Clashes on Thai-Cambodian border
Soldiers from the two countries have been stationed in the area
since July
Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged heavy gunfire twice
during the day in a disputed border area - the first such incident in six
months.
Both sides are reporting casualties but there are no confirmed details.
The second more serious outbreak of firing near the ancient temple of
Preah Vihear broke out in the afternoon, despite both sides meeting for talks.
Each side accused the other of firing first. Thailand has played down
the episode as a "misunderstanding".
The BBC's Guy De Launey in Phnom Penh says the clashes come days before
fresh talks between the two sides over the disputed territory.
The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee is expected to hold three
days of talks in the Cambodian resort town of Siem Reap, starting on Sunday.
Landmine injury
The first, brief exchange of fire took place early on Friday, in the
disputed zone where opposing troops are sometimes stationed within metres of
each other.
Talks over lunch between the two sides' commanders were supposed to
ease the tension, says our correspondent.
TEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE
1962: International court awards temple to Cambodia, but
surrounding land remains undesignated
1970s-1990s: Khmer Rouge guerrillas occupy site
2001-2002: Thai troops block access over water row
July 2008: Unesco lists temple as a World Heritage Site
July 2008: Thai FM quits after court rules he violated
constitution for backing Cambodia's Unesco bid
July 2008: Both sides move troops to temple area
Oct 2008: Troops exchange fire, leaving two Cambodian soldiers
dead
But a Cambodian government official told the BBC that the second
exchange was spread over a wider area and involved heavier weaponry than the
morning incident.
Both sides are reporting casualties but details of the dead and injured
could not be immediately confirmed.
The fighting appeared to have started after a Thai patrol visited the
site where a Thai soldier was injured after stepping on a landmine on Thursday.
"After talks between the two sides failed, the Cambodian side started
to walk away and turned back to open fire at Thai troops with rifles and RPG
rockets, forcing the Thai side to fire back in self-defence," said a statement
from Thailand's foreign ministry.
"It was an accident, a misunderstanding among officials on the ground,
which is common when you are closely positioned," said Thai Defence Minister
Pravit Wongsuwan.
However, the Cambodian foreign ministry called it an "intended
aggressive invasion by the Thai military", and said a letter of protest would
be sent to Thailand.
Thailand and Cambodia share a border that runs for nearly 800km (500
miles), much of it heavily mined.
An international court awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962,
but a 5-sq-km (1.9-sq-mile) patch of land surrounding it remains the subject of
rival territorial claims.
Soldiers from the two countries have been stationed in the area since
tensions increased in July last year, after it was listed by Cambodia as a
World Heritage Site.
Two Cambodian soldiers were killed there in October in a gun battle.
Last week, Cambodia accused Thai troops of crossing over briefly into its
territory.
yeah.... i also heard about this, i will find out for more information....but
i heard some Khmer soldiers died.
Samady KS
On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 4:21 PM, Krakmo Kaing <[email protected]> wrote:
According to TV french info (France 24) of today, there were khmer-thai
fighting along the border this morning.
Anyone could find elaborated news?.
Thanks,
krakmo
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