Monday, 19 April 2010
By Khmerization
Source: RFI
14 Thai troops who moved in to occupy a strip of Phnom Trop Mountain on Friday, the 16th, had steadfastly refused to withdraw from the area, despite strong protest from Cambodian troops, reports Radio France Internationale.
Those 14 Thai troops had sneaked in to occupy the area when Cambodian troops were preparing to celebrate the Khmer New Year.
Gen. Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, said local commanders from both sides were holding talks, but up to Sunday afternoon those Thai troops still refused to withdraw. Local Cambodian commanders said they will resolve the issue locally first before sending the case to the national level. Gen. Chum Socheat said those 14 Thai soldiers said they are ready to withdraw if given orders by their top commanders. However, experience in the past show that this is just a ploy, he said.
On another development, the situation at O'Smach has eased after two heavy firefights on Saturday between Cambodian troops and about 20 Thai troops. According to the Bangkok Post, the situations had eased because Cambodian troops agreed to withdraw from the "disputed area".
On Saturday, 17th, two clashes occurred near O'Smach border town in Oddar Meanchey province. Some Thai soldiers are suspected to be wounded or killed because after the clashes, Cambodian soldiers had found two riffles, a helmet with blood stains, a two-way radio and a knapsack containing many rounds of bullets were left behind. However, the Thai military said all their soldiers have been all accounted for and that its side had not suffered any casualty.
Those 14 Thai troops had sneaked in to occupy the area when Cambodian troops were preparing to celebrate the Khmer New Year.
Gen. Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, said local commanders from both sides were holding talks, but up to Sunday afternoon those Thai troops still refused to withdraw. Local Cambodian commanders said they will resolve the issue locally first before sending the case to the national level. Gen. Chum Socheat said those 14 Thai soldiers said they are ready to withdraw if given orders by their top commanders. However, experience in the past show that this is just a ploy, he said.
On another development, the situation at O'Smach has eased after two heavy firefights on Saturday between Cambodian troops and about 20 Thai troops. According to the Bangkok Post, the situations had eased because Cambodian troops agreed to withdraw from the "disputed area".
On Saturday, 17th, two clashes occurred near O'Smach border town in Oddar Meanchey province. Some Thai soldiers are suspected to be wounded or killed because after the clashes, Cambodian soldiers had found two riffles, a helmet with blood stains, a two-way radio and a knapsack containing many rounds of bullets were left behind. However, the Thai military said all their soldiers have been all accounted for and that its side had not suffered any casualty.
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