured on both sides.

Last Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had given a ''green light'' to his military commanders to take action, without seeking his permission, if Thai troops encroach into Cambodia's territory.

Kyodo

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the

PRESS RELEASE
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to inform the national and international publics of the incidents occurred in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear as follows:
On 02 April 2009, one Thai soldier stepped on a landmine in the area of Veal Intry situated about 500 meters from the borderline inside Cambodian territory. After the incident, a group of well-armed Thai soldiers walked in the direction of the incident site, but they were stopped by Cambodian soldiers and asked to withdraw. As a result, both sides agreed to meet again at 09:00 am of the following day with promise from Thai side of returning without carrying weapons along.
But, at 06:40 am on 03 April 2009, the Cambodian forces encountered a group of Thai soldiers fully armed entering the Cambodian territory. At 07:12 am, the Thai soldiers opened fire on the Cambodian armed forces lasting approximately 7 to 8 minutes at the area of Veal Intry, which is the location of the said landmine explosion. The second intrusion of the Thai troops within these two days is in violation of terms agreed by both sides on 02 April 2009. This incursion happened without notice to the Cambodian side as promised a day earlier.
On 03 April 2009, at 11:45 am, negotiation between the commanders of the two sides took place at Keo Sikkha Kiri Svara pagoda. Both sides promised to resolve the issues without recourse to the use of forces and with patience. Afterward at 14:00 pm, thai troops launched another attack lasting about thirty five minutes at the area of Veal Intry.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to clarify as follows:
• The location of the landmine explosion on 02 April 2009 is situated in the area of Tasem, Veal Intry on point VA 649307 which is deeply inside Cambodian territory according to the international map of 1908 and the Convention of 1904, which have also been agreed by both sides in the MOU 2000. On the other hand, it has been well-known that all these landmines were laid during the period of three decades of war and the areas have not yet been cleared.
• The location of the armed clashes on 03 April 2009 in the areas of Phnom Trap on point VA6392, Tasem, Veal Intry and in the area in front of the Preah
Vihear Temple, is situated entirely in the territory under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
During these armed clashes, the Thai forces fired rounds of DK recoilless rifles, 12.7 heavy machine-guns, B 40 Rocket launchers, M79 launchers and other weaponries destroying the office of the Preah Vihear Authority, which is located inside the premises of Preah Vihear Temple, hitting the main staircases in front of the Temple, burning the market in front of the Preah Vihear Temple. Some shells fell in the surrounding areas of the Temple of Preah Vihear. In this exercise of self-defense rights to protect the Cambodian territorial integrity, there was no casualty of Cambodian soldiers as reported by some media.
The Royal Government of Cambodia expresses its deepest regret that Thai armed intrusions continue to occur repeatedly in the same areas; namely Tasem, Phnom Trap, Veal Intry and in front of the Temple of Preah Vihear. These acts of violation forced the Royal Cambodian Armed Force to use its self-defense rights to protect the territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and national heritage which has been listed recently as the World Heritage Property. As always, the Thai armed forces intruded the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia based on the unilateral line drawn at its own will without any legal basis.
The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly believes that all the incidents along the Cambodian-Thai border should be resolved through negotiations. Cambodia has good will and exercises utmost restraints in order to find peaceful resolution to the border issues with Thailand through bilateral mechanism. However, Cambodia adheres to self-defense rights to totally protect the national territorial integrity. Cambodia hopes that the Thai side also has goodwill in order to put an immediate and definite end to the border disputes.

Phnom Penh 03 April 2009
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation

Cambodian, Thai troops exchange gunfire on border (Lead)

PHNOM PENH, April 3 KYODO

(EDS: UPDATING) Cambodian and Thai troops briefly exchanged gunfire in Cambodian territory known as Eagle Field on Friday morning, a government official said. The skirmish occurred at 7:15 a.m. for a few minutes after Thai troops intruded into the area, Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, said.

But Sansern Kaewkumnerd, a Thai army spokesman, told Kyodo News in Bangkok the incident began after about 20 Cambodian soldiers crossed to a spot where a Thai soldier was badly injured by a land mine Thursday. He said that position is inside Thai territory.

Both sides said there were no casualties in the Friday morning firefight. Phay Siphan had said Thursday that a land mine left over from the time of the Cambodian civil war exploded about 600 meters inside Cambodia , injuring a Thai soldier on his left leg. He said about 30 Thai soldiers had intruded into the area but returned to their previous position soon after the injured soldier was evacuated from the area in a Thai military helicopter.

Gen. Srey Dek, the Cambodian field commander in the area, said the tension has eased since early Friday but remains ''cautious.'' He added that he expects to speak directly with his Thai counterpart later in the morning to seek ways to defuse the situation.

Eagle Field is about 2 kilometers west of Preah Vihear Temple , an ancient Cambodian temple on the Cambodian side of the border with Thailand that has been at the center of a tense standoff between Thai and Cambodian troops since the middle of last year.

KyodoApril 03, 2009

Cambodia says 'full battle' on with Thailand in border area+

Cambodia says 'full battle' on with Thailand in border area+ (EDS: UPDATING, INCORPORATING EARLIER URGENT STORY WITH SAME HEADLINE)

By Puy Kea PHNOM PENH, April 3 Kyodo

Cambodian and Thai troops are engaged Friday afternoon in a ''full battle'' with exchanges of artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire in a disputed border region between the two countries, a Cambodian government spokesman told Kyodo News. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said renewed, and escalated, fighting broke out shortly before 2 p.m. between forces ranged on both sides of a border area known as Eagle Field and near disputed Preah Vihear Temple that has been a Thai-Cambodian flashpoint since last July.

Only moments before the ''full battle,'' Gen. Srey Dek, Cambodia's frontline commander in the area, had told Kyodo News by telephone he met for two hours with his Thai counterpart and thought the tensions that had spilled into gunfire at 7:15 a.m. Friday had been defused. So far, there are few details from the battlefront, but it appears the afternoon fighting was completely unexpected. Eagle Field is about 2 kilometers west of the temple and was the site of the early morning firefight in which Gen. Srey Dek said he had been told that two Thai soldiers had been killed and three were wounded.

Cambodia has reported no casualties. In Bangkok early Friday, the Thai defense minister and army chief told reporters Thailand had had no casualties during the early morning skirmish. Both men also called the morning incident a ''misunderstanding'' and said Thailand had ''no intention'' of provoking a battle. In Phnom Penh on Friday morning, Phay Siphan said the early skirmish lasted about 5 minutes after Thai troops intruded into Cambodian territory.

But Sansern Kaewkumnerd, a Thai army spokesman, told Kyodo News in Bangkok the incident began when about 20 Cambodian soldiers crossed to a spot where a Thai soldier was badly injured by a land mine last Thursday. He insisted that position is inside Thai territory. Phay Siphan had said Thursday that a land mine left over from the time of the Cambodian civil war had exploded about 600 meters inside Cambodia, injuring a Thai soldier on his left leg.

He said about 30 Thai soldiers intruded into the area but returned to their previous position soon after the injured soldier was evacuated in a Thai military helicopter.

Gen. Srey Dek, who earlier told Kyodo News the tension had eased, said he told his Thai counterpart Friday that Cambodia insists it will not ''intrude even 1 inch'' into Thailand, but ''neither it will retreat 1 inch'' from its current position unless Thai troops return to positions they held before July last year when border tensions first boiled over.

The Thai side argues the Cambodian troops are now in Thai territory, while the Cambodians argue the Thai troops are in Cambodia. Both sides have refused for months to back away from their positions.

Kyodo

Cambodia says Thai soldier injured by landmine in its territory

PHNOM PENH , April 2 KYODO

The Cambodian government said Thursday that a Thai soldier was injured in a landmine explosion in Cambodian territory in the morning.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, told Kyodo News that the landmine, left over from the country's civil war, exploded at 8:20 a.m. around 600 meters inside the border with Thailand.
Phay Siphan claimed the explosion occurred when some 30 Thai soldiers intruded into the area known as Eagle Field.
Col. Chan Sokhon of the Cambodian military said the Thai soldier, who suffered an injury to his left leg, was flown out of the area by a Thai military chopper at 9:20 a.m., and the other Thai troops also returned to their previous position soon after.
There was no immediate reaction or comment from the Thai government or military.
On Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had given the ''green light'' to military commanders to take action if Thai troops encroach into Cambodia 's territory.
Eagle Field is located about 2 kilometers west of an ancient temple on the border, which sparked a tense standoff between Thai and Cambodian troops last year.
==Kyodo

April 02, 2009

Thai foreign minister apologizes to Hun Sen for 'gangster' gaffe

PHNOM PENH, April 2 KYODO

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has apologized to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for describing him as a ''gangster,'' it was learned Thursday. In a letter addressed to Hun Sen, a copy of which was seen by Kyodo News, Kasit said, ''Do kindly accept my deep apology for such an unfortunate incident and the unintentional cause of misunderstanding.'' In the letter dated Wednesday, Kasit said that the word he used in the Thai language means ''a person who is lion-hearted, a courageous and magnanimous gentleman.'' The letter of apology follows criticism by Hun Sen of Kasit for using ''hardly accepted words'' against him and a request for a clarification or apology. ''He insults me by calling me a gangster,'' Hun Sen said in Sihanoukville on Tuesday. ''I'm not angry with you, but please use dignified words.'' Kasit was accused by the Thai opposition of calling Hun Sen a ''gangster'' during an antigovernment protest in December. Kasit, however, later replied by rephrasing his comments to call Hun Sen ''a gentleman who has the heart of a gangster.'' Also Thursday, in a letter of response, Hun Sen said he was relieved by the letter of apology from Kasit.

KyodoApril 02, 2009