Evacuated villagers from Preah Vihear region face shortage

Refugees evacuated from the fighting zone are asking for help because their homes were all destroyed from the clash (Photo: Uy Sophea, RFA)

06 April 2009
By Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The short clash between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on 03 April led to more than 300 Cambodian war refugee families.

More than 300 Cambodian families living in the village at the foothill of Preah Vihear temple and who are now war refugees from the fighting zone, were temporarily evacuated to Sra’Em village, Kantuot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province. These families now face shortage of food, housing, clothing, and household cooking utensils because more than 250 of their homes were burnt down during the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops.

On Monday 06 April, a group of villagers who are now living in makeshift tents and in a market building said that their belongings and household utensils were all burnt down because of Thai troops rocket shelling.

Siv On, an elder man sitting underneath a tarp sheet, said that his home was burnt down, and his loss amounts to more than $10,000. “I lost my house and my belongings. The loss amounts to more than $10,000. We could not get anything out, we could only save ourselves and we thought that nothing will happen to our homes.”

Another villager said with tears streaking down her cheeks that her house was completely destroyed by the fire, and when she escaped from the fighting zone, she couldn’t get anything out at all, she was only able to escape with her children and the clothes on their back only: “I lost everything, I don’t even have a short for my children. I came to live here 10 years ago with my husband. They [Thai soldiers] fired [rockets] into houses in the market. I was lucky, if I did not run the trench on time, I would be filled with holes [from rocket shrapnels]. I am very hurt by the Siems [Thais], I don’t know who to tell this to, I can only beg Samdach Dekcho to help the villagers so they can continue their businesses.”

According to local authority, thousands of refugee people are facing difficulties, such as shortage of food, household utensils, clothes, lodging and they are also facing health problems.

On Monday morning, Sor Thavary, the deputy provincial governor for Preah Vihear, said the evacuated villagers lack everything, and he is calling on all humanitarian organizations to help provide for the villagers.

Sor Thavary said: “They lost everything in the fire. Any donations are very appreciated by them, if they can get tents that would be best.”

The authority indicated that the department of social affairs and the Preah Vihear Red Cross have distributed food, mosquito nets and plastic tents in an emergency, but the supplies cannot meet the needs of these war refugees yet.

These war refugees were evacuated by Cambodian troops to safer zones in the evening of 03 April, following the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops near Veal Entry, located close to the Preah Vihear temple.

Evacuated villagers from Preah Vihear region face shortage

Refugees evacuated from the fighting zone are asking for help because their homes were all destroyed from the clash (Photo: Uy Sophea, RFA)

06 April 2009
By Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The short clash between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on 03 April led to more than 300 Cambodian war refugee families.

More than 300 Cambodian families living in the village at the foothill of Preah Vihear temple and who are now war refugees from the fighting zone, were temporarily evacuated to Sra’Em village, Kantuot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province. These families now face shortage of food, housing, clothing, and household cooking utensils because more than 250 of their homes were burnt down during the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops.

On Monday 06 April, a group of villagers who are now living in makeshift tents and in a market building said that their belongings and household utensils were all burnt down because of Thai troops rocket shelling.

Siv On, an elder man sitting underneath a tarp sheet, said that his home was burnt down, and his loss amounts to more than $10,000. “I lost my house and my belongings. The loss amounts to more than $10,000. We could not get anything out, we could only save ourselves and we thought that nothing will happen to our homes.”

Another villager said with tears streaking down her cheeks that her house was completely destroyed by the fire, and when she escaped from the fighting zone, she couldn’t get anything out at all, she was only able to escape with her children and the clothes on their back only: “I lost everything, I don’t even have a short for my children. I came to live here 10 years ago with my husband. They [Thai soldiers] fired [rockets] into houses in the market. I was lucky, if I did not run the trench on time, I would be filled with holes [from rocket shrapnels]. I am very hurt by the Siems [Thais], I don’t know who to tell this to, I can only beg Samdach Dekcho to help the villagers so they can continue their businesses.”

According to local authority, thousands of refugee people are facing difficulties, such as shortage of food, household utensils, clothes, lodging and they are also facing health problems.

On Monday morning, Sor Thavary, the deputy provincial governor for Preah Vihear, said the evacuated villagers lack everything, and he is calling on all humanitarian organizations to help provide for the villagers.

Sor Thavary said: “They lost everything in the fire. Any donations are very appreciated by them, if they can get tents that would be best.”

The authority indicated that the department of social affairs and the Preah Vihear Red Cross have distributed food, mosquito nets and plastic tents in an emergency, but the supplies cannot meet the needs of these war refugees yet.

These war refugees were evacuated by Cambodian troops to safer zones in the evening of 03 April, following the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops near Veal Entry, located close to the Preah Vihear temple.

Evacuated villagers from Preah Vihear region face shortage

Refugees evacuated from the fighting zone are asking for help because their homes were all destroyed from the clash (Photo: Uy Sophea, RFA)

06 April 2009
By Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The short clash between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on 03 April led to more than 300 Cambodian war refugee families.

More than 300 Cambodian families living in the village at the foothill of Preah Vihear temple and who are now war refugees from the fighting zone, were temporarily evacuated to Sra’Em village, Kantuot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province. These families now face shortage of food, housing, clothing, and household cooking utensils because more than 250 of their homes were burnt down during the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops.

On Monday 06 April, a group of villagers who are now living in makeshift tents and in a market building said that their belongings and household utensils were all burnt down because of Thai troops rocket shelling.

Siv On, an elder man sitting underneath a tarp sheet, said that his home was burnt down, and his loss amounts to more than $10,000. “I lost my house and my belongings. The loss amounts to more than $10,000. We could not get anything out, we could only save ourselves and we thought that nothing will happen to our homes.”

Another villager said with tears streaking down her cheeks that her house was completely destroyed by the fire, and when she escaped from the fighting zone, she couldn’t get anything out at all, she was only able to escape with her children and the clothes on their back only: “I lost everything, I don’t even have a short for my children. I came to live here 10 years ago with my husband. They [Thai soldiers] fired [rockets] into houses in the market. I was lucky, if I did not run the trench on time, I would be filled with holes [from rocket shrapnels]. I am very hurt by the Siems [Thais], I don’t know who to tell this to, I can only beg Samdach Dekcho to help the villagers so they can continue their businesses.”

According to local authority, thousands of refugee people are facing difficulties, such as shortage of food, household utensils, clothes, lodging and they are also facing health problems.

On Monday morning, Sor Thavary, the deputy provincial governor for Preah Vihear, said the evacuated villagers lack everything, and he is calling on all humanitarian organizations to help provide for the villagers.

Sor Thavary said: “They lost everything in the fire. Any donations are very appreciated by them, if they can get tents that would be best.”

The authority indicated that the department of social affairs and the Preah Vihear Red Cross have distributed food, mosquito nets and plastic tents in an emergency, but the supplies cannot meet the needs of these war refugees yet.

These war refugees were evacuated by Cambodian troops to safer zones in the evening of 03 April, following the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops near Veal Entry, located close to the Preah Vihear temple.

Evacuated villagers from Preah Vihear region face shortage

Refugees evacuated from the fighting zone are asking for help because their homes were all destroyed from the clash (Photo: Uy Sophea, RFA)

06 April 2009
By Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The short clash between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on 03 April led to more than 300 Cambodian war refugee families.

More than 300 Cambodian families living in the village at the foothill of Preah Vihear temple and who are now war refugees from the fighting zone, were temporarily evacuated to Sra’Em village, Kantuot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province. These families now face shortage of food, housing, clothing, and household cooking utensils because more than 250 of their homes were burnt down during the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops.

On Monday 06 April, a group of villagers who are now living in makeshift tents and in a market building said that their belongings and household utensils were all burnt down because of Thai troops rocket shelling.

Siv On, an elder man sitting underneath a tarp sheet, said that his home was burnt down, and his loss amounts to more than $10,000. “I lost my house and my belongings. The loss amounts to more than $10,000. We could not get anything out, we could only save ourselves and we thought that nothing will happen to our homes.”

Another villager said with tears streaking down her cheeks that her house was completely destroyed by the fire, and when she escaped from the fighting zone, she couldn’t get anything out at all, she was only able to escape with her children and the clothes on their back only: “I lost everything, I don’t even have a short for my children. I came to live here 10 years ago with my husband. They [Thai soldiers] fired [rockets] into houses in the market. I was lucky, if I did not run the trench on time, I would be filled with holes [from rocket shrapnels]. I am very hurt by the Siems [Thais], I don’t know who to tell this to, I can only beg Samdach Dekcho to help the villagers so they can continue their businesses.”

According to local authority, thousands of refugee people are facing difficulties, such as shortage of food, household utensils, clothes, lodging and they are also facing health problems.

On Monday morning, Sor Thavary, the deputy provincial governor for Preah Vihear, said the evacuated villagers lack everything, and he is calling on all humanitarian organizations to help provide for the villagers.

Sor Thavary said: “They lost everything in the fire. Any donations are very appreciated by them, if they can get tents that would be best.”

The authority indicated that the department of social affairs and the Preah Vihear Red Cross have distributed food, mosquito nets and plastic tents in an emergency, but the supplies cannot meet the needs of these war refugees yet.

These war refugees were evacuated by Cambodian troops to safer zones in the evening of 03 April, following the clash between Cambodian and Thai troops near Veal Entry, located close to the Preah Vihear temple.

[Thai] Army won't send more troops to temple area [... or so it claims]

Forces will be rotated, tensions ease after talks

7/04/2009
BANGKOK POST AND AFP

The army will not be deploying more troops in the disputed border area in and around the Preah Vihear temple despite the clashes last week with Cambodia, Second Army commander Wiboonsak Neepal says.

Lt Gen Wiboonsak yesterday said instead of pouring in reinforcements, the army would rotate its forces to bring in fresh legs.

The rotation is necessary if morale and confidence is to be boosted in the area which was the scene of last week's clashes.

Tensions look to have eased after talks on Sunday between Suranaree Task Force commander Kanok Netrakawesan and Maj Gen Srey Doek, head of Cambodia's military division 3.

The two generals arm wrestled after their talks to ease tensions between the two armies.

Maj Gen Kanok said the two countries had no plan to withdraw their troops from the area, so the possibility of future confrontation could never be ruled out.

Nothing could be taken for granted no matter how disciplined the soldiers, he said.

Two Thai troops and two Cambodians were killed in the fighting on Friday. Another 10 Thai troops were injured, one seriously. The clashes took place in a 4.6 sq km area claimed by the two sides.

Thailand claims the area is in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, while Cambodia insists it is in Preah Vihear province.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh aimed at preventing more clashes at the general border committee meeting in Siem Reap on April 27-28, an army source said.

The two neighbours have also started joint boundary commission talks in Phnom Penh aimed at resolving competing claims surrounding the Preah Vihear temple.

"The incidents that have happened show that the border issue needs to be resolved very quickly in order to avoid more incidents," Var Kim Hong told reporters before the talks.

Var Kim Hong co-chairs the committee with Thailand's Vasin Teravechyan.

The last meeting of the JBC ended in February with the two sides failing to reach an agreement on any of the key points, including the spelling of Preah Vihear in official documents.

Cambodia insists on using Preah Vihear while Thailand wants to refer to it as both Preah Vihear and Phra Viharn.

The World Court in 1962 gave ownership of the ruins of the Hindu temple to Cambodia, but tensions flared last July when the cliff-top structure was awarded United Nations World Heritage status.

[Thai] Army won't send more troops to temple area [... or so it claims]

Forces will be rotated, tensions ease after talks

7/04/2009
BANGKOK POST AND AFP

The army will not be deploying more troops in the disputed border area in and around the Preah Vihear temple despite the clashes last week with Cambodia, Second Army commander Wiboonsak Neepal says.

Lt Gen Wiboonsak yesterday said instead of pouring in reinforcements, the army would rotate its forces to bring in fresh legs.

The rotation is necessary if morale and confidence is to be boosted in the area which was the scene of last week's clashes.

Tensions look to have eased after talks on Sunday between Suranaree Task Force commander Kanok Netrakawesan and Maj Gen Srey Doek, head of Cambodia's military division 3.

The two generals arm wrestled after their talks to ease tensions between the two armies.

Maj Gen Kanok said the two countries had no plan to withdraw their troops from the area, so the possibility of future confrontation could never be ruled out.

Nothing could be taken for granted no matter how disciplined the soldiers, he said.

Two Thai troops and two Cambodians were killed in the fighting on Friday. Another 10 Thai troops were injured, one seriously. The clashes took place in a 4.6 sq km area claimed by the two sides.

Thailand claims the area is in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, while Cambodia insists it is in Preah Vihear province.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh aimed at preventing more clashes at the general border committee meeting in Siem Reap on April 27-28, an army source said.

The two neighbours have also started joint boundary commission talks in Phnom Penh aimed at resolving competing claims surrounding the Preah Vihear temple.

"The incidents that have happened show that the border issue needs to be resolved very quickly in order to avoid more incidents," Var Kim Hong told reporters before the talks.

Var Kim Hong co-chairs the committee with Thailand's Vasin Teravechyan.

The last meeting of the JBC ended in February with the two sides failing to reach an agreement on any of the key points, including the spelling of Preah Vihear in official documents.

Cambodia insists on using Preah Vihear while Thailand wants to refer to it as both Preah Vihear and Phra Viharn.

The World Court in 1962 gave ownership of the ruins of the Hindu temple to Cambodia, but tensions flared last July when the cliff-top structure was awarded United Nations World Heritage status.

[Thai] Army won't send more troops to temple area [... or so it claims]

Forces will be rotated, tensions ease after talks

7/04/2009
BANGKOK POST AND AFP

The army will not be deploying more troops in the disputed border area in and around the Preah Vihear temple despite the clashes last week with Cambodia, Second Army commander Wiboonsak Neepal says.

Lt Gen Wiboonsak yesterday said instead of pouring in reinforcements, the army would rotate its forces to bring in fresh legs.

The rotation is necessary if morale and confidence is to be boosted in the area which was the scene of last week's clashes.

Tensions look to have eased after talks on Sunday between Suranaree Task Force commander Kanok Netrakawesan and Maj Gen Srey Doek, head of Cambodia's military division 3.

The two generals arm wrestled after their talks to ease tensions between the two armies.

Maj Gen Kanok said the two countries had no plan to withdraw their troops from the area, so the possibility of future confrontation could never be ruled out.

Nothing could be taken for granted no matter how disciplined the soldiers, he said.

Two Thai troops and two Cambodians were killed in the fighting on Friday. Another 10 Thai troops were injured, one seriously. The clashes took place in a 4.6 sq km area claimed by the two sides.

Thailand claims the area is in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, while Cambodia insists it is in Preah Vihear province.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh aimed at preventing more clashes at the general border committee meeting in Siem Reap on April 27-28, an army source said.

The two neighbours have also started joint boundary commission talks in Phnom Penh aimed at resolving competing claims surrounding the Preah Vihear temple.

"The incidents that have happened show that the border issue needs to be resolved very quickly in order to avoid more incidents," Var Kim Hong told reporters before the talks.

Var Kim Hong co-chairs the committee with Thailand's Vasin Teravechyan.

The last meeting of the JBC ended in February with the two sides failing to reach an agreement on any of the key points, including the spelling of Preah Vihear in official documents.

Cambodia insists on using Preah Vihear while Thailand wants to refer to it as both Preah Vihear and Phra Viharn.

The World Court in 1962 gave ownership of the ruins of the Hindu temple to Cambodia, but tensions flared last July when the cliff-top structure was awarded United Nations World Heritage status.