Daily News

April 25, 2011; After three days of jungle clashes between Cambodia and Thailand troops

2011-04-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

At the center of the latest dispute are two 12th-Century stone-walled Hindu temples, Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, in a heavily mined jungle area claimed by both sides. Fighting late on Sunday killed a Thai soldier, bringing the official death since Friday to five Thai soldiers and 25 wounded, and six Cambodians killed and 17 wounded. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged "serious dialogue" to produce an "effective and verifiable" ceasefire and halt the grenade and artillery bombardments. Although on the surface the renewed fighting appears to be a dispute over sovereignty, many experts are skeptical and suggest either government may have started the clashes to discredit the other or to appeal to nationalists at home.

VILLAGERS ESCAPE

Cambodia and Thailand battled for more than three hours from late Sunday morning and pounded each other with mortars and artillery, sending hundreds of villagers fleeing or into hiding in makeshift bomb shelters. In Ban Nongkana, 7 km (4 miles) from Ta Moan, villagers scurried for cover, bundling belongings into pickup trucks. Soldiers carried the elderly to safety. The dispute over jurisdiction has persisted since the 1950s, when colonial power France pulled out of Cambodia. Thailand's Foreign Ministry issued a statement late on Sunday accusing Cambodia of firing heavy weapons to pave the way for an attempted invasion by ground troops into Thai territory to "seize and take control" of Ta Moan. It said Thailand responded "proportionally" after its troops and nearby villages came under attack, a similar claim made by Cambodia, which accused Thailand of trying to force it into bilateral talks. The fighting broke a fragile peace deal agreed after 11 troops and scores of civilians were wounded in February 4-7 clashes 150 km (90 miles) away, near Preah Vihear, another temple both sides have long fought for on the battlefield and in the courts.

An international court ruling awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962.

April 23, 2011; Fighting on Thailand and Cambodia border kills 4 soldiers

2011-04-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

A second day of fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops on Saturday killed at least four soldiers, bringing the two-day death toll to 11, the worst bloodshed since the United Nations called for a ceasefire in February.

Thousands of villagers have been evacuated from the disputed border area in thick jungles around the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, about 150 km (93 miles) west of the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple which saw a deadly four-day standoff in February.

Thai army Lieutenant-General Thawatchai Samutsakorn said one Thai soldier had been killed. A local hospital said 13 were wounded.

Suos Sothea, deputy commander of Cambodia's artillery unit in the area, said three Cambodian soldiers had been killed and 11 wounded, bringing the two-day toll of wounded on both sides to at least 43.

The Cambodia Defense Ministry condemned "these repeated deliberate acts of aggression" and called on Thailand to cease "hostilities." It accused Thailand of firing cluster munitions - anti-personnel weapons banned by many countries -- and 75 and 105 mm shells "loaded with poisonous gas."

Thai Foreign affairs Minister Kasit Piromya denied those charges as "groundless."

Sovereignty over the ancient, stone-walled Hindu temples -- Preah Vihear, Ta Moan and Ta Krabey -- and the jungle of the Dangrek Mountains surrounding them has been in dispute since the withdrawal of the French from Cambodia in the 1950s.

Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, perched on a 10-meter (32-ft) escarpment about 12 km (seven miles) apart in land mine-riddled terrain, were built in the 12th century when the Khmer empire stretched across parts of Thailand and Vietnam before shrinking to just present-day Cambodia.

Thailand says the two temples reside in its Surin province according to a 1947 map. Cambodia rejects that and says they are in its Oddar Meanchey province. Before Friday, they jointly patrolled the area largely without incident.

"It came as a big surprise, we weren't ready," said 57-year-old Suwat Thathong, who fled with his wife and three children to a refugee camp in the Thai village of Prasat, about 40 km (25 miles) from the fighting.

A Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary has yet to settle the border issue despite a 10-year survey of the area. Meanwhile, the temples have fallen into disrepair. In 2008, Thailand accused Cambodia of turning them into an army base.

ASEAN CHAIR URGES RESTRAINT

The latest clash began before dawn west of Ta Krabey and lasted about five hours, a day after clashes in the area killed four Thai and three Cambodian soldiers.

Both sides blame each other for starting the fighting, the most severe since three Thais and eight Cambodians were killed and dozens of people wounded over February 4-7 in the bloodiest border clashes in nearly two decades.

As part of a ceasefire deal, Thailand and Cambodia agreed on February 22 to allow unarmed military observers from Indonesia to be posted along their border.

"We are calling for Cambodian leaders to return to the negotiable table," said Kasit, the Thai foreign minister. On Friday, he said the international community had no place in the matter, responding to a letter from Cambodia addressed to ASEAN stating Thailand had staged "a large-scale attack."

Thailand and Cambodia have been locked in a standoff since July 2008, when Preah Vihear was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, which Thailand opposed on the grounds that the land around the temple had never been demarcated.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia 49 years ago but both countries lay claim to a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) patch of land around it.

November 22, 2010; Stampede in Cambodia Kills Hundreds

2010-11-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

More than 300 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in a stampede at an annual water festival in Cambodia that the prime minister on Tuesday called the nation’s worst tragedy since the murderous Khmer Rouge regime more than three decades ago.

July 18, 2010; The United States Returns Cambodian Artefacts

2010-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

The return of artefacts to Cambodia's National Museum. Both countries celebrate diplomatic ties. Cambodia's culture minister spoke of his happiness that the artefacts are back in the country.

May 17, 2010; Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni visits the Royal Palace of Japan

2010-05-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni visits the Japan Royals welcoming ceremony at the Royal Palace in Japan.

May 17, 2010;

2010-05-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Thai clash killed a Red Shirt General, and injured many people. The fighting killed over 30 people during the last few days. The government has rejected United Nations (UN) mediation.

May 16, 2010; Thailand Troops Block Protesters

2010-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thai protesters and the government clash. Foreign embassies remain closed. There is a warning for travelers to not visit Bangkok. Many locals fear that the protest has damaged the countries image. The army is setting up borders to cut supplies against red shirt protesters. The government forces will also try to prevent red shirts from entry.

May 7, 2010; Thailand Reconciliation Plan Unfinished and No Agreements

2010-05-08T00:42:00.001-07:00

The Thailand Reconcilation plan still has no agreements.

May 6, 2010; Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Speaks

2010-05-06T23:55:00.000-07:00

Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says parliament would be dissolved in September and elections would be held in November 14, 2010.

May 3, 2010; Thailand Protesters Not Leaving Main Shopping District

2010-05-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Protesters are not moving out of the main shopping area of Bangkok.

April 28, 2010; Thailand Protesters Clash with Thailand Troops

2010-04-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

Tense Standoff between Thai Troops and Thai Protesters. Troops fired into the air to scare off protesters. Thai troops fire rubber bullets at the Thai protesters.

April 27, 2010; Central Sky Train Station in Bangkok Shut Down

2010-04-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Thailand protesters brought the city's train network to a halt.

April 25, 2010; Thai Red Shirts Switch Color to Avoid Arrests

2010-04-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

The Thailand Red Shirts start to dress in different colors. The Red Shirts are trying to avoid arrests if they dress in different colors. The Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he will try to resolve the problem.

April 16, 2010; Thai Red Shirts Escape Capture from Security Forces

2010-04-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Thai authorities want to crack down on red shirt protesters that are demanding an election. There have been attempts to arrest the red shirt leaders. The red shirts rescued their leaders and gathered at the Bangkok shopping district.

April 10, 2010; Government Thai Troops Clash with Thai Protesters

2010-04-10T22:42:00.000-07:00

Tensions in Bangkok: Anti-government protesters faced off against security forces. There were almost 100 people injured. Troops were given orders to clear red shirts.

April 7, 2010; Thailand Declares a State of Emergency in the Capital

2010-04-08T01:05:00.000-07:00

Thailand declared a state of emergency in the capital on Wednesday after protesters stormed parliament, forcing government officials to flee by helicopter.

March 24, 2010; Thailand Protests Continue

2010-03-25T00:26:00.000-07:00

Thailand's red shirts still want parliament to be dissolved and a new election to begin. The Thaksin Alliance arrives and talk to the crowds. Roads leading to the parliamentary complex have been blocked and barricaded.

The King of Cambodia and Czech Republic's President Vaclav Klaus

2010-03-20T00:34:00.000-07:00

March 20, 2010; Thailand Protesters Refuse Talks and Want Election

2010-03-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

Protesters in Bangkok refuse to hold talks with the government unless parliament is dissolved and an election begins. The red shirts support the former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by a military coup. Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is willing to meet protesters to ease tensions. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is currently staying at a military base for protection.

March 17, 2010; Thai Blood Spilled onto Prime Minister's House

2010-03-18T03:45:00.001-07:00

Thailand's red shirted protesters traveled to the house of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The protesters want to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. The protesters poured blood onto the Prime Minister's house that represents a symbol of bloodshed for democracy. Thailand's deputy prime minister will not bow to the protesters demands.

Statement by a Thai Government official:

"They can not force us like this to have an election. Then the new government may be able to work for only a few days or a few months and then be forced to leave by protests again. This will be non-stop."

The red shirts support the former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by a military coup in 2006.

March 15, 2010; Tensions run high in Thailand

2010-03-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Tensions are high in Bangkok after grenades exploded at a Thai military base wounding two soldiers. It's still unclear who wounded the Thai soldiers.

March 15, 2010; Protests at the Thailand Capital

2010-03-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

Bangkok was a sea of red today as demonstrators continued to rally for elections. Protesters say Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power illegitimately. Although Abhisit say he came to power fairly. The Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva on a live broadcast says:

"The protesters want a Parliament resolution by noon to stop the protest. Everyone in the coalition agrees we probably can not do it."

Thousands of police and soldiers were deployed to control the protesters.

March. 14, 2010; Protesters Continue to Arrive in Bangkok For the Planned Sunday March

2010-03-14T00:18:00.000-08:00

Protesters continue to arrive in Bangkok for the planned Sunday's million-people march. They are supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra. The protesters want to hold a new poll. Leaders of the movement say they will stay in the capital for a few days. About 40,000 soldiers and Thai police forces were mobilized to protect the capital. On Friday, many schools and businesses were closed.

Cambodia's Military (2010)

2010-03-11T22:52:00.001-08:00

March 10, 2010; Thailand Security Measures

2010-03-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

The Thai government imposed tough new security measures. The security forces will allow for an enforcement of curfews. This will allow the restriction of Thai protesters. The protesters are planning to demonstrate.

Thailand Spokesperson, "We are expecting to face a situation that will oppose a threat to internal security, thus the internal security law will be enacted". The Thai government and it's supporters have been criticized to use scare tactics ahead of the upcoming rally.

Last month, Thailand Supreme court confiscated $1.4 billion US dollars from Thaksin Shinawatra after conviction of graft charges in 2008. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by a military coup. Yet outside in some villages, people support Thaksin Shinawatra. As rallies are coming, Thailand will tighten it's security to prevent violence and chaos.