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Sept 9, 2009

Cambodian soldiers based at Ta Moan Thom temple stopped a group of ten Thai soldiers from laying barbed wires along the road leading up to the temple in an attempt to block Cambodian Engineering Unit from constructing the road to the temple.

A Cambodian military officer said the ten Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian side of the borders, laid the barbed wires a long the road but were demanded to remove them by Cambodian soldiers. "We don't know who ordered them to do this, that's why they dare to enter our territory, equipped with barbed wires and hammers in an attempt to close the road to block Cambodian Engineering Unit from constructing the road", he said.

However, he said, after the intervention from Cambodian forces, those Thai soldiers hurriedly removed those barbed wires and left quickly. "They jumped in a military vehicle parked nearby and drove off immediately into Thai territory, leaving one bundle of barbed wires and a hammer on the spot", he added.

Mr. Neak Vong, commander of Cambodian forces based at Ta Moan temple, said as of the afternoon of the 9th September, the Cambodian Engineering Unit is still carrying out its construction works in the area. "We will not allow the Thais to bar us from doing our works in our territory and our Engineering Unit will continue to do its works until completion", he said.

Thai troops forcibly occupied areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple, on 15th July 2008 and on 3rd August other Thai troops had forcibly occupied Ta Moan Thom temple and closed all access from the Cambodian side. The Cambodian soldiers strongly protested and the temple gate was later opened to Cambodian tourists.

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization