Thread: Thai and Cambodian troops clash

Originally Posted by sabang

Is the Junta trying to provoke a war now?

Rhetorical I presume.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

^ one way of preventing elections

It was always on the cards, but it looked like the Dems, supported by a currupt media/judiciary/the list goes on, were actually gonna have a chance of beating the reds in the next election; at least in coalition guise... so, you'd have to reckon that if this goes forward then the army/PAD are looking to take all the power and kick the Dems to the curb; strange that they'd want to be so visible; maybe a certain event is closer than we think...

PAD condemns Cambodian soldiers
5/02/2011

The yellow-shirt supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), gathering on Ratchadamneoen Nok road, on Saturday issued a statement condemning Cambodian troops for killing Thai soldier and villager.

The statement, read out by Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, said the exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at the border area near Preah Vihear temple on Friday and on Saturday morning, killing Thai soldier and villagers and injured many others, was an act of invasion of Thailand’s sovereignty.

PAD claimed that the military clash took place because the government did not comply with the yellow-shirt people group’s demands.

bangkokpost.com

Asean hopes to mediate
5/02/2011

The deteriorating situation along the Thai-Cambodian border is undermining confidence in Asean and affecting economic recovery, tourism and investment prospect in the region, said Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in his urgent message to the two ASEAN Member States now trading fires with casualties on both sides.

"I am deeply concerned about the serious situation on the border between Thailand and Cambodia. This violent conflict must be brought under control and return to negotiating table soonest," said Dr. Surin.

The violent conflict started with gun fire and artillery duels mid afternoon Friday near the Preah Vihear temple. While the International Court of Justice decided in favor of Cambodia in 1962, the areas adjacent to the Temple remain under dispute.

"I have been in touch with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia Hor Namhong, and the Foreign Minister of Thailand, Kasit Piromya, and I have appealed for calm, maximum restraint on both sides, and expressed my fervent desire to see both sides return to a negotiating table as soon as possible, said the Asean Secretary-General.

Dr Surin Pitsuwan also called both sides to allow Asean to help bring them to some form of a temporary truce and cool down the emotions and temper so that a higher interest of both peoples and that of Asean can be protected and enhanced.

"The situation has escalated into open conflict. And that will definitely affect our economic development, confidence in our region, and tourism and prospect for foreign investment, which have just been picking up in light of the world economic recovery," said Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, who is a former Foreign Minister of Thailand.

Diplomatic sources said Indonesia, the current chair of Asean, is also stepping up its diplomatic efforts to help the two sides arrive at a temporary solution so as to allow the bilateral mechanisms between them to accomplish their objectives of border demarcation and a general peace in the areas.

"I understand both sides now welcome some form of mediation by the Asean leadership," Surin said, without elaborating.

bangkokpost.com

A great patriotic war would suit the army, pad and others very well and for the same same reasons it would be very good for the cambodian PM... but only if they win convincingly and only one side can do that.

I think the only thing thats keeping them from war at the moment is that the cambodians cannot afford to be seen starting a war and I suspect deep down the thai army are not convinced they could win and hold onto the land, assuming they are prepared to accept the consequences of starting a war.

วันเสาร์ ที่ 05 ก.พ. 2554

Chong Jom border point in Surin closed following Thai & Cambodian troops clashes; private sector urges both countries to stop fighting as trade, investment affected

mcot.net

Kantharalak district declared disaster zone, help expedited for residents
Surapan Laotharanarit

SI SA KET, 5 February 2011 (NNT) – Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province has been pronounced a disaster zone after clashes erupted between Thai and Cambodian troops while assistance is being urgently provided for the evacuated.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has declared Kantharalak district an emergency disaster area after soldiers on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border were engaged in an artillery exchange on Friday. Local residents were evacuated and are now residing in a shelter at the Kantharalak District Office located 30 kilometers away from the clash site.

As the evacuation was carried out immediately after gunshots were heard, local residents had no time to grab their personal belongings. Therefore, warm clothing, drinking water, food and other necessities are much needed.

In the latest development, mobile toilets have been delivered from the nearby Nakhon Ratchasima province to accommodate the troubled residents while water and food supplies are being given by Kantharalak and Si Sa Ket municipal officials. Student volunteers are also organizing fundraising events while donation centers have been established at the Si Sa Ket City Hall and all district offices throughout the province.

thainews.prd.go.th

I wouldn't like to be a Cambodian worker in Thailand at the moment.

^it might be better than being a thai trader in PP

Originally Posted by Mid

วันเสาร์ ที่ 05 ก.พ. 2554

Deputy PM Suthep denies Thais soldiers captured by Cambodian troops, expects clashes between Thai and Cambodian solders will not intensify

mcot.net

Cambodia, Thai military talks result in 4 Thai soldiers released, three agreements
05.02.2011

Cambodia on Saturday has delivered 4 Thai soldiers captured in a military clash at the border area near the 11th century temple on Friday afternoon back to Thailand after a 90 minute meeting between the military commanders of Cambodia and Thailand, Xinhua reported.

The meeting, held at Chorm Sra Ngam border checkpoint in Anlong Veng district, was attended by Cambodian Major General Srey Doek, commander of Military Division 3 and Major General Chea Mon, commander of Military Region 4, while Thai side including Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Army Region 2 and Major General Chawalit Chunprasan, commander of the Suranari Military Camp, in an effort to find ways to prevent further military fighting.

Srey Doek told reporters after the meeting that Cambodia decided to release four Thai troops arrested on Friday's clash near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple.

He added that at the meeting, both sides have agreed on three points: firstly, Thai side must suspend bulldozing land at the contentious border for road; secondly, both side agreed to urge the joint border committee to measure and demarcate the border as soon as possible; and thirdly there will be no more troop re- deployment and no more weapon explosion.

"Thai side has promised not to allow any weapon eruption in the future,"said Srey Doek, adding"but if Thai side still continues to invade into Cambodian territory, Cambodia will use its self-defense rights to defend our territory integrity."

Thai military commanders declined to comment after being questioned by reporters after the meeting.

The meeting was held after deadly military clashes twice on Friday afternoon and on Saturday early morning at the border near Preah Vihear Temple.

During the skirmishes, troops from both sides had exchanged fire of heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery.

Chan Sovanchay, a military official stationed at Preah Vihear Temple told Xinhua by telephone on Saturday that during the clash on Friday afternoon, two Cambodians were killed (one soldier and one tourist), and 22 were wounded, and the clash on Saturday morning, five Cambodian troops were seriously injured by shrapnel.

However, he added that he did not know how many Thai troops were killed in the two clashes, saying "I just saw that several corpses of Thai troops had been carried out of Cambodian territory by their fellow soldiers."

Meanwhile, Cambodia has sent an official letter to the United Nations Security Council on Saturday to complain about the invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia on Friday and Saturday.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute. Although the Internal Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia, the row over land plot of 4.6 square km around the temple has never been resolved. And the two sides have clashed over the border in the past with several deaths on both sides since 2008.

en.trend.az

hey suthep , ya lips were moving ..................

.

PM: Thai troops protecting sovereignty
5/02/2011

The border clash between Thai and Cambodia troops near Phu Ma Khua area of Si Sa Ket yesterday and this morning occurred because Thai soldiers have to protect the country’s sovereignty, Prime Minister Abhisit Said on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Abhisit said this after the meeting of heads of security and foreign affairs agencies held earlier at Government House to discuss the border clash.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

The prime minister insisted that Thailand has never invaded its neighbour’s territory as claimed. He called on Thai people to support the armed forces in protecting the country’s sovereignty.

He said the Foreign Ministry will soon issue a statement providing correct information about the military clash at Thai-Cambodian border for the international community, foreign diplomats, the United Nations Organisation and the World Heritage Committee.

bangkokpost.com

^

Army spokesman expresses condolences to Cambodia if reports are accurate that 64 people lost their lives and 10 tanks were damaged

https://twitter.com/TAN_Network

this IS the only report . Wonder who is telling porkies ?

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/ne...lashes-Roundup

Ceasefire on Thai-Cambodian border after clashes (Roundup)

Feb 5, 2011, 9:57 GMT

Bangkok/Phnom Penh - Thai and Cambodian army officers agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after their troops exchanged artillery and small arms fire across the border for a second straight day.

The clashes on disputed territory near a disputed 11th-century Hindu temple prompted Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to lodge a protest letter to the UN Security Council Saturday accusing Thai forces of 'flagrant aggression.'

Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnert said Cambodian troops initiated Saturday's clashes when they fired rocket-propelled grenades into a Thai army camp near the border shortly after dawn.

He said the clash escalated into a 20-minute artillery exchange in which one Thai soldier was killed and four others were wounded.

Cambodian authorities claimed that 13 Thai soldiers, two Cambodian troops and one civilian had been killed in two days of skirmishes.

Sansern said Saturday's clashes were followed by talks between 2nd Army region commander Lieutenant Colonel Tawatchai Samutsakorn, who is in charge of Thai troops in the sensitive border area, and his Cambodian army counterpart.

'The two sides reached a ceasefire agreement,' Sansern said. 'Both commanders agreed on the need for closer communication between the two armies stationed near the temple.'

Three border checkpoints near Preah Vihear temple were reopened following the agreement. They had been closed since fighting began on Friday afternoon.

'I hope the situation will return to normal soon,' Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Tuagsuban told reporters in Bangkok. 'We should all try to reduce confrontations on the border.'

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan, speaking from the temple site on Saturday, said bullets and shrapnel from artillery shells fired by the Thai military had caused 'some damage' to the temple.

Called Phra Viharn in Thai, the temple perched on a cliff on the border has been disputed between the two countries for decades.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the site to Cambodia but did not rule on a nearby plot of land, also claimed by both countries. In July 2008, the temple was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites.

The border has never been clearly demarcated.

Thai nationalist groups have revived the issue, putting pressure on the government to take a tougher stand against Cambodian forces, whom they accuse of border incursions.

ok now the ruskies have it

Officials say some 50 Cambodian soldiers were killed and some 16 tanks damaged.

February 5, 2011 — RT News line

Originally Posted by Mid

^

Army spokesman expresses condolences to Cambodia if reports are accurate that 64 people lost their lives and 10 tanks were damaged

https://twitter.com/TAN_Network

this IS the only report . Wonder who is telling porkies ?

Dunno, but something strange is going on with all of this certainly....it is looking as though certain factions are trying desperately to make this into some sort of crisis....and that suggests there's a reason behind it all.

Either it is Hun Sen doing his friends (Thakin's) work...or the PAD army mates creating chaos....or both working towards the same ends, by pure chance...

Either way, this government could be in serious trouble...

http://english.aljazeera.net//news/a...738205310.html

Thai soldier killed in border clash

Saturday's exchange of fire with Cambodian soldiers was the second such incident in two days.

Last Modified: 05 Feb 2011 09:46 GMT


The fighting damaged an 11th-century temple and forced thousands of people to flee [Reuters]

Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fire for a second day on Saturday on their border in a brief clash that killed a Thai soldier, the latest flare-up in a long-running feud over land around an 11th-century temple.

The fighting damaged the temple and forced thousands of people to flee. The Thai government said 3,000 civilians were evacuated during Friday's fighting.

Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd confirmed the death of one of its soldiers.

The neighbours fought with rocket-propelled grenades and guns for about 25 minutes from 6:15 am local time (2315 GMT on Friday) before reaching a ceasefire in the early afternoon and agreeing not to reinforce troops, the spokesman said.

This follows an intense two-hour clash on Friday in which three Cambodians, including two soldiers, and a Thai villager were killed, the first fatalities in the militarised border area since a Thai soldier was shot dead on January 31, 2010.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said one of the Cambodians killed on Friday was a tourist visiting the temple overlooking northern Cambodia. He said 10 Cambodian soldiers were wounded, but there were no fatalities on Saturday.

The Thai Foreign Ministry accused Cambodia of engaging in "an act of aggression" in "violation of Thai sovereignty and territorial integrity". Cambodia accuses Thailand of invasion and filed a complaint with the UN Security Council.

The clashes come after a Cambodian court on Tuesday handed down jail terms of six and eight years to two Thai activists found guilty of trespassing and spying in the border region, a verdict that has angered some in Thailand.

ASEAN calls for restraint

Southeast Asia's regional grouping Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members, said the deteriorating situation was undermining confidence in the region and would affect its economic recovery.

Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN secretary-general said in a statement, "The situation has escalated into open conflict. And that will definitely affect our economic development, confidence in our region, and tourism and prospects for foreign investment, which have just been picking up in light of the world economic recovery."

Surin, a former Thai foreign minister, said he had been in touch with both sides who he understood welcomed ASEAN mediation.

Washington on Friday urged both sides “to exercise maximum restraint and take all necessary steps to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict,'' U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in a statement.

The issue was virtually dormant until Cambodia successfully applied in 2008 to UNESCO to have the temple declared a World Heritage site, an application backed by the government in power in Thailand at the time.

Tensions between the Southeast Asian nations have risen in recent days because of pressure from powerful pro-establishment "yellow shirt" nationalist groups that have been urging Bangkok to oust Cambodians from land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple that they claim is actually part of Thailand.

The temple, known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on land that forms a natural border and has been a source of tension for generations.

The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962 but the ruling did not determine the ownership of the scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.

One thing is certain, every news report seems to have massively different numbers of deaths and injured.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/47753/...ontent=Twitter

Thai Army Chief on skirmishes on the Thai-Cambodian Border

By Bangkok Pundit Feb 05, 2011 4:24PM UTC

Have already blogged on the border skirmishes yesterday afternoon, but last night Thai Army C-in-C Prayuth held a combative press conference. The press conference was held at 20:30, but did not air until around 22:15 (and on the the Army’s Channel 5). Matichon has a video and partial transcript here. Below is a summary:

Prayuth stated there was a confrontation in Kantharalak District in Sri Saket province which is near Preah Vihear with the confrontation starting at 3 p.m. and ceasing at 6 p.m.. He stated that sometimes things just happen at the border because they are neighbouring countries close to each other (“แนวเขตชายแดนอยู่ห่างกันไม่มาก ดังนั้นอะไรก็เกิดขึ้นได้ อาจจะเกิดการเข้าใจผิดกันก็ได้”). When there is a pressure situation, when something unusual happens, there may be some people who are the cause of the confrontation, but we try our best so that the situation does not get out-of-hand (“สถานการณ์การรบที่อยู่ในการกดดัน เวลามีอะไรที่ผิดปกติก็อาจจะมีคนที่เป็นสาเหตุท ำให้เ กิดการปะทะกันก็ได้ แต่เราก็พยายามอย่างดีที่สุด ที่จะไม่ให้เกิดเหตุการณ์บานปลาย”). There is news that Thai soliders were detained, but there were not [that were detained]. If there were any, then I would have to know. I confirm that none were detained (“ข่าวว่าทหารไทยถูกจับนั้นไม่มี ถ้ามีผมต้องทราบ ยืนยันไม่มีการถูกจับ”).

When asked if Cambodia would protest to the UN that we fired first, Prayuth answered that we can protest against them too. They can protest, we can protest. Anyone can do. It will be up to the evidence. On who fired first, he didn’t know, but when it starts it must stop and we must find a way that it doesn’t happen again. This is important. Trying to find out who started it doesn’t help. Can we bring or something?

“Both sides lose silver and gold [i.e money]… I ordered that [they] should not fire into Preah Vihear because it will cause damage and the firing is not from the temple” (“ทั้งสองฝ่ายก็ต้องสูญเสียเงินทอง…ผมสั่งห้ามยิ งไปท ี่เขาพระวิหารเพราะจะ ทำให้เกิดการเสียหาย เพราะไม่ได้ทำการยิงที่ตัวปราสาทอยู่แล้ว”).

When the Army C-in-C was asked if there were would be more skirmishes, he said he couldn’t answer. He said as long as there is provocation then such things could occur at anytime. (เมื่อถามว่า ผบ.ทบ.ยืนยันได้หรือไม่ว่าจะไม่มีการยิงกันขึ้น อีก ผบ.ทบ. กล่าวว่า ตอบไม่ได้ ตราบใดที่มีการยั่วยุกันอยู่แบบนี้ มันพร้อมเกิดเหตุการณ์ได้ตลอดเวลา). He further said that he was the commander of the military forces and he would try to ensure there were not further incidents or loss of life.

“Therefore, who wants to fight they are invited to Preah Vihear. Come on. Come very quickly. Come and see what it is like when artillery fire is exchanged” (“เพราะฉะนั้นใครอยากจะรบก็ขอให้มาเขาพระวิหาร มาซิมาเลย ให้มาเร็วๆ ให้มาดูเวลาเขายิงปืนใหญ่กันให้เข้ามาเลย”).

When asked whether the TPN group should stop protesting, he said that is something they need to ask themselves… They say they have the right to protest under the constitution. We should not get excited. If you are a soldier, you should not be excited as then you can’t fight as you don’t have the qualities. You will become crazy. If you don’t fight and you just make a lot of noise that means you cannot fight. (เมื่อถามว่า กลุ่มคนไทยหัวใจรักชาติควรหยุดประท้วงไปก่อนหรื อไม่เ พื่อให้เหตุการณ์คลี คลาย ผบ.ทบ. กล่าวว่า ต้องไปถามเขาดูว่า เขาควรจะเลิกหรือไม่เลิก มาถามตนได้อย่างไร ตนมีหน้าที่รักษาชายแดน ตนไม่มีหน้าที่ไปถามเขาว่าจะประท้วงหรือไม่ไประ ท้วง เขาอยากประท้วงก็ประท้วงไป เพราะเขาอ้างว่ามีสิทธิตามรัฐธรรมนูญ เรื่องนี้อย่าไปตื่นเต้น ถ้าเป็นทหารต้องไม่ตื่นเต้น มิเช่นนั้นจะรบไม่ได้คุมสติไม่ได้ ก็จะกลายเป็นบ้าเป็นบอ ถ้ายังไม่รบแล้วมีเสียงโวยวายมันก็รบไม่เป็น)

BP: He is not even subtle about his criticism of the TPN and the PAD… Some interesting comments there. Prayuth was highly agitated and irritated at press questions throughout….

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

One thing is certain, every news report seems to have massively different numbers of deaths and injured.

from where I read them with the exception of the TAN report I singled out they are all close to each other so I must disagree with you here .

As for the reports saying 64 Cambodian soldiers were killed, about 12-15 tanks destroyed and around 4 rocket propelled grenades (RPG) damaged, Col. Sansern said he would like to express deep condolence if it was true.

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/02/05/2742s619293.htm

well so far Col Sansern all reports on this are quoting you , so is it true ?

^I'm not saying it isn't true, I'm just saying the situation appears very confused at the moment.

Thai news report...

Bangkok Post : Two die in Cambodia clash

Two die in Cambodia clash

Five Thais detained in two-hour border battle

• Published: 5/02/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

An uneasy ceasefire was holding at the border with Cambodia after fierce fighting left two dead and resulted in the capture of five Thai rangers.


Houses at Ban Phum Saron in Si Sa Ket’s Kantaralak district burnt down when artillery landed in the village on the Thai-Cambodian border yesterday.


The two-hour clash between Thai and Cambodian troops near Phu Ma Khua area of Si Sa Ket yesterday killed at least two people - one Thai villager and one Cambodian soldier - and left several people injured.

Troops in nearby border provinces were placed on high alert as the capture of the five Thai rangers raised fears that the conflict could widen.

The five soldiers, who were based near Cambodia's Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda, were detained by Cambodian troops.

The fighting included artillery exchanges and small arms fire, and partially destroyed communities on Thai soil.

The cross-border flare-up erupted about 3.15pm, a few hours after Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong met in Siem Reap and pledged to avoid violence in resolving border disputes.

Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith claimed the fighting erupted when Thai troops ignored warnings to stop crossing into its territory.

He said the Cambodians shot into the air and the Thai soldiers returned fire.
But Thailand disputed that account.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the clash was triggered by artillery rounds from the Cambodian side that fell on Thai territory.
"Cambodia didn't stop and started firing. We had to return fire," said Col Sansern shortly before the ceasefire.

Cambodia's artillery shells landed at Ban Non Chaeng and Ban Phum Saron villages, setting fire to four houses.

Charoen Pahom, a resident of Ban Phum Saron, was killed by artillery shells. Thai troops responded with heavy fire.



In Cambodia, privately owned Bayon TV reported that one Cambodian soldier was killed and five were wounded.

Shelling also damaged the roof of Ban Phum Saron school and the office of the tambon Sao Thong Chai administrative organisation. It also set part of the Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda on fire.

Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said last night the shelling had now ceased and both sides are maintaining their positions.

Second Army Commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon, who is in charge of the border area, said: 'I don't want to say who started it because it will only prolong the issue. Let's say we both are doing what we're supposed to do."

Gen Prayuth said the fresh violence is likely to affect the World Heritage Committee's meeting called for June to discuss the development plan for the Preah Vihear temple, which is close to where the clash occurred.

Foreign Minister Kasit said the ministry will send a letter to Unesco and its member countries today calling on them to suspend any work involving the Thai-Cambodian border because any actions could intensify the conflict.
Mr Kasit said he held talks with senior Cambodian authorities after the clashes broke out, and both sides agreed to stop fighting.

'Both sides have agreed that we will try our best to avoid creating problems, but when a problem occurs, we have to end it as soon as possible," he said.

An army source said reinforcements of three battalions and heavy arms would be sent to the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area at the border. About 3,000 troops were deployed before the flare-up.

A source in the border area said the army's construction of a route and a bridge across a brook east of Pha Mor E-Daeng cliff has upset Cambodia.

Thai troops entered the area around noon yesterday.

Cambodia has claimed the area is in its territory and told the army to halt work, said the source.

The source said Cambodia is concerned that the route and the bridge will provide the Thai army with access to the Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda and other sensitive areas.

The source said the area is part of the disputed territory and that Thai troops had occupied the area previously, but withdrew on Dec 1 last year.
According to the source, Cambodia had proceeded with construction of a 3.6-kilometre access road to Preah Vihear temple despite protests from Thailand that the work intruded on Thai soil.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh yesterday accused the Thai side of encroaching on Cambodian territory and violating an agreement.
An agreement reached by the Joint Boundary Commission states that construction cannot take place without a joint agreement.

"They [Thais] are saying that Cambodia started the shooting. We shouldn't focus on who started it, but on who violated the agreement," he said.

Thai army spokesman Col Sansern said the detention of the Thai soldiers might have stemmed from a misunderstanding.

"Those soldiers were sent to stand guard at a joint station with the Cambodians," he said.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpr...order-clashes/

February 5, 2011 · 10:48 am

Border clashes

A reader sent us a link to a Xinhua story from the Cambodian side of the border. VOA also has a useful report, as does the Phnom Penh Post. All are worth a read as they add insight to the broader story. And, they are worth comparing with Thai General Prayuth Chan-ocha’s comments cited at Bangkok Pundit. Who is telling the truth? The Chinese have excellent links in Cambodia.

The Thai Report continues its coverage with video and other links. The Bangkok Post tells us that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is trying to regain some control although the army seems able to do pretty much whatever it wants. The report then adds: “It was reported that Mr Abhisit was resting at his Bangkok residence amid tight security.” Not sure what is significant here? That he needs a nap after a cabinet meeting and during a crisis or that he feels the need for huge security.

MCOT News reports that a ceasefire has been negotiated as The Nation reports 6 dead in the clashes and has the Thai military’s position stated. PPT has great difficulty believing the army when it is inveterate liar Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd making the official statements.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

PPT has great difficulty believing the army when it is inveterate liar Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd making the official statements.

gotta go with this as the 50 odd dead and 10 plus tanks ain't getting any traction .