Hun Sen warns of border fight, criticises Kasit

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Hun Sen warns of border fight, criticises Kasit

Published: 1/04/2009 at 07:13 AM
Online news: Local News

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned Thailand it will face resistance if its troops again cross their disputed border.

Hun Sen made the remarks on Tuesday, a week after Cambodian officials said about 100 Thai troops briefly entered contested territory near the ancient Preah Vihear temple where a deadly gun battle broke out last year.

"I tell you first, if you enter [Cambodian territory] again, we will fight," Hun Sen said at a ceremony to open a road named after him in the seaside resort of Sihanoukville.

"The troops at the border have already received the order.

"I am the leader of Cambodia who was elected by the will of the people, not by robbing power," he said, in an apparent reference to Thailand's current political instability.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

Hun Sen also told his audience that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will visit Cambodia on April 18, but blasted Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for allegedly insulting him.

"He insults me - he has called me a gangster," he said of the foreign minister.

"What would you say if I insulted your prime minister and your ancestors? I'm not angry with you, but please use dignified words."

Tensions over the long-disputed territory flared in July last year after the 11th century temple was granted United Nations world heritage status. Soldiers clashed in the area in October, leaving four troops dead.

Subsequent talks between Cambodia and Thailand have not resolved the border dispute.

Thai officials deny that any of their troops crossed the border last week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the ministry had not received an official report on Hun Sen's speech, but said there had been a "misinterpretation" of earlier comments made by Mr Kasit regarding Hun Sen.

"Thailand wants to avoid using force and supports using border mechanisms to solve problems," Mr Tharit said.

"The border mechanism is working well."

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T

Discussion 9 : 02/04/2009 at 08:09 AM9
NO NO No

Mr Kasit and statement
Yes go on PAD stage

why court come in when Red shirt are on stage
where was court at PAD stage
(behind or on the stage )
dont know what thais are doing,Mr Abi shit shoud understand that he should not play with fire ,its not good for kids, His biggest mistake try to bring back taksin ,he should leave taksin alone
as taksin have to leave every thin included his wife(for saveing his money)
Lee

Discussion 8 : 02/04/2009 at 07:07 AM8
I watch TV show about Kasit, his word is really rout. Why Thailand choose this kind of person to be a foerign minister? Does Thai lack of human resource?
jojo

Discussion 7 : 02/04/2009 at 05:47 AM7
A man is humble doesn't mean a man is a sleep and continuing to be more patience any further. Don't forget even Budha cannot humble any further if you invade and burning their house. They will come back and bite you harder then your expect it. Keep in mind American over proud of their Technology 45 years agos and still lost to a group of resistance fighter. If Thailand want to test their ability please do so,but am afriad the Thai military could not hold for the first Thirty days on ground fighting field and might ending up as a killing field No.2.
Wombat

Discussion 6 : 01/04/2009 at 10:20 PM6
Yeah, it's a bit like the kettle calling the Pol Pot red, isn't it?
zorro

Discussion 5 : 01/04/2009 at 06:30 PM5
Words used by Mr. Kasit in Thai is "Supab Burut Jai Nagleng" which should have meant "big-hearted gentlement". Simply a compliment and Hun Sen should have been proud of such compliments if he understood the reeal meaning. The Cambodian representative in Thailand should have checked the meaning before reporting to capital. Such misinterpretation could have led to misunderstanding of the already fragile relations between the two nations.
Manu Alders

Discussion 4 : 01/04/2009 at 03:05 PM4
Isn't it strange that when political tensions flare up in Thailand, border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia do the same. I think the two buddies Thaksin and Hun Sen have a hidden agenda here.
kirikou

Discussion 3 : 01/04/2009 at 10:50 AM3
I just clarified to all of you (Thai and Cambodian people) that during the military clash in October 15, 2008, there were totally 77 deaths, in which 2 cambodian soldiers were deadly shot and 73 thai soldiers were locally dead and two more were passed away in the hospital. Thai government wanted to hide this bad image, by telling to Thai public that there were only two soldier were dead. But, in reality, Thai commander in Pravihan (or Preah Vihea) temple has met Khmer commander to bring back bodies. Now, there were still remained body in jungle.
You see we lost a lot from this clash, why do we make war?
kutjebu

Discussion 2 : 01/04/2009 at 08:55 AM2
He insults me - he has called me a gangster," he said of the foreign minister........and that is a foreign minister?Go back to the PAD stage please.
Someth SEM

Discussion 1 : 01/04/2009 at 08:03 AM1
Although Thailand uses forces, Thai forces will never win at all. It will be a waste of thousand lives!! Let's use the experience from the Southern part of Thailand. Even a small group of separatists can kill Thai armed forces nearly everyday. How can you expect to win in a war with a hardened once guerrilla fighters easily? Think thousand times before you move on with your decision to fight! Don't be so sure with your airplanes - it doest not help much!

Hun Sen warns of border fight, criticises Kasit