2011年4月29日星期五

Thai-Cambodia artillery duels continue for seventh day - the Canadian Press

Thai-Cambodia artillery duels continue for 7 Day Thanyarat Doksone, The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago

DONGRAK PHANOM, Thailand - stimulated artillery fire the Thai-Cambodian border for a seventh day Thursday as a fierce border clashes broke out again between the two neighbours.

Loud explosions can be heard since the dawn of Phanom Dongrak, a village about 12 miles (20 km) from the border, said a reporter from the Associated Press.

In Cambodia, Commander colonel Suos Sothea said that fighting has again been centering around the ruins of two temples stone ruins of the Khmer Empire in Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, who were caught in crossfire since last Friday.

The skirmishes in the disputed territory have killed at least 14 people and forced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides to flee their homes.

The border dispute sparked a nationalist sentiment on both sides, but analysts say domestic politics may also fuel the conflict, including in Thailand, where the military launched a coup in 2006 could be bending his muscles before the elections by June or July.

On Wednesday, Cambodian leader Hun Sen accused the Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva of the lovers of the war and provoke the conflict, but said he still wants to talk peace with him at an upcoming regional meeting in Indonesia.

Cambodia used rocket launchers mounted on truck for the first time Tuesday that Hun Sen said was retaliation for use of Thailand of heavy weapons.

ABHISIT said Meanwhile, that his Government is not prepared to have a meeting of the Ministers of defence of the two countries, unless there is first a ceasefire.

"If they want to speak, the simplest is to stop the fire," Abhisit said Parliament after inviting injured civilian in northeastern Surin province.

The conflict involves small strips of land along the border who were questioned for more than half a century. Violent clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when temple of Preah Vihear 11th century Cambodia was granted status of U.N. World Heritage objections of the Thailand.

Talks with Cambodia apparently became an issue of contention in the Thai Government, with the military by dragging its feet while Abhisit adopts a more conciliatory position.

The Thai army has already hampered a plan for the Indonesian military observers along the border of the station. Hun Sen said Wednesday that Cambodia could welcome on his side of the border independently of any delay by the Thailand.

Indonesia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has offered to provide observers after four days of border fighting in February.

___

Associated Press writer Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, contributed to this report.

Copyright ? 2011 the Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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