Cambodians and Thai troops clashed near Preah Vihear temple

Written by The Son Of the Khmer Empire

January 24, 2010 at 6:30pm

Gen. Chea Dara (front) surveying the border areas.By Khmerization
Source: DAP News

Cambodian and Thai troops clashed about 5 minutes at the abandoned border village of Choam Te, 20 kilometres from Preah Vihear temple on the morning of Sunday 24th January, reports Deum Ampil.

Cambodian military sources said two brief clashes erupted when Cambodian troops saw a group of Thai soldiers patrolling 500 metres deep inside Cambodian territory at an abandoned village of Choam Te.

Mr. Meas Yoeun, Cambodian commander based at Choam Te, said the two brief armed clashes erupted at 9:15 and ended at 9:20 in the morning when Thai troops withdrew into Thai territory. “They shot at us first and when we launched a B-40 rocket at them, they quickly escaped back into Thai territory”, he said.

He said Cambodian troops shot back in self-defence and for the defence of Cambodian territorial integrity. Mr. Meas Yoeun said on the Cambodian side no casualty was sufferred. “We don’t know about their side, but on our side there is no casualty”, he said.

Gen. Chea Dara, Cambodian Deputy Commander-in-Chief in charge of the Preah Vihear operations, said the Cambodian army have repeatedly warned their Thai counterpart that Cambodian troops would use self-defence rights and the rights in the defence of Cambodian territorial integrity in the event of encroachments by Thai troops. “We told them repeatedly not to try to cross into Cambodian territories. We don’t want anyone’s territory, but if anyone attempted to cross into our territory this is the result”, he said.

He added that Cambodia does not want any territories from any countries and Cambodia also does not want any countries to take its territories either.