Two Cambodians Killed in Border Clashes
The Cambodian government warned against "large scale" war with Thailand, following fighting at three sites near Preah Vihear province W
At least two Cambodian soldiers were killed and one injuredin brief fighting with Thai troops around Preah Vihear temple Wednesday, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs said, warning that further violence could lead to "largescale" hostilities between the two countries. Fighting took place at Viel Intry, or Eagle Field, a patchof land near Preah Vihear temple, as well as at the Keo Sikha Svara pagoda andPhnom Trap, the ministry said in a statement. The Keo Sikha Svara pagoda has been at the heart of amonths-long military standoff that followed the inscription at Cambodia'srequest of Preah Vihear temple on a Unesco list of World Heritage sites in July. On Wednesday afternoon, "Thai troops launched heavy armedattacks on the Cambodian troops…in an apparent attempt to force the Cambodiantroops out of their present positions inside Cambodian territory," the Foreign Ministrysaid. The Cambodian government protested "repeated and veryserious armed provocations by Thailand,which could lead to large scale armed hostilities between the two countries"and reserved the right to defend itself, the ministry said. "In spite of this armed clash between the soldiers on bothsides, Cambodia still considersit a clash between soldiers and not a deliberate intent of Thailand,"Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters late Wednesday. No immediate response was available from the Thaigovernment. Both sides said the other fired first, the Associated Pressreported Wednesday. At least six Thais were injured in the fighting, Lt. Col. Phuk Sary, anofficer with military Division 12, said late Wednesday. A Reuters photographer at Preah Vihear temple reportedrocket fire from the Thai side Wednesday afternoon. The foreign ministers for each country failed to reach anagreement on troop withdrawal or border demarcation Monday, following which PrimeMinister Hun Sen announced Thai troops were encroaching on a "life-and-deathbattle zone" at Eagle Field and gave the Thai military one day to pull back. Cambodian officials said Tuesday the Thai soldiers hadwithdrawn from Eagle Field, but Thai officials said they would keep soldiersnearby and were not withdrawing troops. The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday Thailand had "increasedtroops at the border locations with heavy weapons, including artillery andtanks." Preah Vihear temple's July 7 inscription as a WorldHeritage site stirred nationalism on both sides and sparked massive protests inBangkok. Relations between the two countries are generally civil, butnationalism can boil over. In 2003, Cambodian rioters sacked the Thai Embassyin Phnom Penh and spent a night looting andburning Thai businesses, following untrue media reports that a Thai actress hadclaimed the famed temples of Angkor Wat should belong to Thailand. On Wednesday night Cambodian police stood guard over the new Thai Embassy.