Villagers Return to Their Homes following Cambodia-Thai clashes

By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

Cambodians living on the nation’s border with Thailand have started to return to their homes following clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops at the Veal Intry area near the Preah Vihear temple. This is the current situation according to Keo Sen, Governor of O’Chroeu district, Banteay Meanchey province.

The Governor said that approximately 80 percent of the region’s inhabitants have returned to Poipet commune and have resumed normal working duties at Rong Khloeu market in Ahranh Patheat district, Sras Keo province, just over the border in Thailand.

Keo Sen said that a number of Thai nationals had also been seen entering Cambodia to entertain themselves at a casino on the Cambodian side of the International Poipet checkpoint. He also revealed that approximately 70 percent of Thai visitors enter Cambodia to gamble at this casino.

The situation is now responding to calming influences, but the soldiers on each side remain on full alert and preparedness, according to one star general, Pen Voy, commander of 42 Company, a unit of the RCAF deployed around Phnom Dang Rek in Preah Vihear province.

“The situation for the 42nd and 43rd companies based around the Phnom Troap area, remains tense and we have the Thai forces continually in our sights,” the Commander said on October 22. “Our patrols are not penetrating too far into the disputed territory as we don’t want the Thais to misinterpret our activities.”

The Commander Pen Voy said that Thai soldiers and police had so far made no efforts to withdraw to the old boundaries and that Thai numbers had been increasing by around ten men-at-arms per day since October 20.

Remarkably, on October 16, a day after the fatal clashes, the Thai side occupying Region 2, asked for an urgent round of talks with the Cambodian military officials in Region 4. This meeting took place at the Red House (Phtas Krahoam), where they agreed to keep their armed forces within each station and if either side had business in the contested zones, they were to inform the opposition in advance.

The Commander reiterated that the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen stated clearly that Cambodia has no designs whatsoever on neighboring land, but was firm in his decision that no Cambodian territory be ceded to Thailand.

Paved Road to Preah Vihear Temple

Kheng Someath, Director of the Working Group, said that the construction of a properly paved road continues despite the clashes of October 15th. He said that the construction crews lost half a day’s work during the exchange of gunfire at Veal Intry, as workers naturally sought shelter from the bullets.

The Director told generals, Kun Kim, Chief of Staff of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces and his Deputy Meas Sophea, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces that so far, over one-and-a half kilometers of road have been completed.

He said that the Royal Government of Cambodia requires the road to be over three-and-a-half kilometers long and seven meters wide. The budget for this project will be covered by US$1.6 million, supplied by the Bayon Foundation and collected by Hun Mana, General Director of Bayon TV-Radio station.

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Kun Kim expressed his admiration for the patriotism of all construction workers who put themselves in harm’s way for their country following Samdech Hun Sen’s appeal. He also praised the workers for their ability to integrate their mighty efforts with those of the forces sent to protect Cambodia’s integrity.