Cambodia's army condemns Thailand for 10 straight days of arms attacks

May 2, 2011

English.news.cn 2011-05-01 19:16:20

PHNOM PENH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Sunday afternoon

issued a statement condemning Thai troops for their ten straight days of armed

attacks into Cambodian territory at the 13th century Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei

temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

" The repeated invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia have caused gradual damage

to Cambodia, it is an unacceptable act, " said the statement. " The Royal

Cambodian armed forces (RCAF) strongly condemn this latest series of the attacks

on Cambodia. "

" We'd like to appeal to Thai troops to keep their repeated promises of ceasefire

in order to avoid further costing human lives--either soldiers or civilians. "

The statement was issued after the latest round of sporadic clashes between the

two countries' troops overnight Saturday- Sunday over the border disputed areas

at Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple, marking the ten straight days of the

skirmishes.

The fighting had killed at least eight Cambodian soldiers, seven Thai soldiers

and one Thai civilian, and forced some 100,000 villagers of both sides to flee

homes for safe shelters.

However, Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat, spokesman of Cambodia's Ministry of National

Defense said on Sunday that following renewal of acts of aggression on the part

of the Thai military on Saturday night through Sunday morning, one Cambodian

soldier was killed and another was wounded.

" Again and again, the acts of aggression on the part of the Thai military

continue to cause damage for Cambodia despite the agreement reached between

Cambodian-Thai military commanders at military Region levels and frontline

commanders at Division levels, " Chhum Socheat said.

" This is the tenth times that the Thai military violated the ceasefire agreement

and promised, and spin doctored the situation and alleged against Cambodia while

we are stationing on our sovereign territory, " he added.

The two countries' border has never been completely demarcated. The conflict has

occurred just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a

World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The International Court of Justice awarded in 1962 that the 11th century Preah

Vihear Temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a

4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square- mile) surrounding area.

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