Thread: Cambodia: Thai spy plane over temples

Thai spy plane over temples, RCAF says Written by Thet Sambath, Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 25 September 2008
ARMY officials claim Thai military jets on Monday flew into Cambodian airspace over two key flashpoints along the border.

"Our troops have been standing by about 200 metres from Ta Krabey and this aircraft flew beyond them by a few hundred metres and circled around," said Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402, adding that Cambodian troops were not given permission to fire.

He called it a surprisingly brazen act given current tension over the border demarcation and said he was given no orders on how to respond in the future after reporting the incident to his commander.

The aerial border breach was reportedly repeated around the same time over Ta Moan Thom temple, also without retaliatory shots fired.

"I think the Thais used this aircraft to survey our troops standing along the border," said Neak Vong, deputy commander of Brigade 42, which is stationed outside Ta Moan Thom temple.

Neang Phat, secretary of state at the Defence Ministry, told the Post he would "raise the issue" with Thai officials during negotiations scheduled for next week, but would not elaborate on the authority of military officials along the border to defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom's skies.

Thai embassy officials could not be contacted Wednesday.


The Phnom Penh Post