Four Thais arrested for illegally crossing inot Cambodian territory

Radio Free Adsia
By Sav Yuth
12th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Khmer border soldiers claimed that they have arrested four Thai nationals for illegally entering Cambodian territory at Choam Ksan district in Preah Vihear province.

Maj. Meas Yoeun, border commander for Choam Ksan district of Preah Vihear province, told RFA on the morning of 12th March that his soldiers had arrested for Thai nationals at Prolean Tatum, Po Veal village, Choam Ksan commune, in the afternoon of 10th March.
He said: "These four Thai nationals live in Obun province, Khanthalak district. They come to hunt in the areas and our border force patrolling in the Prolean Tatum border point saw them and arrested them. We have sent them to the police already."

These Thai nationals were found carrying three home-made guns and three batteries with them.

Mr. Preap Tan, governor of Preah Vihear, said that the four claimed that they are normal Thai citizens but they were found with weapons that are capable of killing so they were sent for questioning waiting for contacts from the Thai side before deciding what to do with them.

RFA is unable to seek comments from the arrested four Thai nationals nor the Thai embassy.

Since the beginning of February, there were reports of many arrests of Thai nationals who were illegally crossing the border into Khmer territories, with a lone Thai soldier arrested on 26th February carrying many 69-type explosives and a map. On 27th February, another lone Thai soldier was arrested near the former mango plantation of Ta Mok in Anlong Veng.

Four Thais arrested for illegally crossing inot Cambodian territory

Radio Free Adsia
By Sav Yuth
12th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Khmer border soldiers claimed that they have arrested four Thai nationals for illegally entering Cambodian territory at Choam Ksan district in Preah Vihear province.

Maj. Meas Yoeun, border commander for Choam Ksan district of Preah Vihear province, told RFA on the morning of 12th March that his soldiers had arrested for Thai nationals at Prolean Tatum, Po Veal village, Choam Ksan commune, in the afternoon of 10th March.
He said: "These four Thai nationals live in Obun province, Khanthalak district. They come to hunt in the areas and our border force patrolling in the Prolean Tatum border point saw them and arrested them. We have sent them to the police already."

These Thai nationals were found carrying three home-made guns and three batteries with them.

Mr. Preap Tan, governor of Preah Vihear, said that the four claimed that they are normal Thai citizens but they were found with weapons that are capable of killing so they were sent for questioning waiting for contacts from the Thai side before deciding what to do with them.

RFA is unable to seek comments from the arrested four Thai nationals nor the Thai embassy.

Since the beginning of February, there were reports of many arrests of Thai nationals who were illegally crossing the border into Khmer territories, with a lone Thai soldier arrested on 26th February carrying many 69-type explosives and a map. On 27th February, another lone Thai soldier was arrested near the former mango plantation of Ta Mok in Anlong Veng.

Unesco Delegation Inspects Border Temple

Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai, center, president of executive council of UNESCO, views Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple site.

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 March 2009

A high-level Unesco delegation traveled to the temple of Preah Vihear Friday morning, in what Cambodian officials called an effort to protect the structure, which has been at the center of a military standoff since July 2008.
The delegation, led by Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai, executive counselor for Unesco, was the first visit of its kind since the temple was recognized as a World Heritage site by the UN cultural organization, sparking protests in Bangkok and at the temple that led to the massing of troops from Thailand and Cambodia on the border.

Yai “inspected the real situation at Preah Vihear temple, over the Heritage site, and the flag of World Heritage,” said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, who accompanied the delegation.

Yai also examined a damaged statue “affected by the attack of the Thai military” and visited the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the temple, Phay Siphan said

Yai did not comment on the military situation nor visit any military bases, he added, but a group of experts would come later in March to evaluate the development plans for the temple.

Thousands of soldiers remain at the border, despite several rounds of talks between the two countries and skirmishes that have left at least four soldiers dead.

Yai returned to Siem Reap Friday afternoon and is scheduled to remain in Cambodia through March 18. On the remainder of his visit, he will tour the temples of Angkor Wat and Koh Ke temple in Preah Vihear province.