Four Thai soldiers wounded in fresh fighting with Cambodian troops
SURIN, April 23 -- Four Thai soldiers were wounded early Saturday during renewed fighting with Cambodian troops at a disputed border area in the Thai northeastern province of Surin bordering Cambodia, forcing border villagers to evacuate to eight kilometers deeper inside the country for their own safety, according to Thai Minister attached to the Prime Ministers Office Ongart Klampaiboon.
Mr Ongart was in the area to inspect Fridays clash between Thai and Cambodian troops which erupted on the western side of the Ta Kwai temple in Surins Phanom Dong Rak district. Three Thai soldiers were killed and 13 wounded while three Cambodian soldiers died and six others were wounded in yesterdays clash.
Both sides exchanged brief gunfire around 6 am today near yesterdays clash site and not too far from Ta Muen Thom ruin and Ta Kwai temple, which sits on disputed areas along the border, said Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, adding that Cambodian troops opened fire at Thai soldiers first.
Fighting between both sides was still continuing at about 10 am as four Thai soldiers were wounded and later sent to Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, according to the Public Health Ministry. One of the four was severely injured while the rest received minor injuries.
Casualties on the Cambodian side were still unknown.
Thai border villagers later evacuated to eight kilometres deeper inside Thai territory as the sound of gunfire could be heard nearly 20 kilometres inside the country.
Border officials said this mornings fighting was fiercer than Fridays skirmish.
Villages and roads along the border in Phanom Dong Rak district were virtually deserted last night following the fighting while combined Thai government troops patrolled the area and set up checkpoints at the villages. The Thai-Cambodian key checkpoint at the Thai border district of Kap Choeng has been closed since yesterday and peoples of the two countries have stopped trading since then.
Clashe! s in the area have occurred occasionally and ties between Thailand and Cambodia have been strained since Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but a 4.6 square kilometre (1.8 square mile) surrounding area remains in dispute as both countries claim ownership of the tract. (MCOT online news)
Mr Ongart was in the area to inspect Fridays clash between Thai and Cambodian troops which erupted on the western side of the Ta Kwai temple in Surins Phanom Dong Rak district. Three Thai soldiers were killed and 13 wounded while three Cambodian soldiers died and six others were wounded in yesterdays clash.
Both sides exchanged brief gunfire around 6 am today near yesterdays clash site and not too far from Ta Muen Thom ruin and Ta Kwai temple, which sits on disputed areas along the border, said Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, adding that Cambodian troops opened fire at Thai soldiers first.
Fighting between both sides was still continuing at about 10 am as four Thai soldiers were wounded and later sent to Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, according to the Public Health Ministry. One of the four was severely injured while the rest received minor injuries.
Casualties on the Cambodian side were still unknown.
Thai border villagers later evacuated to eight kilometres deeper inside Thai territory as the sound of gunfire could be heard nearly 20 kilometres inside the country.
Border officials said this mornings fighting was fiercer than Fridays skirmish.
Villages and roads along the border in Phanom Dong Rak district were virtually deserted last night following the fighting while combined Thai government troops patrolled the area and set up checkpoints at the villages. The Thai-Cambodian key checkpoint at the Thai border district of Kap Choeng has been closed since yesterday and peoples of the two countries have stopped trading since then.
Clashe! s in the area have occurred occasionally and ties between Thailand and Cambodia have been strained since Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but a 4.6 square kilometre (1.8 square mile) surrounding area remains in dispute as both countries claim ownership of the tract. (MCOT online news)
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