KI Media

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• Temple damaged in Cambodia, Thai troops clashes: commander
• UN chief urges restraint after latest Thai-Cambodian border clashes
• New clash erupts at Cambodian-Thai border
• Fighting still on in the wee hours of Monday morning
• Hun Xen's letter to the UN Security Council
• Cambodia Calls On UN In Thailand Clash [-Hun Xen should have done that LONG AGO!]
• Cambodia: Heritage site damaged in border fighting
• Photos from the border
• Thai-Cambodia border fighting 'damages' temple [-Abishit dismissed ASEAN intervention, is Abishit that scared?]
• Thailand ready to use plane and poison gas to recapture Preah Vihear?
• The warrior class that leads from the rear
• Fighting Continues Along Thai-Cambodian Border
• Fighting flares anew on border
• Thai, Cambodia troops clash again on disputed border
• "Panhaha Preah Vihear" a Poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea
• Stay hungry, stay foolish
• Damage to Preah Vihear temple
• "Chinese Fighter, Or "Top Gun" Clip?": 50s communist faking technology redux in Youtube era
• Abhisit's Worst Nightmare Rings True
• Thai PM: soldiers fire back at Cambodians to protect sovereignty
• Cambodia, Thailand Commanders Pledge to Avoid Further Clash
• Shaky cease-fire holds between Thailand, Cambodia
• Hindus want disputed Thai-Cambodia Hindu Shiva temple be transferred to UN control [-How about UN control of all of Cambodia?]
• Cease-fire deal brings calm
• Second talks held over Cambodian, Thai border dispute

Temple damaged in Cambodia, Thai troops clashes: commander Posted: 06 Feb 2011 05:49 PM PST PHNOM PENH, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- "A wing of our Preah Vihear Temple has collapsed as a direct result of the Thai artillery bombardment," a commander based near the 900-year-old temple was quoted as saying by Cambodia's Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PRU) of the Office of the Council of Ministers. "The Thai army began shooting at us first, we are taking self- defense and retaliatory measures, now," the commander said, stressing that the Thais had not honored the ceasefire of Saturday. PRU did not give the name of the commander. The commander also said that the Thai army has used gas shell as they fired 130 mm artillery rounds at Cambodian soldiers. Thai army resumed heavy shelling on Cambodia's troops around 6:40 p.m., he said. The newly erupted fighting near Preah Vihear Temple between Cambodian and Thai troops stopped at about 9:40 p.m. local time, lasting nearly three hours. This is the third military clash after the last two conflicts on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. So far, there was no immediate report about the deaths and wounds. The fighting has burst out at Phnom Trap hill and Veal Intry situated 1,600 meters and 1,120 meters respectively from the border inside Cambodian territory towards the Beehive area near Preah Vihear temple. Colonel Chan Narun, who stations at the Preah Vihear temple, said "the fighting this time is likely bigger in scale than the two previous clashes -- the fighting is spread larger along the border," he said. "Heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery have also been used in the exchange fire." He said "locals have been evacuating from the areas." Meanwhile, Thai troops have been reinforced in many other parts along the borders, said Cambodian solders in the battle. According to Thailand's The Nation, the clash broke out just before 7 p.m. local time. The report quoted Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the spokesman of Thai Royal Army, as saying that the Cambodians fired first. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The last two clashes on Friday and Saturday left two Cambodian soldiers dead, but one of whom was not killed by the bullets from Thai troops, but his own accidental bullet, and also another Cambodian civilian was killed on the first day of the clash. In addition to the deaths, 20 others were injured. For the Thai side, 32 were killed in Cambodian territory, and many others injured, according to the spokesman for Cambodian council of ministers Phay Siphan on Sunday afternoon. The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of the 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.

UN chief urges restraint after latest Thai-Cambodian border clashes Posted: 06 Feb 2011 05:46 PM PST UN News Centre 6 February 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday voiced concern about repeated armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand around their common border, and called on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their dispute through dialogue. The clashes that occurred between 4 and 6 February has reportedly claimed a number of lives, and led to the displacement of civilians and destruction of property, according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson. "The Secretary-General appeals to both sides to put in place an effective arrangement for cessation of hostilities and to exercise maximum restraint," it stated. "He also calls on them to continue their efforts to finding a lasting solution to their dispute through established mechanisms and arrangements and a spirit of dialogue and good neighbourly relations." Tensions escalated between the South-East Asian neighbours in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia. The temple, which dates back to the 11th century, was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier that month. Today's statement reiterated the UN's readiness to assist in peaceful efforts to resolve the dispute.

New clash erupts at Cambodian-Thai border Posted: 06 Feb 2011 05:43 PM PST Monday 07th February Kyodo PHNOM PENH — Barely a day after top regional commanders from the Thai and Cambodian armies agreed to lower tensions that burst into deadly clashes last Friday and Saturday, renewed fighting erupted again Sunday evening. In response to the worsening situation at the Cambodian-Thai border, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the U.N. Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to stop ''Thailand's aggression.'' In a letter sent to Brazilian envoy Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, the rotating Security Council president, Hun Sen said that despite negotiations for a cease-fire by both sides, ''Thai armed forces launched a full scale armed aggression against Cambodia.'' Claiming that Thai forces fired heavy weapons into the UNESCO world heritage Preah Vihear Temple, Hun Sen said, ''All these areas are well inside Cambodian territory. Thai artillery shells have landed as far as approximately 20 km inside Cambodian territory.'' A Cambodian military commander based near the temple said, ''A wing of our Preah Vihear Temple has collapsed as a direct result of the Thai artillery bombardment.'' Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers, told Kyodo News the sides began trading gunfire about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, little more than six hours after the commanders who had met Saturday had again met to discuss how to prevent further bloodshed the at border. He said the latest fighting broke out about 2 kilometers from the disputed area around the Preah Vihear Temple. Hostilities continued for more than two hours at Mt Phnom Troap and two nearby spots, with both sides using mortars and artillery. Gen. Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told Kyodo News by telephone the attack at Mt. Phnom Troap began in an area where Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to stop troop movements. Earlier, the regional commanders met for about 90 minutes from 10:20 a.m. near Preah Vihear, site of the heaviest border fighting between the two countries in more than two years. At the meeting, the militaries agreed to allow villagers who were evacuated from the battle zones near the temple to return to their home and resume their lives as usual, according to a statement obtained by Kyodo News. They also decided to stop additional troop deployments to border areas and for troops already in the areas to return to their positions before the fighting erupted Friday afternoon. Further, five soldiers from each side will be again stationed near Sambok Khmum Point at the bottom of the temple to act as a buffer to try to prevent further outbreaks of violence. The commanders also decided to hold regular meetings among themselves to avoid more clashes. In the earlier skirmishes, which involved artillery and mortar salvos from each side, two Cambodian soldiers and a civilian died on the Cambodian side. Phay Siphan told Kyodo News earlier Sunday Cambodia also had 20 soldiers and civilians wounded. He added that more than 2,000 villagers had been evacuated from the disputed areas. In Bangkok late Saturday, Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said a Thai soldier was killed in fighting Saturday and a villager died Friday. He added a dozen Thai troops were wounded. More than 3,000 villagers living near the disputed border were evacuated to safer areas, Sansern said. The fighting is latest since a border dispute flared after UNESCO declared Preah Vihear a world heritage site. International courts have ruled the temple is in Cambodia, but many in Thailand continue to dispute the claim. After the UNESCO declaration in mid-2008, several small clashes broke out between Oct. 15, 2008 and April 3, 2009. The situation had been tense, but quiet, since early 2009 until the skirmishes Friday and Saturday. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is to visit Phnom Penh on Monday and Bangkok on Tuesday in a bid to mediate the dispute. Indonesia is current chair and Thailand and Cambodia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which wants to play a role in ameliorating the situation between two of the 10-member ASEAN's key members. As well, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong have been discussing the situation by telephone. Kasit was in Cambodia for talks with Hor Namhong when the first battles erupted last Friday, but he flew home that night.

Fighting still on in the wee hours of Monday morning Posted: 06 Feb 2011 02:40 PM PST Report from DAP-News Translated from Khmer by Soy - At 04:25AM on 07 February, armed explosion can be heard from Cambodian troops defending from Thai aggression. - At 05:19AM on Monday 07 February, the fighting has lightened somewhat after light signals were sent from the Thai side. However, fighting could resume in the future.

Hun Xen's letter to the UN Security Council Posted: 06 Feb 2011 02:34 PM PST

Cambodia Calls On UN In Thailand Clash [-Hun Xen should have done that LONG AGO!] Posted: 06 Feb 2011 02:13 PM PST Sunday, 06 Feb 2011 (NewsCore) - PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the United Nations Sunday to help "stop the invasion by Thailand," according to a statement read on state-run television. A third round of border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops in as many days has damaged a disputed 11th-century temple, the Cambodian government said. The latest violence brings an end to a ceasefire put in place after earlier fighting left at least five people dead. Both sides have accused the other of starting the clashes. In a request to the current president of the UN Security Council, Sen said "please call an urgent meeting of the Security Council in order to stop the invasion by Thailand." "We are fighting now, they started firing at us first," a Cambodian military commander said, referring to Thai troops across the border. Thai army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd confirmed the renewed unrest, but accused the Cambodian side of reigniting the violence by firing "fireworks" and shooting. "Thailand has retaliated. The fighting is still going on. There are no reports of casualties," he said. The latest unrest comes a day after the neighbors agreed to a ceasefire to end heavy fighting around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Both sides claim the temple, which observers say is being used as a rallying point to stir nationalist sentiment in both Thailand and Cambodia. Ties between the neighbors have been strained since the temple was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008. The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear itself belonged to Cambodia, although its main entrance lies in Thailand and the 1.8-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometer) area around the temple is claimed by both sides.

Cambodia: Heritage site damaged in border fighting Posted: 06 Feb 2011 02:09 PM PST Sunday, February 6, 2011 By THANYARAT DOKSONE and SOPHENG CHEANG Associated Press PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Cambodian government said part of a historic 11th-century stone temple collapsed Sunday due to heavy shelling by the Thai army as the two sides battled across their disputed border for a third day. Both countries accused each other of instigating the clashes, which continued across the darkened mountainous border for more than three hours Sunday. The extent of the damage to the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was not immediately clear. A Thai army spokesman said about 10 soldiers were wounded in Sunday night's fighting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the clashes Sunday resulted in "more human casualties and damages" but did not elaborate. On Sunday, Hun Sen sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council calling for an emergency meeting to help end the fighting. At least five people have died in the border clashes - some of the fiercest in years - which erupted Friday and continued for a third straight day Sunday despite at least two cease-fires. The crumbling stone temple, which sits several hundred feet from Thailand's eastern border with Cambodia, has fueled nationalist sentiment on both sides of the disputed frontier for decades. In 1962, the World Court determined that the temple belongs to Cambodia, a ruling disputed by many Thais. Thai nationalists have seized on it as a domestic political issue, and the conflict has sparked sporadic, brief battles between the two neighbors over the last few years. The lastest fighting broke out Friday in an area close to Preah Vihear, and shelling Saturday caused minor damage to the temple's facade. There were reports that Sunday's fighting had spread closer to the temple itself. There was no independent confirmation of the damage. "A wing of our Preah Vihear Temple has collapsed as a direct result of the Thai artillery bombardment," the government quoted a Cambodian military commander based near the temple as saying. It did not say how large the wing was. Built between the 9th and 11th centuries, Preah Vihear is dedicated to the Hindu diety Shiva and revered partly for having one of the most stunning locations of all the temples constructed during the Khmer empire - the most famous of which is Angkor Wat. It sits atop a 1,722-foot (525-meter) cliff in the Dangrek Mountains about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the Cambodian capital. UNESCO calls the site "an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture." The Khmer empire, which once encompassed parts of Thailand and Vietnam, shrank to the size of present-day Cambodia. The country was plunged into civil war, and the temple fell into disrepair. Hun Sen said the latest fighting "gravely threatened peace and stability in the region." "Thai armed forces launched a full-scale armed aggression against Cambodia, using heavy sophisticated weapons including many ... artillery shells which were fired into the temple of Preah Vihear," Hun Sen said in a letter which was read aloud on state television shortly before midnight. Thailand accused Cambodia of firing first on Sunday and denied knowledge of damage to Preah Vihear. "I haven't received any report about the damage and doubt it is true," said Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, contacted by telephone from Bangkok. He dismissed reports of damage to the temple as "propaganda," but said Sunday's fighting was more intense than the previous two days. "We have to return fire to wherever the attacks come from," he said. "The prime minister has told the army to open all communication channels in case the other side wants to talk. Meanwhile, we have to take self-defense and react accordingly." Tensions have risen in recent days because of demonstrations in the Thai capital, Bangkok, demanding that the government oust Cambodians from the area near the temple. Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called earlier Sunday for a peaceful solution to the border dispute, but warned that Thai soldiers would defend national sovereignty if attacked. "I insist that the dispute on the border issues must be solved through nonviolent means," Abhisit said in his weekly address to the nation. "Thailand never thought of invading anyone, but if our sovereignty is violated, we have to protect it ultimately." --- Associated Press writers Thanyarat Doksone, Todd Pitman and Jocelyn Gecker also contributed to this report.

Photos from the border Posted: 06 Feb 2011 02:06 PM PST   In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Cambodian soldiers rest at the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, some 500 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. A shaky cease-fire reached Saturday after the fiercest border clashes in years erupted Friday and Saturday between Thai and Cambodian troops stationed along the border. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Phearum)  In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a Cambodian soldier rests at the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, some 500 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. A shaky cease-fire reached Saturday after the fiercest border clashes in years erupted Friday and Saturday between Thai and Cambodian troops stationed along the border. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Phearum)  An injured Thai soldier is treated on his arrival at Kantharalak, hospital in Si Sa ket Province, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 Fighting between Cambodian and Thai soldiers erupted Sunday evening for a third day along a disputed border near an 11th century temple, shattering a shaky cease-fire.(AP Photo) An injured Thai soldier is wheeled into Kantharalak, hospital in Si Sa ket Province, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 Fighting between Cambodian and Thai soldiers erupted Sunday evening for a third day along a disputed border near an 11th century temple, shattering a shaky cease-fire.(AP Photo)

Thai-Cambodia border fighting 'damages' temple [-Abishit dismissed ASEAN intervention, is Abishit that scared?] Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:58 PM PST February 7, 2011 Suy Se AFP Cambodia accused Thailand of damaging an 11th-century temple in fresh clashes on Sunday and appealed to the United Nations to halt the "aggression" in the third day of cross-border fighting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the United Nations Security Council to hold an urgent meeting "so as to stop Thailand's aggression" which has "gravely threatened peace and stability in the region". But Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn rejected the accusation that his country was the aggressor, saying: "Thailand has clear policy that we will not invade any country." Thai army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said Sunday's unrest was "more serious" than the previous two days of violence. He said about ten soldiers were injured, but that there were no reports of new deaths. The ancient Preah Vihear temple, which is surrounded by disputed territory, was damaged by Thai artillery fire, according to Cambodia, which said one wing of the building had "collapsed" as a result. Ties between the neighbours have been strained since Preah Vihear was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008. Thailand and Cambodia have each accused the other of starting the ongoing clashes. Violence erupted on the border for the third day in a row on Sunday evening, ending a ceasefire agreed after earlier fighting left at least five people dead. Hun Sen said "many" artillery shells had been fired into Preah Vihear temple on Sunday, in a statement addressed to the current president of the UN Security Council. He said some shells fired by Thailand had landed around 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Cambodian territory. As the fighting raged on and spread to other border areas, Thai army spokesman Sunsern said both sides were in talks to negotiate a ceasefire. Thai television showed images of bloodied soldiers and people being evacuated clutching blankets. Thousands of people fled their homes as villages were evacuated on both sides of the frontier after the fighting first erupted on Friday. Observers say the temple dispute had been used as a rallying point to stir nationalist sentiment in Thailand and Cambodia. The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear itself belonged to Cambodia, although its main entrance lies in Thailand and the 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) area around the temple is claimed by both sides. Cambodia said two of its soldiers and one civilian were killed in Friday's fighting, while Thailand said a villager on its side of the border also died. A Thai soldier was killed in a brief resumption of hostilities on Saturday morning. The media in both countries have said the toll could be much higher, however, with Thai newspapers suggesting 64 Cambodian soldiers were killed. Across the border, it was reported that at least 30 Thai troops had died. Tensions have flared in recent weeks in the wake of the arrest of seven Thai nationals for illegal entry into Cambodia in late December. Two of them were sentenced to lengthy jail terms for spying, in a case that has caused outrage among the nationalist "Yellow Shirts". Around 5,000 "Yellow Shirts", an influential force in Thailand's colour-coded politics, gathered outside the government compound in Bangkok on Saturday calling for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's resignation. It has been suggested that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations could move to mediate in the row and sources in the Cambodian foreign ministry have said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will visit the country on Monday. Indonesia is the current chairman of ASEAN. But the subject of the meeting is unknown and Abhisit on Sunday dismissed ASEAN intervention as "unnecessary".

Thailand ready to use plane and poison gas to recapture Preah Vihear? Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:52 PM PST Fresh armed clash in the evening of Sunday 06 Feb 06 Feb 2011 Radio Free Asia Translated from Khmer by Soy Click here to read the article in Khmer Hang Savyuth, a reporter for Radio Free Asia, reported that a clash took place in front of the Preah Vihear temple. The clash ended at 10PM on 06 Feb. Meanwhile the Choam region is still under attack. Several rockets were found falling inside the Preah Vihear temple. Hang Savyuth reported at 07PM that Cambodian and Thai troops stationed near the Preah Vihear temple fought each other again at 06:29PM on 06 Feb. The clash started in Chak Chreng area, Phnom Trop area and in Veal Entry area. At 10PM on 06 Feb, both sides were still fighting in the Choam Ter region. There is no report on casualties or injured yet. The cause of the clash is still unknown, but slightly before the clash, a group of Cambodia cops caused the explosion of an unexploded Thai shell that fell inside Cambodia, the explosion caused 6 injuries and one dead. Following that incident, the clash started in front of Preah Vihear temple. Report from Thailand indicated that Thai army leaders ordered its troops to do whatever to capture Preah Vihear temple at whatever material cost. Report from the border indicated also that Thailand plans to use planes and poison gas in the fight with Cambodia. In the evening of 06 Feb, while troops from both sides were fighting each other at the border, Hun Xen wrote a letter to the chairman of the UN Security Council, asking for an urgent meeting to stop the Thai aggression inside Cambodia.

The warrior class that leads from the rear Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:37 PM PST 7/02/2011 Veera Prateepchaikul Bangkok Post For some reason, one interesting - albeit sarcastic - remark made by army commander-in-chief Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday night and believed to be directed at the war mongers among the People's Alliance for Democracy did not make it into print in this newspaper or our chief rival. Wearing a cap and attired in his five-star army uniform, Gen Prayuth gave a press conference in the aftermath of the deadly exchange of artillery and small arms fire, the worst in many years, across the border near the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear (or Khao Phra Viharn). Without naming names, but appearing to be a little emotional, he challenged these leading war mongers to offer themselves to go to the frontline to join the combat against the Cambodians. This remark was ignored by most of the media, including this newspaper, because many might have thought the army chief did not seriously mean what he said. That was probably true as no one appeared to be interested in the remark, even the war mongers within the ranks of the PAD who have, in the past several days, been rattling the sabres and urging the Abhisit government to use force to evict Cambodian troops and civilians from what they claim to be Thai territory. As for the war mongers, they might have thought why risk being killed or maimed on the frontline since there are fine and brave young men already there to perform the duty of protecting their motherland. In all likelihood, this could be the same attitude held by their Cambodian counterparts, especially among the top men within the ruling Cambodian People's Party who see the armed conflict as a good opportunity to rally popular support among the Cambodian population and to use the issue as a pretext to press their case in the international arena, such as the Unesco World Heritage Committee which is due to meet in June to reconsider the Preah Vihear issue. The fact that the brave young warriors have always been the ones to take the brunt of battle and risk their lives by the decisions, right or flawed, made by their commanders while those who make the loudest war cries sit comfortably and safely at home reminds me of the anti-war song of some 30 plus years ago _ "Where have all the flowers gone?" by Pete Seeger. Back to the PAD's demands, of which I have almost lost count. Their latest, which was probably thought out from the start of their protest but only put forward to their supporters for a consensus last night, calls for the resignation of the entire cabinet of the Abhisit government. The reason is that the government has failed in its administration of the country, failed to protect Thai territorial sovereignty and allowed corruption to become rampant. They said they wanted someone who is more decisive to replace Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjjajiva. Like the demands they made earlier which are unreasonable and rejected by the government, the PAD leaders should know well that their fresh demand will be turned down anyway. Although Mr Abhisit has hinted that the House will be dissolved in April to allow for a fresh election, he is not about to call it quits now with the constitutional amendments bill still waiting to be endorsed in the final reading and approval of the mid-year budget still pending being among the key unresolved issues. The PAD leaders have said they do not intend to seek to overthrow the government. So what's next for the PAD now that all their demands have been rejected? Mr Abhisit will not simply walk away because of their threats. What are the PAD's options which are yet to be disclosed? If the PAD really wants a decisive man to take the helm of the government, then they should nominate one who will head the New Politics Party to contest the election with a powerful policy platform regarding the border issue with Cambodia. In fact, there are several candidates within the group who match the required qualifications. Among them are Sondhi Limthongkul, Phipob Thongchai, Chamlong Srimuang and Praphan Koonmee. They should join the contest and let the people decide whether they want a nationalistic strongman to lead the country. ------------------------------- Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post. Writer:

Fighting Continues Along Thai-Cambodian Border Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:33 PM PST 6 Feb 2011 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Fresh clashes broke out on the Thai-Cambodian border on Feb. 6 around a disputed temple, one day after both sides agreed a ceasefire, a Cambodian military commander said. "We are fighting now, they started firing at us first," the source, who declined to be named, said, referring to Thai troops across the border. The latest outbreak of violence, which erupted at 6.35 p.m. local time (11:35 a.m. GMT), followed an agreement to halt fighting between the neighboring nations on Feb. 5. Earlier clashes left at least five people dead in the area around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both sides.

Fighting flares anew on border Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:30 PM PST An injured [Thai] soldier is being treated by medics as he arrives from the border clash spots. Villagers flee their villages on pickup trucks to escape a fresh round of border fighting in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket yesterday. PHOTOS BY PHONGTHAI WATTANAVANITVUT Cambodia says temple damaged by artillery 7/02/2011 Bangkok Post Fresh fighting has erupted along the border with Cambodia in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, ending a brief ceasefire. The first shots were fired yesterday in border areas near tambon Phu Pha Mok in Kantharalak about 1.30pm. The fighting included artillery fire and shots from small firearms and lasted about 15 minutes. No deaths or injuries were reported. A more severe exchange began at 6.30pm and lasted until about 9.40pm, with heavy artillery fire being exchanged between Cambodian and Thai troops centred on Don-aow village in tambon Rung, Kantharalak, near Preah Vihear temple. The Cambodian government said the 11th-century Hindu temple was damaged in the firefight. ''A wing of our Preah Vihear temple has collapsed as a direct result of the Thai artillery bombardment,'' said a military commander in a statement released by Phnom Penh last night. Several communities on Thai soil were also damaged by artillery shells and at least 12 people were injured, including two civilians. Ambulances were seen rushing in and out of the area to take injured people to hospital. Several petrol stations in Kantharalak switched off their lights to avoid being targeted by Cambodia troops. Many residents evacuated Kantharalak, causing traffic congestion in the district. Locals said they feared flames from artillery fire by Thai troops during the night would be visible to Cambodian troops, enabling Cambodian soldiers to pinpoint the Thai positions. A military unit commander stationed near the disputed area told the Bangkok Post Cambodian soldiers launched rocket-propelled grenades and several artillery rounds at Thai military camps at Don-aow pass and at homes in Don-aow and Phum Saron villages. ''They were trying to take over Don-aow pass [which lies in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area near Preah Vihear], an important strategic route,'' the commander said. ''Cambodian forces have fired artillery rounds that have landed close to Thai positions,'' Gen Pol Vey, commander of Cambodia's front-line forces, was quoted by the Associated Press as telling Deum Ampil Radio. He also claimed his troops had secured important strategic locations. Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied the claim and said the Thai side had fired only in retaliation. ''Cambodian troops started firing into Thai territory and we fired back,'' he said. ''We retaliated and gave them what they deserved.''

Thai, Cambodia troops clash again on disputed border Posted: 06 Feb 2011 09:53 AM PST A Cambodian soldier takes position behind a machine gun near Preah Vihear temple along the border with Thailand February 6, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Pheara) Sun Feb 6, 2011 By Jason Szep and Ambika Ahuja BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai and Cambodian soldiers fought with rockets, guns and tanks on Sunday in a third day of clashes over disputed territory surrounding a 900-year-old Hindu temple, the area's worst fighting in years. Tracer bullets cut through the dark and shelling could be heard from a 4.6-sq-km (two-sq-mile) contested area around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on a jungle-clad escarpment claimed by both Southeast Asian neighbors, witnesses said. The heaviest fighting subsided after about three hours but sporadic gunfire was heard into the night. A Kantaralak district hospital in Thailand's Sri Sa Ket province said 10 soldiers and two villagers were wounded. At least 2,500 people fled villages on the Thai side of the border and hundreds of Cambodians were evacuated, as Thailand brought in more troops and armored vehicles, according to witnesses and local authorities in both countries. "At this point, the ceasefire has not been achieved. We are negotiating on all levels but meanwhile we have to respond and defend ourselves," said Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, accusing Cambodian troops of firing first. Fighting on Friday and Saturday in the area killed at least five people, the deadliest since Cambodia's bid in 2008 to list the ruins as a World Heritage Site sparked a series of sporadic and deadly exchanges of fire in the area. In Phnom Penh, pro-government broadcaster Bayon TV said Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was "hungry for war." Although sporadic clashes are not unusual, it is rare for the two sides to fight over consecutive days. The United States has called on both countries to show restraint. The Association of South East Asian Nations, a regional forum of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members, said on Saturday the deteriorating situation was undermining confidence in the region and would affect its economic recovery. THAIS PROTEST Thai army officials said Cambodia used small arms fire. heavy artillery and BM21 multiple rocket-launchers in the area, and that Thailand was responding with similar weapons. On Saturday, Thai and Cambodian troops fought for about 25 minutes in a clash that killed one Thai soldier, before reaching a truce and agreeing not to reinforce troops. That followed an intense two-hour clash in which three Cambodians, including two soldiers, and a Thai villager were killed on Friday, the first fatalities in the militarized area since a Thai soldier was shot dead on January 31, 2010. The fighting is the latest episode in on-again off-again tension between the neighbors. Relations with Cambodia have become a bone of contention in long-running hostility between Thai political factions. Pro-establishment Thai "yellow shirt" activists have accused their main rival, ousted former populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra, of colluding with Cambodia to Thailand's detriment. The yellow shirts are demanding Abhisit take a tougher line against Cambodia. Up to 4,000 gathered outside his offices on Saturday and 1,500 on Sunday calling for his resignation. The Thai Foreign Ministry has accused Cambodia of violating Thai sovereignty and Cambodia has accused Thailand of invasion and filed a complaint with the U.N. Security Council. The temple, known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, sits on land that forms a natural border and has been a source of tension for generations. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962 but the ruling did not determine the ownership of the scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement. (Additional reporting by Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh and Viparat Jantrapapaweth in Bangkok; Editing by Jon Hemming)

"Panhaha Preah Vihear" a Poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea Posted: 06 Feb 2011 09:45 AM PST

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Damage to Preah Vihear temple Posted: 06 Feb 2011 01:08 AM PST (All Photos: CEN)

"Chinese Fighter, Or "Top Gun" Clip?": 50s communist faking technology redux in Youtube era Posted: 06 Feb 2011 12:44 AM PST Video: CCTV Tries to Pass Off 'Top Gun' Clip as Military Drill?. January 28, 2011 The Wall Street Journal Beijing has lately stepped up its campaign against the country's "fake news" scourge, with the General Administration of Press and Publications putting pressure on news organizations to dismiss journalists suspected of doctoring their stories. Ironically, the latest example of alleged news fakery comes from China's own state broadcaster, CCTV. In a development that could further inflame Hollywood's frustrations with unauthorized reproduction of its intellectual property in China, Chinese netizens are accusing CCTV of repurposing footage from the movie "Top Gun" for use in a news story about an air force training exercise. As noted yesterday by the blog Ministry of Tofu, the alleged IPR violation, spotted by Internet user "Liu Yi," took place during a Jan. 23 evening news broadcast. CCTV has removed the clip in question from its website, but a copy of the broadcast posted on Chinese video sites does reveal some striking similarities: CCTV typically posts the full evening news broadcast online, along with individual clips of each story, but a check today of the CCTV website for Jan. 23 revealed only the individual clips. The full broadcast is missing and there is no link to the air force training story. This wouldn't be the first time Chinese media have been caught appropriating fictional material from the U.S. for use in news. In 2002, the popular Beijing Evening News tabloid translated and published as genuine a satirical news article by The Onion about U.S. Congress threatening to leave Washington D.C. unless the city built them a new building with a retractable roof. Five years later, the state-run Xinhua news agency infamously used an x-ray image of Homer Simpson's head to illustrate a story about the discovery of a genetic link to multiple sclerosis. Contacted by China Real Time, a media relations representative in CCTV's foreign affairs office, Yin Fan, said the broadcaster had no immediate comment on the accusations. – Josh Chin. Follow him on Twitter @joshchin

Abhisit's Worst Nightmare Rings True Posted: 06 Feb 2011 12:38 AM PST BANGKOK, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva feared that his former ally, the Yellow Shirts protesters' main aim of rallying in the capital was to oust the government. At that time, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which led the Yellow Shirts protesters, made only three demands: The government must revoke the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Thai-Cambodia border signed in 2000, pull Thailand out of the Unescco World Heritage Committee, and expel Cambodians from the disputed area. "Their intention is not to push for the revocation of the memorandum. Their intention is to oust the present government," Abhisit said on Jan 24. At that time, it was hard to believe the premier's claim on the matter as the Yellow Shirts kept maintaining that they were interested in the three demands only, and would end the ongoing rally held since Jan 25, if the government gave in to their demands. The Yellow Shirts claimed that the MoU had put Thailand at a disadvantage and they are concerned of the decision that the world heritage body was expected to make in June, on the management plan of the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia. The management plan of the temple covered a disputed area with Thailand and Cambodia, claiming sovereignity over 4.6 sq km adjacent to the 11th century temple listed by Unesco as a world heritage site in 2008. The overlapping claim covered an area leading to the temple's entrance and its surrounding although the temple was ruled to be located in Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. The Abhisit administration has refused to bow to the three demands. The prime minister said Cambodia and Thailand would be left with no other option but to use force to settle their border dispute if the MoU was cancelled. Thailand views as important, its membership at the Unesco World Heritage Committee, as it is a platform for the country to voice out its stand on the management plan of the temple. "The World Heritage Committee would be hearing the Cambodian side of the story, only if we pull out of the committee," he said. Thailand protested the management plan for the temple submitted to the committee during its meeting in Brazil last July, as the plan covered the disputed area. The committee subsequently postponed its decision on the management plan to its next meeting in Cairo, in June this year. Yesterday, the Yellow Shirts declared that they would put more pressure for the present government to step down. The declaration was made after a two-day clash which ended yesterday between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at the disputed area which left two people dead and 10 soldiers injured from the Thai side. PAD leader Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang said the government had failed to run the country and resolve the border dispute with Cambodia, and claimed the incident would not have occurred, had the government met their three demands earlier. Abhisit said the MoU helped in bringing a calm situation at the border. "We will intensify our campaign to pressure Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and the Democrat-led government to step down," said Chamlong. Abhisit must have realised when he made the claim two weeks ago, because everytime the Yellow Shirts goes marching in the street, it posed a threat to the downfall of a government as proven in the past three administrations. The Yellow Shirts protesters played some kind of role leading to the ouster of the Thaksin Shinwatra, Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sunaravej governments.

Thai PM: soldiers fire back at Cambodians to protect sovereignty Posted: 06 Feb 2011 12:35 AM PST Villagers are evacuated from the border near the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, some 500 km northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb. 5, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday reached a ceasefire agreement to halt fighting near a disputed temple, but border tensions remained high. (Xinhua/Sovannara) BANGKOK, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said Thai soldiers exchanged firing with Cambodians as they needed to protect the country's sovereignty. "When there was an attack on Thai territory, we needed to protect our sovereignty and returned the firing," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address. "Our counter-attack has entirely aimed at military targets," he said. "We fired back to where it was fired from." The premier said Thailand had no intention to invade any other country first. Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged heavy-gun firing for a few hours on Friday afternoon and for another half an hour on Saturday morning as both countries claim a disputed area near the World Heritage's Preah Vihear temple The clashes inflicted some casualties on both sides. Senior army officers of the two countries met on Saturday and agreed on a truce. The border area remained peaceful on Sunday and some Thai villages have left a shelter provided by local authorities during the clashes to return to their homes. Abhisit reaffirmed that his government could not accept the three demands set by the "yellow-shirt" People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), whose supporters have been rallying near the Government House in Bangkok calling for the scrapping of an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 as the framework for settling the two countries' disputed border areas. The PAD also wants the government to move out Cambodians who are occupying the disputed areas, and Thailand to pull out as a party to the World Heritage Convention. The premier said without the MOU, there would be no mechanism for the two nations to settle their border disputes, while pulling out of the World Heritage Convention will allow Cambodia to move ahead with its plan to administer the disputed areas around the Preah Vihear temple. Abhisit told reporters after his broadcast that he preferred to pursue a settlement with Cambodia bilaterally and refused to accept any intervention by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional body to which both countries are members, or any other multilateral bodies.

Cambodia, Thailand Commanders Pledge to Avoid Further Clash Posted: 06 Feb 2011 12:28 AM PST 2011-02-06 Xinhua Cambodian and Thai military commanders on Sunday agreed to avoid further weapon eruption and send their respective villagers back to live as usual in their homes after two-day evacuations resulting from two military clashes over the border dispute areas near the 11th century temple. The agreements were made following the second meeting, held at the archway to the Preah Vihear Temple, between Cambodian Major General Srey Doek, commander of Military Division 3 and Major General Chawalit Chunprasan, commander of the Suranari Military Camp in a bid to find ways to defuse tension after the deadly clashes twice on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the disputed border areas near the Preah Vihear Temple. "Both sides agreed that there will be no troop mobility -- Thai troops won't try to push into Cambodia and Cambodian troops won't try to push into Thailand over the disputed areas," Srey Doek told reporters after the 80 minute meeting with his Thai counterpart. "If Thai troops still try to move into Cambodian territory, we will use our self-defense rights to protect our territory -- so I believe that whether the future weapon eruption happens or not depends on Thai side," he said. He added that both sides also agreed to reinstate five Cambodian troops and five Thai troops to station together at the Beehive area near the Preah Vihear Temple. During the two clashes on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, more than 2,000 Cambodian villagers and about 50,000 Thai villagers living near the disputed areas have been evacuated to safe shelters, according to Cambodian officers. "Now we agreed to move them back to their homes in order to enable them to earn their living because this time is the harvest season of their agricultural crops," Srey Doek said. During the skirmishes, troops from both sides had exchanged fire of heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery. Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia said on Sunday that following the 2-day armed clashes that occurred near the Preah Vihear Temple resulted in the deaths of 2 Cambodian soldiers, but one of whom was not killed by the bullets from Thai troops, but his own accidental bullet, and also another Cambodian civilian was killed on the first day of the clash. In addition to the deaths, 20 others were injured. For the Thai side, he said 32 were killed in Cambodian territory, but many others injured. The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of the Preah Vihear Temple has been an age-old dispute. Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was enlisted as a 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.

Shaky cease-fire holds between Thailand, Cambodia Posted: 06 Feb 2011 12:07 AM PST Sunday, February 06, 2011 By SOPHENG CHEANG The Associated Press BANGKOK — Thailand's prime minister has called for a peaceful solution to border tension with Cambodia but warned Thai soldiers will defend national sovereignty if attacked. The comments came as a shaky cease-fire appeared to hold. In his weekly Sunday television show, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the "border issues must be solved through nonviolent means." But he added that "if our sovereignty is violated, we have to protect it ultimately." The fiercest border clashes in years erupted Friday and Saturday between troops stationed along the border. Sporadic artillery fire left at least five people dead. Both sides blame each other for fighting, which also caused minor damage to a landmark 11th century temple near a strip of disputed land.

Hindus want disputed Thai-Cambodia Hindu Shiva temple be transferred to UN control [-How about UN control of all of Cambodia?] Posted: 05 Feb 2011 11:35 PM PST Sunday, February 06, 2011 Asian News International/DailyIndia.com Nevada (US), Feb 06: Hindus have asked that landmark Preah Vihear Hindu temple complex, cause of border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, should be turned over to United Nations (UN) control. Notable Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that 11th century Preah Vihar was a world heritage and it was moral duty of the world to keep it preserved and intact for the coming generations. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that this Lord Shiva temple was sacred to the Hindus of the world and reported damage caused by recent military crossfire could be hurtful to the devotees. Rajan Zed pointed out that frequent clashes between Cambodia and Thailand because of long-running feud might further damage the already fragile temple. UN presence would help in protecting the sacred site, development and upkeep of the area, allowing easy access and provision of needed facilities to devotees and other visitors, bringing more economic development and investment in the region, clearing of reported area landmines and saving the military and civilian lives which were usually lost in conflicts. Known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, this remote temple at the border between Thailand and Cambodia, which has reportedly not been clearly demarcated, has been a source of tension for generations. Preah Vihear was said to even predate Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex by about 100 years and its stunning setting made it finest of all the ruins left from the mighty Khmer civilization, Zed added. Rajan Zed further said that world could not let this sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva (situated where Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia touched Sisaket province of eastern Thailand) be further damaged to advance political agendas of some as there appeared to be a no clear solution to settle the long-standing territorial dispute surrounding the temple, which was already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and whose history could be traced to 9th century when the hermitage was founded. Moreover, Temple of Preah Vihear, an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture mostly created by Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II, was a unique architectural complex of a series of sanctuaries and was said to be exceptional for the quality of its architecture and carved stone ornamentation. It was reportedly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara. It was also said to be marking representation of sacred Mount Meru, the abode of the gods, and showing a depiction of Churning of the Ocean, a Hindu scriptural episode, Zed indicated.

Cease-fire deal brings calm Posted: 05 Feb 2011 11:23 PM PST Sun, Feb 06, 2011 The Nation/Asia News Network Thai and Cambodian generals yesterday agreed to a cease-fire as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called for national unity in response to the border conflict with Cambodia. Citing a passage in the national anthem, Abhisit said Thailand will not intimidate neighbouring countries but is always ready to defend its sovereignty. The premier also gave full backing to the military, which clashed with Cambodian troops on Friday and yesterday morning. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, meanwhile, told ambassadors from 16 Asian countries and United Nations Security Council members that the Thai military had responded appropriately in the border conflict. According to Kasit, the Thai military action was in self-defence as the country always exercised reasonable caution on the border issue. Since the border skirmish started on Friday, one Thai soldier - Sergeant Wutthicharin Chartkamdee - and one villager were killed with another 12 soldiers wounded, according to Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd. Sansern said one Cambodian villager was killed while 60-64 Cambodian soldiers died. In addition, Cambodia lost 12 to 13 tanks and armoured vehicles. Abhisit yesterday chaired a top-level meeting of the armed forces, national security and related agencies, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Kasit, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Army chief Prayut Chan-ocha. Also present was Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who represents Thailand in overseas meetings concerning the listing of the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. Abhisit said Thailand was attacked first so it had to respond. The country also viewed the areas around the Preah Vihear Temple as "very sensitive", therefore nothing should be done to increase the tensions between the countries. "That means the World Heritage registration procedures [with regard to areas surrounding the ancient Hindu temple] should now be suspended. We have been warning the World Heritage Committee for quite some time," Abhisit said. Abhisit said the Interior Ministry would also take care of Thais affected by the skirmishes, especially those evacuated from their houses. About 3,000 Thais had to be evacuated from the border area. "This is the time I would like to see Thais united and supporting our military and soldiers who protect our sovereignty. I believe in our national anthem that Thais love peace but are also ready to fight," he said. Army spokesman Sansern said Cambodian troops started yesterday's clashes when they fired rocket-propelled grenades into a Thai army camp near the border shortly after dawn. He said the clash escalated into a 20-minute artillery exchange in which one Thai soldier was killed and four others were wounded. Sansern said yesterday's clashes were followed by talks between Second Army Region commander Lt-Colonel Tawatchai Samutsakorn, who is in charge of Thai troops in the sensitive border area, and his Cambodian counterpart. The cease-fire also included a deal that neither side would increase the level of their troops in the area and that military commanders would ensure that there would be no accidental clashes. According to an official statement from the Thai Foreign Ministry, "On February 4, 2011, at 15.20 hours, Cambodian troops opened fire at a Thai military base at Phu Ma Khua in Thai territory using mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and recoilless rifles. At 16.20 hrs of the same day, Cambodian troops also opened fire from the area of the Temple of Phra Viharn [Preah Vihear] at a Thai military base at Pha Mor I Dang in Thai territory." "In between the two incidents, several artillery shells were also fired by Cambodian troops into Phum Srol village in Si Sa Ket province of Thailand located about 5 kilometres from the border area." "The incidents led to one Thai civilian casualty, six injured military personnel and severe damage to seven civilian houses. Moreover, 3,000 civilians residing along the border area had to be evacuated. "The attack carried out by the Cambodian troops constituted an act of aggression and a clear violation of Thai sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thai troops were left with no choice but to exercise the inherent right of self-defence in accordance with international law. "While Thailand reaffirms its commitment to resolve the boundary dispute through peaceful means, it reserves its legitimate right to defend its sovereignty."

Second talks held over Cambodian, Thai border dispute Posted: 05 Feb 2011 11:15 PM PST 2011-2-6 Xinhua CAMBODIAN and Thai military commanders on this morning (10:40am) began the second round of negotiations over border dispute near a 11th century temple amid military tension. The negotiation, held at the archway to Preah Vihear temple, was attended by Cambodian Major General Srey Doek, commander of Military Division 3 and Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thai Army Region 2 in a bid to find ways to defuse tension after the deadly clashes on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the disputed border areas near Preah Vihear Temple. During the skirmishes, troops from both sides had exchanged fire of heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery. Four-star general Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in charge of Preah Vihear region, said that during the two clashes, Cambodian troops had killed 32 Thai troops instantly on the battle field. While on the Cambodian side, two Cambodians were killed (one soldier and one tourist), and 20 were wounded by shrapnel, he added. Cambodia has already sent an official letter to the United Nations Security Council on Saturday to complain about the invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia on Friday and Saturday. 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.

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