“They came and marched forward with intention to destroy Keo Sekha Kiri Svara pagoda”, said the minister by adding “Our soldiers try to stop them but in vain, thus resulting in the outbreak of the fire shots”.
He further said the Cambodian armed forces have been forced to take defensive measures to repel the incoming Thai soldiers.
The fighting erupted at least 500 meters inside areas within Cambodian territorial integrity at Sambok Khmum and Veal Entry and spread to another five locations.
As of 5 p.m local time fighting raged on as Thais try to hold Cambodian territory. The fighting has raged more than two hours after the Thai army started firing heavy weaponry on Cambodian positions, according to military officers at the scene.
The Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers (PRU) said “Thai soldiers stormed into Cambodian territory at Veal Intrei and Cambodian armed forces warned the Thais to stop and pull back.”
“However, the Thai soldiers refused to do so and opened unprovoked fire on Cambodian troops,” said the PRU.
“The Thai actions were to be carried out on the orders of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to destroy Cambodia’s Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda in order to satisfy the demands of the PAD,” said the PRU statement.
The PAD had set a deadline of 5th February for Abihist to secure the release from Cambodia the two imprisoned Thai spies, said the PRU.
“However, their ill intentions failed,” said the PRU.
An Asian diplomat said that “the Thai invasion came after the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) pressured Abhisit-led government to do whatever necessary to free the two convicted, Thai spies currently imprisoned in Cambodia.”
The Thai invasion appears to be well planned and coordinated as the Thai Foreign Minister is currently in Cambodia to attend the Joint Border Commission (JBC) meeting in Siem Reap, said the diplomat.
“This is no accidental exchange of shots facing off each other. This is planned and premeditated to try to apply pressure on Cambodia to free the two imprisoned Thai spies,” said the diplomat.
Thai soldiers rushed into the buffer zone and moved up to 500meters into Cambodian territory at Phnom Trab, Sambok Khmum, Chak Chreng, Veal Intrei, Ta Thao, Ta Sem.
The Thai army is also shelling the Cambodian village, Svay Chrum. Villagers from the Svay Chrum and the Eco-global Museum are being evacuated to a safe zone in the wake of Thai shelling. Thai shells were fired deeper and deeper into Cambodia’s territory and were also landing in close proximity to the UNESCO heritage of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple, putting the centuries-old temple in imminent danger of destruction.
By Ek Madra & Kimseng (contributor)
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