Saturday, 4 April 2009

4RD At least two dead in Cambodian-Thai border skirmish epa file photos (Roundup)

M&C

Asia-Pacific News
Apr 3, 2009

Phnom Penh/Bangkok - Cambodian and Thai soldiers fought a battle in a disputed border area Friday afternoon that resulted in two Thai deaths and escalated from a milder morning skirmish between the South-East Asian neighbours, officials said.

Thailand's Second Army Region Commander Lieutenant-General Viboonsak Neepal said one Thai soldier was killed at the site of the clash and another died later in hospital, according to the Thai News Agency. Half a dozen others were wounded.

Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said at one point during the day that two Cambodian soldiers were killed, but later said he could not confirm the number of deaths.

There was a brief firefight early in the morning when teams of soldiers from the two countries clashed near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, located 350 kilometres north-east of Bangkok.

In the Thai capital, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Tarit Charungvat confirmed the deaths, saying the aggressive actions of the Cambodians started a pointless battle at the place where, last year, fighting has also erupted last year between the two countries.

'Our army chief is trying to talk to the Cambodian chief and is calling for them to exercise the utmost restraint,' Tarit said. 'We are asking them to return to the table for talks, which has been our position all along.'

The exchange of gunfire started when a team of soldiers went to investigate the planting of landmines in ground west of the temple that is claimed by both countries after a Thai infantryman lost a leg Thursday when he stepped on a landmine, the spokesman said.

'It seems that landmines were freshly planted in the area, which is against international calls for restraint in the use of landmines,' Tarit said. 'It appears this was an intrusion by Cambodia into that area. Our troops did not fire first and have only acted to defend themselves.'

But Khieu Kanharith accused the Thais of trying to capture territory for a larger offensive. He also claimed at that several Thai soldiers had been captured and at least four killed, something the Thais vigorously denied. 'We are prepared for any possibility,' he added.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan accused the Thais of first crossing over the border about 7:15 am (0015 GMT), forcing Cambodian soldiers to confront them.

The fighting occurred two days after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned that his soldiers would aggressively respond to any intrusion by Thai soldiers.

Earlier, the Thai army commander, General Anupong Paochinda, said the morning incident was a result of a 'misunderstanding' and had no political meaning.

He said Hun Sen had accepted this explanation when Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan telephoned to explain that a Thai squad had entered the area to investigate how the Thai soldier was wounded Thursday.

'Our moves in the area were made without any aggressive intentions,' Anupong said. 'This was a misunderstanding between lower ranks. We regard the border situation as normal - at least not something that should lead to any clashes.'

A top Thai military commander held discussions at the border Friday with his Cambodian counterparts to defuse the tension.

Thai army spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said the morning skirmish started when Thai soldiers where confronted by Cambodian troops 3 kilometers west of the temple.

The two sides talked at first, but the Cambodian side walked away, but then turned and fired shots that triggered an exchange of fire lasting about 10 minutes, she said.

Both sides said no troops were hurt in the earlier clash.

The border dispute escalated in July when clashes left two Cambodian soldiers dead and several Thais wounded shortly after UNESCO named the ancient Hindu Preah Vihear temple a World Heritage Site despite Thai objections.

The temple, the object of disputed claims between Thailand and Cambodia since the 1950s, was granted to Cambodia by a ruling of the International Court of Justice in 1962.

But land adjacent to the temple compound, including its main entrance on the Thai side, has been claimed by both countries. The two culturally similar countries often have prickly relations.

The border clashes occurred ahead of a scheduled visit by Hun Sen to Thailand next week for the summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and its dialogue partners in the Asia-Pacific.

They also followed an apology this week by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for calling the Cambodian prime minister a gangster in a Parliamentary debate. Kasit claimed the description had been wrongly translated.

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