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ເກີດການຍິງກັນຂື້ນລະຫວ່າງໄທແລະກຳປູເຈ້ຍ
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Gunfire erupts in Thai-Cambodia border dispute



（一部更新）カンボジアの遺跡として7月に国連（UN）の世界遺産に登録されたプレアビヒア寺院（Preah Vihear Temple）付近のカンボジア・タイ国境地帯の領有権をめぐる両国間の対立が激化し、同国境地帯で15日、両国軍の間で銃撃戦となり、カンボジア兵2人が死亡2人が負傷、タイ兵5人が負傷した。

　銃撃戦は午後2時20分（日本時間午後4時20分）ごろ、プレアビヒア寺院から数キロしか離れていない国境地帯の多数の場所で起きた。タイ軍報道官によると、銃撃戦は2時間以上にわたって散発的に続いた。

　カンボジア軍は現地のAFP記者に対し、「タイ軍がわれわれの領地に進入した。激しい銃撃戦だった」と語り、最初に発砲したのはタイ側だったと非難した。

　これに対し、タイのソムポン・アモンウィワット（Sompong Amornviwat）外相は、「タイ側が衝突の引き金を引いたのではないと確実に言える。われわれは依然としてソムチャイ・ウォンサワット（Somchai Wongsawat）首相の方針に従っている」と主張し、首相が平和的な対話に向け努力していくと発表したことについて言及し、「状況が制御不能になるようなことはないと確信している」と述べた。

　現場のAFP写真記者によると、領有権が争われている複数の地域の1つで、駐留していたタイ兵士10人が降伏し、銃声がとどろく中、両手を挙げてカンボジア側に近づいていったというが、タイ軍はこれを否定している。(c)AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy


BANGKOK: Tensions over a disputed 900-year-old temple flared Wednesday as Thai and Cambodian soldiers deployed on the border exchanged rocket and rifle fire for about an hour, according to reports from the scene. At least two Cambodian soldiers were reported killed.

The violence threatened to escalate a tense confrontation at the border, where several hundred solders from both sides have faced each other since July, when Unesco, the United Nations' cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the temple named a World Heritage Site.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of Cambodia said two Cambodian soldiers were killed and two wounded. A spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry said seven Thai paramilitary soldiers were wounded. Ten Thai soldiers surrendered to the Cambodians, according to news reports in the capital, Phnom Penh.

The two nations have made claims for decades over the temple, Preah Vihear, which stands at the lip of an escarpment on the border looking out over the mountains of northern Cambodia.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia, based on a map prepared at the start of the century by colonial French rulers. Unesco referred to that map in designating the temple a World Heritage Site.

Thai officials said Wednesday that they had prepared aircraft to evacuate about 1,500 citizens living in Cambodia, as they did in 2003 when Cambodians rioted in the capital, setting fire to Thai businesses and to the Thai Embassy.

That earlier violence also involved claims to a temple, in that case the crown jewel, Angkor Wat, which is well within the borders of Cambodia.

"Thai businessmen who have no need to be in Cambodia now, please rush back to Thailand," Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Wednesday.

Thai citizens were reported to have huddled in a hotel in Phnom Penh for safety, uncertain whether they should evacuate. The riot police were deployed outside the Thai Embassy.

The clash Wednesday came one day after Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia issued an ultimatum to about 80 Thai soldiers to withdraw from a portion of the temple area. His noon deadline passed with the Cambodian side saying the Thais had retreated and the Thais saying there had been no troop movements.

"We won't allow Thai troops to invade this area, whatever the cost," Hun Sen said Tuesday. "I would like to be clear about this. It is a life-and-death battle zone."

The violence on Wednesday was not the first since the two sides deployed soldiers at the temple. Early this month one Cambodian and two Thais were reported wounded in an exchange of gunfire.

Three days later two Thai soldiers lost legs when they stepped on some of the many thousands of land mines strewn through the area.

The 300,000-strong Thai military is far better equipped and trained than Cambodian forces, with F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters. But Cambodian soldiers have been fighting in the area for decades and are hardened by guerrilla warfare.

The temple was in the hands of Khmer Rouge guerrillas until a decade ago, when the movement collapsed, 19 years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge government in Phnom Penh. Many soldiers and commanders in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces are former members of the Khmer Rouge.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/15/asia/border.php



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7 Thais wounded and 10 reported captured

BANGKOK POST AND AGENCIES



SI SA KET : The army has brought in 500 reinforcements and heavy weapons and says it is ready for battle, while the Foreign Ministry claims it is prepared to take Cambodia to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice over sovereignty of the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

The separate army and ministry warnings came after skirmishes yesterday in areas between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Preah Vihear in Cambodia, which escalated border tensions.


Reinforcements head to the disputed area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear temple following the clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops yesterday. WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE

Fighting broke out in the afternoon at two flash-points at Phu Ma Khua and Pha Mor E Daeng near the ancient Hindu temple.

Seven Thai troops were wounded while two Cambodian soldiers were killed and seven others injured, according to the army. Cambodia said it captured 10 Thai troops, a claim denied by Thai military officials.

Cambodian charge d'affaires to Bangkok Ouk Sophoin was summoned by permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul and handed an "aide memoire" accusing Cambodia of initiating the clashes.

The fighting has prompted the ministry to urge Thais in Cambodia to leave the country. Thai Airways International has prepared large aircraft to evacuate all Thais in Cambodia if the situation worsens.

There are about 1,000 Thais in Phnom Penh and about 500 in Siem Reap, according to the ministry.

Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal said Cambodia fired first into Thai bases, prompting Thai troops to retaliate. He said his unit has adjusted operational plans and redeployed troops to handle any situation, noting the military is ready to retaliate against any further aggression.

But army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has ordered troops to be cautious about retaliation.

"In regards to military retaliation, the army chief has instructed the troops not to escalate any fighting. That means if Cambodia uses small weapons, we will not retaliate with artillery to avoid escalating the fighting," he said.

Col Sansern said the fighting erupted about 2.30pm when Thai troops encountered Cambodian soldiers at Huay Ta Maria in Phu Ma Khua. The Cambodian soldiers were told to leave but they responded with small arms fire into a Thai base. Several kilometres away at Pha Mor E Daeng, Cambodian soldiers also fired into a Thai base.

Col Sansern said the fighting at both sites was brief.

Security around Ta Muan Thom temple and Ta Kwai temple in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district was being stepped up with more than 500 troops and artillery from the sixth infantry division based in Ubon Ratchathani..

Cambodian Foreign Minster Hor Namhong said in Phnom Penh that "the gunfire between Cambodia and Thailand was in Cambodia's territory. Thai troops opened fire at our troops first".

"Cambodia strongly protests against these repeated and very serious armed provocations by Thailand which will lead to large-scale armed hostilities between the two countries," he said, adding a complaint would be lodged with the UN Security Council.

Hor Namhong rejected Thai figures of the casualties, saying two Cambodian soldiers were killed and two wounded.

Tension at the border rose after Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat returned from a visit to Phnom Penh on Monday during which he met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Hor Namhong.

Afterwards, Hun Sen gave Thailand an ultimatum to leave the disputed area that day.

Mr Virasakdi said during the talks with Mr Sompong, Hun Sen had demanded Thailand withdraw all troops from the 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping area. He threatened to take the case to the Security Council and the International Court of Justice on grounds that Thailand had invaded his country.

Mr Virasakdi dismissed the threat. "Don't think that we are scared. We are ready to defend our position. A team of international legal experts has been hired and is ready," he said after meeting with the Cambodian diplomat.

The army spokesman said the situation was under control as Thai and Cambodian commanders in the areas remained in contact and were expected to negotiate to resolve the conflict.

Hor Namhong said a scheduled meeting between the two countries on the border dispute would go ahead as planned today

http://www.bangkokpost.com/161008_News/16Oct2008_news01.php



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