Thailand, Cambodia in 3rd day of clashes
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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FIGHTING erupted between soldiers along Cambodia's disputed border with Thailand near an 11th century temple for a third day yesterday, shattering a shaky cease fire.
A Cambodian soldier at the front line said troops exchanged artillery and mortar fire along the Phnom Troap mountain range about 3 kilometers from the Preah Vihear Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site that belongs to Cambodia under a 1962 World Court ruling disputed by Thais.
A Thai official in the border area, Nakorn Siripanyanant, confirmed that clashes had resumed yesterday evening and said some villagers who had returned to their homes were again evacuated.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The renewed fighting began just hours after commanders stationed on both sides of the border met in the afternoon and said they would continue to respect a Saturday cease-fire and pledges not to deploy more troops to the area.
The fiercest border clashes in years erupted on Friday and Saturday between troops along the border. Sporadic artillery fire left at least five people dead - one civilian and one soldier from Thailand and a civilian and two soldiers from Cambodia.
Both sides blame each other for the fighting, which also caused minor damage to the Preah Vihear Temple near a strip of disputed land.
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhsit Vejjajiva had arlier called for a peaceful solution to the dispute, but warned that Thai soldiers would defend national sovereignty if attacked.
"I insist that the dispute on the border issues must be solved through nonviolent means," Abhisit said in his weekly address to the nation yesterday.
"Thailand never thought of invading anyone, but if our sovereignty is violated, we have to protect it ultimately," he said.
A Cambodian soldier at the front line said troops exchanged artillery and mortar fire along the Phnom Troap mountain range about 3 kilometers from the Preah Vihear Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site that belongs to Cambodia under a 1962 World Court ruling disputed by Thais.
A Thai official in the border area, Nakorn Siripanyanant, confirmed that clashes had resumed yesterday evening and said some villagers who had returned to their homes were again evacuated.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The renewed fighting began just hours after commanders stationed on both sides of the border met in the afternoon and said they would continue to respect a Saturday cease-fire and pledges not to deploy more troops to the area.
The fiercest border clashes in years erupted on Friday and Saturday between troops along the border. Sporadic artillery fire left at least five people dead - one civilian and one soldier from Thailand and a civilian and two soldiers from Cambodia.
Both sides blame each other for the fighting, which also caused minor damage to the Preah Vihear Temple near a strip of disputed land.
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhsit Vejjajiva had arlier called for a peaceful solution to the dispute, but warned that Thai soldiers would defend national sovereignty if attacked.
"I insist that the dispute on the border issues must be solved through nonviolent means," Abhisit said in his weekly address to the nation yesterday.
"Thailand never thought of invading anyone, but if our sovereignty is violated, we have to protect it ultimately," he said.
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