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Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has again strongly warned that Cambodia will use force to counter Thai aggression even if Thailand has modern weapons or atomic bombs.

In a public speech in Pursat on 22nd August which was broadcast on national television, Hun Sen said prefers peaceful means to resolve Cambodia's border disputes with Thailand, but strongly warned that if Thai soldiers still encroach, force will be used. He said: "If they want to talk we will talk, if they push in by force, we will hit them because their heads are not made of steel. Please be clear: Khmers do not want to fight with anybody, but if they force their way in (by force) we will hit them. Please don't be surprised: even if they have atomic bombs, we Khmers won't be afraid of them."

Despite his strong-worded warning, Mr. Hun Sen said the border is calm and said "there is no fighting at the border". He said he will recall some troops to help the farmers to planting crops after some areas had been hit by drought.

"I hope there is no fight each other again there," he publicly said. "But in case we have problem at the border, we can mobilize our troops so quickly to border area," he said, adding that "we are moving back our troops of Kompong Thom and Siem Reap provinces to their headquarters from the border", he added.

Cambodian and Thai boer troops had clashed two times, killing seven soldiers from either side, since Thai troops forced their way in to occupy a Cambodian pagoda near the disputed Preah Vihear temple on 15th July, 2008.

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization