DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian, Thai troops resume fighting for 4th day” plus 9 more

DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian, Thai troops resume fighting for 4th day” plus 9 more


Cambodian, Thai troops resume fighting for 4th day

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 08:48 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, April 25 - Cambodian and Thai troops clashed in a disputed border area for the fourth consecutive day Monday, a Cambodian military spokesman said.

Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense, told Kyodo  News that the fighting resumed around 2 p.m. along the border between Cambodia's Udor Meanchey Province and 
Thailand's Surin Province.

He said at 1:45 pm, two Thai warplanes flew over the Temple of Ta Moan and the Temple of Ta Krabey, which are situated well inside the Cambodian territory near the international Cambodian-Thai border, and ten minutes later Thai military shelled six 155mm artilleries into Kork Morn area located as deep as 22 km into populated Cambodian territory.
At least 11 soldiers were killed and dozens were injured on the two sides during the clashes Friday through Sunday in the vicinity of 
two ancient Hindu temples known as Ta Moan and Ta Krabey to Cambodians and as Ta Muen and Ta Kwai to Thais.
Earlier Monday, Cambodia's defense ministry issued a statement accusing Thailand of launching a series of ground offensives and 
firing more than 1,000 artillery shells onto Cambodian military positions in an apparent effort to occupy the temples.
''Their attempts have failed to occupy both the temples due to the heroic repel by the Cambodian army,'' it said.
The statement said Thailand's ''barbaric'' attacks have pounded civilian settlements situated more than 20 kilometers away from the 
border, displacing more than 17,000 people.
Thailand says its army is only defending against attacks by Cambodia.
The location of the current fighting is over 150 kilometers west of the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, located in another disputed border area where four days of deadly clashes in February left at least 10 dead and dozens injured.
Earlier Monday, Cambodian and Thai officials confirmed that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa's planned trip to the two countries to forge an agreement on deployment of Indonesian observers at their disputed border has been postponed.
A Thai Foreign Ministry official said Natalegawa's scheduled trip as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is not taking place because Thailand and Cambodia have yet to conclude negotiations on the terms of reference for deployment of foreign observers.
Natalegawa was to have met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh to get his signature and then fly to Bangkok later Monday to get that of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
Thailand agreed in principle on the Indonesian plan to deploy  observers at a Feb. 22 meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta, but it has since then repeatedly objected to the terms of reference 
proposed by Indonesia as ASEAN chair.
By contrast, Cambodia has accepted all drafts of the ASEAN chair's terms of reference and has urged Indonesia to dispatch the 
observers at the earliest possible opportunity, even allowing their unilateral stationing on Cambodian soil while Thailand refuses them.
Thai Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that he may hold bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to 
discuss the conflict when they both gather in Jakarta in early May for an ASEAN summit. Kyodo

The ongoing Thai invading offensives have displaced ten of thousands of Cambodian innocent people

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 08:31 AM PDT

Phnom Penh, April 25, 2011: As of 25 April, 2011, Cambodian displaced people are flocking to the districts ofSamrong and BanteayAmpil, UddarMeanchey province. They are fleeing in ten of thousands escaping the ongoing Thai act of aggression against both Cambodian military and civilian targets.Thai heavy artilleries have been pounding civilian villages as far as 20km deep into Cambodian territory.

According to the latestofficial figure released by the Governor of UddarMeanchey Province at 12:00 pm today, the numbers of refuges are standing at 22,385 people scattering at various villages and public buildings. The number of displaced people is expected to increase in the coming hours and daysas the unprovoked and premeditated attacks by Thai troops are still storming into the said Cambodian areas.

Those displaced people are being sheltered at various public buildings and villages in temporary camps provided by the UddarMeanchey provincial authority, the National Committee for Disaster Management and Cambodian Red Cross.

(Press and Quick Reaction Unit Office of the Council of Ministers)

 

Cambodian, Thai troops clash at border for 3rd day

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 08:37 PM PDT

PHNOM PENH/BANGKOK, April 24, Kyodo - Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fires 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.


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, while Cambodia says no human casualties reported on Sunday.


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, a Cambodia's 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.

Cambodia Reacts Thailand’s Accuse of Taking over Ta Krabey and Tamoan Thom Temples

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 08:19 PM PDT

Cambodia has reacted to a statement by Thai army spokesman's allegation that Cambodia was trying to control Ta krabey and Tamoan Thom temples as Cambodia's plan taking over the Thailand's claiming 4.6 square kilometers of land near Preah Vihear temple, Cambodian officials said.

The reaction was made by Cambodia's Foreign Affair Ministry Spokesman Koy Koung today after Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd quoted as saying by Bangkok Post about his accuse to Cambodia. "These two temples belong to Cambodia", Kouy Koung said. "We are trying our best to protect our country from the Thai invasion," he added.

"We base on Dangrek map that is also stage in the first annex in International Court of Justice 1962's rule," he added.

The both nations have exchange gunfire lasted three day, 22-24 May 2011 leaving 11 dead and other wounded.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Delays visit to Cambodia

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 08:15 PM PDT

Indonesia foreign Minister on Monday informed his Cambodian counterpart about delaying his visit to Cambodia and signing ceremony of sending the Indonesian observers to monitor border issues between Cambodia and Thailand.

"Indonesian Foreign Minister just informed about the postponement of the visit and signing ceremony, Khoy Khuong, spokesman for the foreign ministry of Cambodia said.  Indonesian Foreign minister did not said in details about the reason. He just informed about the postponement.

Khuong said that the problem of postponement of Indonesian Foreign Minister is from Thai side who has not implemented the agreement of deployment of Indonesian observers.

"The term of reference that Cambodia – Thailand approved already. We needs to be followed. Cambodia side already prepared and implemented its duties for Indonesian observers and wait Indonesian observers but Thai side has opposed the deployment, he noted.

As schedule, Indonesian foreign minister will talk with his Cambodian counterpart to border issues at 10 AM today (Monday but it is delayed.

Indonesia as current ASEAN chair got the mandate from UN Security Council to mediate the border issues between Cambodia and Thailand which lasted near three years. Thai troops invaded Cambodia at area near the 11th century Khmer Preah Vihear temple on July 15, 2008 a week after Cambodia enlisted the temple as world heritage site with UNESCO.  Thai troop used own map to take Cambodia soil while border demarcation's negotiation is in the process. Both side approved three diplomatic notes but Thai national assembly has not agreed. Deadlock of border demarcation has occurred since then.

On Feb 22, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to receive the Indonesian observers to monitor ceasefire but later Thailand has not allowed the observers to deploy at the border.  Since then, the dealt border fighting has occurred several times. The renewed attacks late last week led dozen of soldiers from both dead and injured. Thai troop has used toxin gas during the lighting and cluster bombs, which banned by international treaty. Thai troops have faced with condemnation from international community over using cluster bombs after Thai diplomatic official confessed that it used cluster bombs during fighting on Feb 4-5.

disaster management commitee' s head, Nhim Vanda said: The fighting late last week up to now led 4.285 families about 17,262 Khmer  people refugees at Oddar Mean Chey province of Cambodia next to border with Thailand. . This dawn border fighting also occurred at the Ta Krapey and Tamoane Temple in Oddar Mean Chey Province. Hundreds of villagers in Somach and Banteay Ampil left home for safety.

Indonesian FM Cancel Cambodia and Thailand Visit

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 07:38 PM PDT

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, 25 APRIL, 2011- Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, has been confirmed that he postponed his visits to Cambodia and Thailand scheduled today, Cambodian officials said on Monday.

Koy Koung, spokesperson for Cambodia's Foreign Affair Ministry said told DAP Media Center that Marty has delayed his visiting to Cambodia and Thailand that scheduled on 25th April to meet with both countries foreign ministers after the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops happened from 22-24th April, 2011 along the border between Uddor Meanchey, a province of Cambodia nears Sorin province of Thailand.

Thailand seems to reject the draft meaning of agreement to bring Indonesian observer to the conflict area, the spokesman added.

However, Indonesian official did not give more information whether a new date. He added that the foreign ministers from these three countries (Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia) would have a meeting again in the Asean Summit, in Jakarta from 7-8 May, 2011.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen used to claim that he would bring the three years conflict to the ASEAN meeting that will join by the all leaders of ASEAN member countries.

(Translated By In Vutha)

Cambodia rejects Thai accusation of triggering clashes at border area

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 07:34 PM PDT

PHNOM PENH, April 24 -- Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Sunday rejected the accusation of Thai diplomatic notes that Cambodia triggered the unprovoked deadly clashes on Friday and Saturday at the disputed border area in Oddar Meanchey province.

The Thai diplomatic notes and a statement were sent to Cambodia on April 22-23, claiming that Cambodia started unprovoked armed attacks on Thailand on April 22-23.

"Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects the above slanderous and false allegation which is aimed at misleading the public opinion," said Cambodian foreign ministry's statement.

"The allegation contained in the above document is only intended to masquerade the deliberate act of aggression against Cambodia, which started in the early hours of April 22, 23, and 24. "

The statement said that even at 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, Thai armed forces launched a fierce armed offensive on Cambodian territory at Thmor Daun area, with the support of thousands of rounds of heavy gunfire.

Concurrently, Thai armed forces fired hundreds of heavy weapons into the heavily populated village of Kork Morn area in Banteay Ampil district of Oddar Meanchey province, forcing thousands of villagers to flee their homes, said the statement.

Five minutes later at 9:45 a.m., Thai forces pounded the area of Tamon temple with heavy gunfire, before Thai infantry forces pushed ahead with fierce attack in a bid to take control over the Tamon temple of Cambodia, it added.

The latest three-day clashes occurred at the 13th century Ta Moan and Ta Krabei temples in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, which stands at Cambodia's border with Thailand's Surin province.

Cambodia reported none of its soldiers were killed or injured in Sunday's fighting, but in the armed clashes on April 22-23, six Cambodian soldiers were killed and 16 others injured.

While on the Thai side, four soldiers were dead and 17 others injured, according to the report from Bangkok.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 sq km of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in deaths on both sides.(Xinhua)

No negotiation with Thailand for border military commanders’ level, Cambodia said

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 03:13 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, 24 APRIL, 2011-Spokesman for the council of ministers of Cambodia said on Sunday that there is no negotiation with Thailand for military commanders at border areas after deadly fighting this week.

"We completely rejected the rumors and reports that 11 Khmer commanders asked to negotiate with Thailand, and no military commander died at the border areas during the fighting, Phay Siphan, spokesman said.

"The rumor is Thai intention to spoil the information," he stresses.

Indonesia, Cambodia ink agreement on border observers

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 02:46 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, 24 APRIL, 2011-Indonesian Foreign Minister and current ASEAN will ink the agreement with Cambodian Foreign minister to send the Indonesia observers to monitor border issues with Thailand on April 25, a senior official said on Sunday.

Koy Khuong, spokesman for foreign minister of Cambodia said that today Indonesia foreign minister and current rotating SEAN chair will visit Cambodia on April 25 to sign the agreement with Cambodia deputy prime minister (foreign minister0 to send the Indonesian observers to border issues.

"The press conference will provide for media after signing ceremony, he said, adding that after Cambodia, Indonesian foreign minister will visit Bangkok to ink the agreement with Thailand with the similar agreement. Cambodian government this week asked Indonesia to send the observers as soon as possible after Thai troop invaded Khmer territory for several time and the deadly fighting occurred.  Thai and Cambodia troops exchange fire for three days straightly.   

Indonesia is on the right track to dispatch their civil observers to the border issues after Phnom Penh and Bangkok government agreed on Feb 22.  Today fighting led 5 Thai soldiers dead and 11 injured.

Statement of the Ministry of National Defense

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 02:39 AM PDT

As mentioned in the statement of the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia issued on 23rd April 2011 at 13:00pm regarding the unprovoked attacks carried out by the Thai military on Cambodian military positions stationing along the border, the use by Thai forces of heavy weaponry, filled with toxic gas that constitutes a barbarous act of aggression, does not only direct at military targets but also civilian settlements which are situated as far as 20 km away from the battlefields.

Faithful to the political line of the Royal Government Cambodia headed by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces are standing firm to carry out their duties to defend the Cambodian territory, De Jure and the Facto, and to protect the territorial sovereignty, without any intention to occupy or claim any part of Thai military position or territory.

The Ministry of National Defense deeply regrets over the statement issued by the Thai Foreign Ministry that exaggerated the facts and accused Cambodia of using multi-launcher rockets BM21, while Thai military was launching series of attacks on and into Cambodian territory.

Cambodia rejects this Thai intoxication propaganda campaign that has been used in a systemic way so as to turn into reality its intention to occupy the Cambodian territory and Temples.

And all these facts clearly reflect the territorial ambition, violation of international laws, and the United Nations Charter on the part of Thailand and especially the spirit of the Security Council of the United Nations and ASEAN mediation efforts in trying to establish a permanent ceasefire.

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