Cambodian, Thai troops in shoot-out

Bangkok Post 25/01/2010

Thai border rangers have clashed with Cambodian troops near the Preah Vihear national park in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district.

Twelve rangers attached to the 23rd Ranger Forces Regiment were on patrol near Huay Khanun dam, east of the national park, when they were ambushed about 9.25am yesterday by Cambodian troops, a military source said.

The Cambodians fired RPG rockets and sprayed the rangers with bullets. The rangers sought cover before returning fire. The gunfight lasted about 10 minutes but no one was hurt.

The source said Cambodian forces moved up over 1,000 troops along their side of the border, opposite Ban Samtae in Si Sa Ket, after the clash. Cambodia has denied starting the confrontation.

"There was a small clash," Cambodian deputy military commander Chea Dara said, claiming the Thai side were the first to open fire. "They entered our territory. It was Cambodian self-defence. We don't allow anyone to invade our territory." A military source said the clash came after the Cambodian soldiers barred a Thai patrol from entering a disputed border area. The Thais tried to negotiate with the Cambodians but the situation escalated into gunfire.

Tensions eased after the commanders of the two forces agreed to establish closer contacts.

The two sides also suspended their border patrols for the time being.

The border situation flared up two weeks ago when two Cambodian soldiers were captured for trespassing on Thai soil, according to the source.

The soldiers were later sent back but the commanders of their units faced disciplinary punishment. They blame the Thai soldiers for causing the latest round of border hostility.

Nat Sri-in, commander of the 63rd Infantry Battalion responsible for security operations at Ban Samtae and the Chong Ta Thao border pass near the Preah Vihear national park, said rangers also clashed with illegal loggers when they came across them while on patrol yesterday.

The loggers opened fire to scare off the approaching rangers and then ran off when the rangers returned fire, Lt Col Nat said.