Thai villager killed, five soldiers wounded, in deadly border clash
SI SA KET, Feb 4 -- Fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops ended Friday evening after lasting for two hours at the border near the disputed Preah Vihear temple with artillery shells from Cambodia falling into Thailand's Si Sa Ket province, killing one villager and wounding five soldiers.
Artillery shells landed at Bhumsrol village in Kantaralak district Friday afternoon as Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged heavy fire on Phu Makua Hill near the stairway to the ancient temple, forcing local residents to flee in disarray.
Thai Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit confirmed a Thai villager identified as Charoen Hahom, 49, was killed when artillery shells fired by Cambodian troops landed in Bhumsrol village. Five soldiers were wounded and are now hospitalised in Kantaralak hospital.
Bhumsrol school director Bunraun Pongsapan said the shelling set four homes afire, and forced an urgent evacuation of the villagers. The school wall was completely destroyed.
Cambodian media reported that four Thai soldiers were captured by Cambodian troops, but Thai army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Thai soldiers were posted at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda coordination point and that the Cambodian soldiers were also there.
Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the skirmish was apparently caused by a misunderstanding from a shot fired first by Cambodia. He however said the fighting has ended after talks between both sides.
"It is believed that the fighting was unintentional and sparked by the Cambodia side prompting us to fire back to warn them not to violate our sovereignty," Gen Prayuth said. "There is no point in fighting which will hurt us both. We therefore must talk to find a peaceful solution."
The latest skirmish between the troops of the two neighbours occurred just hours after Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong for bilateral talks on the ongoing border dispute and help for ! the two Thais jailed in a Cambodian prison after being convicted of illegal entry and spying.
The Associated Press quoted Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith as saying that the fighting erupted when Thai troops ignored warnings to stop crossing into its territory. He said the Cambodians shot into the air and the Thai soldiers returned fire.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Cambodia would file a complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing Thailand of invading Cambodian territory.
Thailand denied the charges as Col Sansern said the clash was sparked by artillery shots fired from the Cambodian side and Thai troops returned fire as a warning.
Meanwhile, Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), heavily criticised Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his failure to handle long-running dispute with Cambodia.
"The Cambodian troops dared to launch an attack against us despite their military strength is second to the Thai military because our prime minister is weak. If the premier had agreed with our demands, the clash would never have happened," the Yellow Shirt leader said.
The Yellow Shirt protesters have been encamped on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue since Jan 25 with no sign that they would disperse unless Thailand withdraws from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, revoke three memoranda of understanding signed by the members of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), and eject Cambodian soldiers and villagers in disputed border areas the group claims belong to Thailand. (MCOT online news)
Artillery shells landed at Bhumsrol village in Kantaralak district Friday afternoon as Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged heavy fire on Phu Makua Hill near the stairway to the ancient temple, forcing local residents to flee in disarray.
Thai Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit confirmed a Thai villager identified as Charoen Hahom, 49, was killed when artillery shells fired by Cambodian troops landed in Bhumsrol village. Five soldiers were wounded and are now hospitalised in Kantaralak hospital.
Bhumsrol school director Bunraun Pongsapan said the shelling set four homes afire, and forced an urgent evacuation of the villagers. The school wall was completely destroyed.
Cambodian media reported that four Thai soldiers were captured by Cambodian troops, but Thai army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Thai soldiers were posted at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda coordination point and that the Cambodian soldiers were also there.
Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the skirmish was apparently caused by a misunderstanding from a shot fired first by Cambodia. He however said the fighting has ended after talks between both sides.
"It is believed that the fighting was unintentional and sparked by the Cambodia side prompting us to fire back to warn them not to violate our sovereignty," Gen Prayuth said. "There is no point in fighting which will hurt us both. We therefore must talk to find a peaceful solution."
The latest skirmish between the troops of the two neighbours occurred just hours after Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong for bilateral talks on the ongoing border dispute and help for ! the two Thais jailed in a Cambodian prison after being convicted of illegal entry and spying.
The Associated Press quoted Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith as saying that the fighting erupted when Thai troops ignored warnings to stop crossing into its territory. He said the Cambodians shot into the air and the Thai soldiers returned fire.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Cambodia would file a complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing Thailand of invading Cambodian territory.
Thailand denied the charges as Col Sansern said the clash was sparked by artillery shots fired from the Cambodian side and Thai troops returned fire as a warning.
Meanwhile, Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), heavily criticised Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his failure to handle long-running dispute with Cambodia.
"The Cambodian troops dared to launch an attack against us despite their military strength is second to the Thai military because our prime minister is weak. If the premier had agreed with our demands, the clash would never have happened," the Yellow Shirt leader said.
The Yellow Shirt protesters have been encamped on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue since Jan 25 with no sign that they would disperse unless Thailand withdraws from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, revoke three memoranda of understanding signed by the members of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), and eject Cambodian soldiers and villagers in disputed border areas the group claims belong to Thailand. (MCOT online news)
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