3 Cambodian soldiers killed, 6 injured in Cambodian, Thai border clash

PHNOM PENH, April 22, 2011 (Xinhua) -- Three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six others were injured in an armed clashes on Friday morning between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed areas at Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province, a spokesman of the Cambodian Ministry of Defense said.

Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, announced the figure in a press briefing.

He said that four villages nearby the fighting zones have been damaged and thousands of villagers have fled their houses.

"Up to now, we have maintained all bases, not lose any bases to Thailand," he said, adding "we still stand firmly to defend our territory integrity."

"We expressed our deepest condolences to our soldiers for their life loss to defend our territory integrity," he said.

The latest military clashes between the two countries' troops over the border disputed area began at 06:00 a.m. and ended at 12: 22 p.m. Friday, but tension still continues.

"We are investigating if Thailand has used cluster bombs and poisonous smoke in the clashes."

"The temples were damaged, but as it is still in battle field, we could not evaluate the damage to the temples," said Phay Siphan, the spokesman for the Council of Ministers, at the briefing.

"Thailand has used surveillance airplane at Thai side along the border," he said.

The latest clashes re-occurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Cambodian, Thai armed clashes cost lives, damage temples

Villagers near the disputed border area at Ta Mon Thom and Ta Krabek prepare to flee home. A Cambodian officier said the military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed border area have killed at least three Cambodian soldiers. Thailand military also said the clashes claimed three Thai soldiers' life.  (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

PHNOM PENH, April 22, 2011 (Xinhua) -- The military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed border area at Ta Mon Thom and Ta Krabek temples in Oddar Meanchey province have claimed lives, caused damages to the ancient temples and forced thousands of nearby villagers fleeing home, the Cambodian government said Friday afternoon.

Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued a press release on Friday, saying that on April 22 at 6:00 a.m., Thai soldiers have trespassed and staged an attack on the base of Cambodian troops along the border from Ta Krabek temple to Chhub Koky and entered deeply into Cambodian territory.

"During the attack, Thai troops have used heavy weapons, including DK-75 mm and DK-82 mm mortars, and 105 mm and 155 mm artilleries to shell into Cambodian territory and deeply entered Cambodian territory up to 21 kilometers from border line, which are the areas with Cambodian villagers," said the statement.

"Since early this morning up to now the fighting still continues after Thai side took a short pause at around lunch time, " said Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat, the spokesman for Cambodian Ministry of Defense, at a press briefing. "Thai troops have used artilleries to shell on temples and damage them."

He did not give the official number of casualties at the briefing. However, Neak Vong, the deputy commander of brigade 42 at Ta Mon Thom temple, told Xinhua by telephone that the interim figure recorded that three Cambodian troops were killed and one was injured.

Phay Siphan, the spokesman for the council of ministers, said that Cambodia will inform international community about the attack by Thai troops on Cambodian territory, simultaneously, Cambodian troops will stay firm to defend the territory against Thai invasion.

"Thousands of Cambodian villagers have been evacuated for safe shelters following the clashes and our ancient temples now are in damage," he added. "Thai attack is an unacceptable act."

So far, there is no meeting between the two sides over this latest clashes, he added.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has sent letters on Friday to the United Nations Security Council and Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN to draw attention of the international and regional community to the fresh armed conflict.

The military clash reoccured just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Cambodian, Thai military clashes still continues as battle at Preah Vihear temple on high alert

by Nguon Sovan and Zhang Ruiling

PHN0M PENH, April 22, 2011 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed areas at Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabek temple in Oddar Meanchey province still continue until 9:10 a.m., officials said Friday.

Pich Sokhin, provincial governor of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, said, "Now both small and heavy weapons are being used in the fighting," he told Xinhua by telephone on Friday at 9:10 a. m.

The clashes began at 6:00 a.m.

"Thai troops have opened fire on our troops first," he said, " Cambodian troops just conduct self-defense moves and protect our territory."

He said that Thai troops have prepared in advance in this morning's clashes.

"We have observed that Thailand had added more troops, ammunitions and fighting vehicles since on Thursday's evening," he said.

The governor said that some Cambodian soldiers have been reported injured, but the exact figure is not available.

He said that at around the fighting zone, there are about 2,000 Cambodian families living and now they have not yet evacuated, but hiding in the bunkers.

"We have already prepared trucks, just in case the fighting still continues and spread bigger, we will evacuate them from their villages to a safe shelter in Banteay Ampil district--20 kilometers from the fighting area," he said.

Meanwhile, Phay Siphan, a spokesman of Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers, also confirmed the fighting and said the clash started after Thai troops trespassed between 300 and 500 meters into Cambodian territory and opened fire at Cambodian troops.

He said that Thailand is violating a permanent ceasefire and is acting against the decision of the United Nations Security Council. Cambodia has no reason to invade Thai territory.

"Cambodia might seek another intervention from the UNSC," he added. "The Thai military's move is against the principle of the U.N. Security Council who called for a permanent ceasefire."

As the fighting at Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabek temple are continuing, a military commander at the battle zone near Preah Vihear temple, some 80 kilometers from Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabek temple, said that troops at the zone are also in very high alert.

"So far, there is nothing happened at the frontline at Preah Vihear temple yet, but our troops are on very high alert to defend our territory from any invasion from Thai side," a brigadier general Thul Sovan, deputy commander of Cambodian Military Division 3, stationed at the frontline near Preah Vihear temple, told Xinhua by telephone.

The military clash reoccured just more than two months after the deadly clash lasting from Feb. 4 to 7 at the border disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Cambodian, Thai troops exchange gunfire in border area

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thai troops exchanged fires at two separate temples at border area, located about 200 kilometers west of disputed temple of Preah Vihear, military sources said on Friday.

The sources said the clash occurred at around 6:00 am on Friday at Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Temples.

Neak Vong, deputy commander of brigade 42 at Ta Mon Thom temple, said that all kinds of weaponry have been used.

"Now the exchange fire between Cambodia and Thai troops is continue," he told Xinhua by telephone as the sound of weapon explosions on the background.

The two temples are located in Oddar Meanchey province, located about 200 kilometers west of disputed temple of Preah Vihear .

"All types of heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery have also been used in the exchange fire," he said.

Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat, the spokesman for Cambodian Defense Ministry, confirmed the fighting.

"The armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops have been happening at Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabek temple, starting at 5:55 a.m. and so far 7:50 a.m. still continues," he said

Phay Siphan, a spokesman of Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers, also confirmed the fighting and said that "The Thai military's move is against the principle of the U.N. Security Council who called for a permanent ceasefire."

He said "The Thai troops marched directly towards Cambodian troop positions stationed at Cambodia's Ta Krabei temple and launched unprovoked attacks."

The military clash reoccured just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

While the fighting is still going on, the sources declined to comment on the motive of the clash.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Cambodia to give out 2 million mosquito nets in 2011 to combat malaria

PHNOM PENH, April 21 (Xinhua)—Cambodia’s Ministry of Health plans to distribute some 2 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets in this year’s rainy season in an effort to reduce malaria infections, said a senior health official on Thursday.

Duong Socheat, director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria, said that the fund for the mosquito nets was from the Global Fund and the distribution campaigns will begin in May as the annual rainy season comes.

In March, Cambodia sets up a strategic plan to eliminate malaria by 2025, focusing on promoting more awareness campaigns and mosquito net distributions.

Last year, the center reported 60,000 cases of malaria happened and killed 118 people in Cambodia.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. In Cambodia, the disease is often found in rainy season and mostly happened in border provinces, forest and mountainous provinces such as Pailin, Banteay Meanchy, Udor Meanchey, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, and Kratie. (Written by Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian police begins a large-scale campaign to fine traffic law violators

PHNOM PENH, April 21 (Xinhua)—Some 400 traffic police in Phnom Penh on Thursday began a campaign to fine vehicles violated traffic law.

The drive aimed at cracking down on the cars without license plates and those with black-tinted windows, as well as motorcycles without back-view mirrors, Em Sambath, deputy chief of Phnom Penh Traffic Police, said Thursday.

“We started to enforce the traffic law, which was in effect since February, 2007, but some cars and motorcycles have not complied with the law,” he said. “Through the campaign, we hope that all vehicles will be in uniform with the law and it will help to reduce traffic accidents, which is a major concern for Cambodia at the moment.”

He said that the campaign will take several months to complete.

According to the law, the car without number plate will be fined 50 U.S. dollars, and the car, on which the window stuck black tinted plastics, will be fine 12.5 U.S. dollars and will be required to remove the black tinted plastics from the car window.

Cambodia does not allow a car struck black-tinted plastics on the windows because the black-tinted plastics will hide the identifications of people inside the car when any offences happen, he said.

Traffic accident is a major life threat for Cambodia now, last year, it claimed

1,709 Cambodian lives and other thousands of people injured.

And just five-days of last week’s Khmer New Year, 58 Cambodian people were killed and other 484 people injured. Most accidents were involved with motorcycles. (Written by Nguon Sovan)