Wassana Nanuam on some unlikely friendships on the border
Cambodian monks reside in the makeshift Wat Viharn that Cambodians built in the disputed area in 2001. |
Cambodian military deployed in the overlapping area. |
A Cambodian soldier stands guard in the 4.6-sq-km overlapping area. |
A Cambodian soldier keeps his weapon handy as he takes a nap. |
Thai and Cambodian soldiers are wearing both smiles and weapons while keeping a watch on each other in the disputed area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
The contentious 4.6-square-kilometre zone is in Si Sa Ket province, to the west of the ancient temple that Cambodia has successfully listed as a World Heritage site.
The centre of the dispute is the makeshift Wat Viharn temple that Cambodia built in the disputed area in 2001, despite opposition from Thailand.
Soldiers from both sides remain there on condition that all of them must be unarmed.
Outside the self-proclaimed "temple" but inside the 4.6-sq-km area, about 1,000 armed Thai and Cambodian soldiers have set up their camps.
Beyond the disputed area, into both nations' soil, some 4,000 more soldiers of both sides remain on standby with heavy artillery.
"Thai and Cambodian soldiers staying together in the wat and the area pending demarcation remain on friendly terms," said Chayant Huaisoongnern, deputy commander of the Suranaree Task Force.
Sixty-five Cambodian monks have also stayed at Wat Viharn since Buddhist Lent began on Friday. About half the monks appear to be newly ordained. These "new recruits" are believed by Thailand to be Cambodian soldiers in disguise who have been ordered to protect the temple.
Thai soldiers entered Wat Viharn and the disputed area last Tuesday after three Thai protesters, including a Buddhist monk, set foot on it and were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.
A Cambodian soldier keeps a watchful eye while eating. |
A Thai ranger looks to supplement his rations in the disputed area. |
Armed Cambodian soldiers are a familiar sight at the Preah Vihear temple complex. |
However, Thai soldiers could not reach the Cambodian community inside the disputed area because the establishments are only safely accessible through the Preah Vihear temple, where some 700 Cambodian soldiers are standing guard.
Access to the community is also blocked by landmines and a pond.
"We are not encroaching on Cambodian soil, as we are staying in the area pending demarcation. We will remain here until negotiations are completed," Col Chayant said.
Maj-Gen Kanok Netrakawesana, commander of the sixth infantry division and the Suranaree Task Force, has been staying at Wat Viharn with his subordinates.
"We are here to show that we have the right to be in the disputed area," he said.
"As Cambodian soldiers are here, Thai soldiers must be here too. But do not say we are encroaching on Cambodian soil, because this area belongs to us as well."
The Thai press received the green light from army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to enter the disputed area yesterday as Cambodian authorities had brought local and foreign media there first and told their side of the story.
"Cambodia allowed in reporters so they could tell their side of the story," said Capt Katanyu Ruansamran, company head of the 26th ranger regiment from Buri Ram province.
The Thai and Cambodian soldiers' confrontation line at the disputed area stretches about two kilometres. Some 1,000 soldiers from both countries stand with guns, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades.
But despite the heavy weaponry, both sides are exchanging smiles to relieve tensions.
Niphan Uthaitham, 45, of the 23rd ranger regiment in Si Sa Ket, has been camping next to Cambodian Prom Sokpieb, 55, from Siem Reap.
Ranger Niphan can speak Cambodian, while his counterpart can speak a little Thai, so they have been chatting and exchanging jokes.
"It's not a problem. We are okay together," said Private Prom Sokpieb. "We are brothers [as we are both soldiers], but I am here to protect my territory as ordered."
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Next
