Archive for October 16th, 2008
(Our Khmer People) Civilian evacuation from Preah Vihear
A woman sits on top of a chair in the back of a cart, as dozens of families evacuating the northern Cambodia border line the roadside, about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian military commanders prepared for talks across their disputed border on Thursday after the most serious clash in years left two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 Thais in Cambodian hands. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians were fleeing the border area after Wednesday’s 40-minute exchange of rocket and gunfire, a Reuters photographer said, as both sides rushed armour and troops to the conflict zone. There has been no word on the exchange of 10 Thai prisoners, whose existence Bangkok continues to deny. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A woman sits on the side of the road, as dozens of families evacuating the northern Cambodia border create a make-shift camp, about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian military commanders prepared for talks across their disputed border on Thursday after the most serious clash in years left two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 Thais in Cambodian hands. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians were fleeing the border area after Wednesday’s 40-minute exchange of rocket and gunfire, a Reuters photographer said, as both sides rushed armour and troops to the conflict zone. There has been no word on the exchange of 10 Thai prisoners, whose existence Bangkok continues to deny. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A girl lies on a cart, as dozens of families evacuating the northern Cambodia border line up along the road, about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian military commanders prepared for talks across their disputed border on Thursday after the most serious clash in years left two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 Thais in Cambodian hands. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians were fleeing the border area after Wednesday’s 40-minute exchange of rocket and gunfire, a Reuters photographer said, as both sides rushed armour and troops to the conflict zone. There has been no word on the exchange of 10 Thai prisoners, whose existence Bangkok continues to deny. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A girl sits among poultry and luggage in the back of a cart, as her family evacuates from the northern Cambodia border about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian military commanders prepared for talks across their disputed border on Thursday after the most serious clash in years left two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 Thais in Cambodian hands. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians were fleeing the border area after Wednesday’s 40-minute exchange of rocket and gunfire, a Reuters photographer said, as both sides rushed armour and troops to the conflict zone. There has been no word on the exchange of 10 Thai prisoners, whose existence Bangkok continues to deny. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Families evacuating the northern Cambodia border line the roadside, about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian military commanders prepared for talks across their disputed border on Thursday after the most serious clash in years left two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 Thais in Cambodian hands. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians were fleeing the border area after Wednesday’s 40-minute exchange of rocket and gunfire, a Reuters photographer said, as both sides rushed armour and troops to the conflict zone. There has been no word on the exchange of 10 Thai prisoners, whose existence Bangkok continues to deny. REUTERS/Adrees Latif1 comment October 16, 2008
Remains of fallen Khmer Soldiers (Our Heros)
Cambodian soldiers stand guard near the bodies of two soldiers who were killed during an exchange of gunfire between Cambodia and Thai troops on Wednesday, at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Family members weep near the bodies of the two Cambodian soldiers who died during the exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai troops on Wednesday, during their funeral at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers stand guard near the site where two soldiers were killed during an exchange of gunfire between Cambodia and Thai troops on Wednesday, at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
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Bad News: Our third Khmer soldier found dead in Preah Vihear
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Our Khmer Heros along the border
Cambodian soldiers sit on an armored vehicle at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers sit in a truck at Sraem village, Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A military vehicle is seen at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers sit on an armored vehicle at Sraem village in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers sit on an armoured vehicle at Sraem village, as they travel to Prah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, October 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. Both sides accused each other of firing first in the clash, which comes amid huge political instability in Bangkok, with protesters in a long-running street campaign urging the army to launch a coup against the elected government. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Add comment October 16, 2008
Cambodian Soldiers Killed In Clash
Sky News, UK – October 16, 2008
Two soldiers have been killed and at least seven injured during a firefight between Cambodia and Thailand.
Troops using rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns clashed over a disputed border area close to the ancient Preah Vihear temple after reports that 500 Thai soldiers were preparing to attack.
Two Cambodian soldiers were killed and at least two more were wounded in the firefight, while five Thai soldiers were also injured.
Thailand has urged its citizens to leave Cambodia immediately and urgent talks are now under way after a ceasefire.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong confirmed two troops were killed.
He added that 10 Thai soldiers had been captured and would be returned home if requested.
He said:”The Prime Minister has ordered that the 10 soldiers be treated well.
“We remain committed to solving the problems through peaceful means.”
Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd said: “The Thai army will defend itself but the army commander has emphasised that we will not react disproportionately, which may exacerbate the problem.
“We have reinforced our troops but from an initial assessment, the army believes the situation is now under control.”
The fighting broke out in a small patch of disputed land about 1.2 miles from the 11th-century temple ruins, a UN World Heritage site which is on Cambodian territory.
The two countries have been arguing over the land since July, and tensions soared this week after 84 Thai troops entered the disputed area.
The temple, 600 km (370 miles) east of Bangkok, was given to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, but the court failed to rule on which country owned the 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins – leading to the current tension.
This small parcel of land became highly politicised in July when the Thai anti-government movement adopted it as a cause.
Both countries claimed the other fired first.
A Cambodian army commander said his soldiers had been ordered to stop Thai troops entering their land.
Brigadier Bun Thean said: “Our troops prevented Thai troops from entering our territory, but they started to open fire at our troops right away.”
Earlier, Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat said a plan to evacuate all Thai citizens from Cambodia had been prepared, but not executed.
He said: “We have prepared an evacuation plan but we have to see how serious the situation is before the plan is executed.
“We can confirm that Thailand was not the first to fire because the prime minister has a clear position on this.”
Thai nationals were last evacuated from Cambodia in 2003 after nationalist violence erupted outside the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh over another temple dispute
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Khmer soldiers defending our sovereignty
Cambodian soldiers fight from a trench near Eagle field near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh October 15, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Cambodian commander talks on a two-way radio after fighting broke out with Thai soldiers near Preah Vihear temple. Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire in a clash over disputed land which left two soldiers dead and several wounded. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
A Cambodian soldier guards a pagoda near Preah Vihear temple. Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire in a clash over disputed land which left two soldiers dead and several wounded. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
A Cambodian solider crouches in a trench during fighting near Eagle field near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh October 15, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
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