5,000 Thais plan to march to Preah Vihear temple

By Khmerization
Source: Kampuchea Thmey

Thai military commanders have informed Cambodian military commanders that 5,000 Thais are planning to march to Preah Vihear temple on the 2nd anniversary of the inscription of the temple as a world heritage site, reports Kampuchea Thmey.

Preah Vihear, which was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, was inscribed by Unesco as a world heritage site on 7th July 2008. A week later, hundreds of Thai troops invaded the surrounding areas and have stayed in the area ever since.

Gen. Chea Dara (pictured), Cambodian Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Operations of the Preah Vihear Command, told Kampuchea Thmey that he had warned the Thai side to contain the protesters on the Thai side of the border, saying that the Cambodian side will not tolerate any protesters who crossed on to the Cambodian side of the border. He said he had ordered all his commanders to do what it takes to defend Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mr. Yim Pim, commander of Division 3 in the area, said, this time, his troops are ready to defend Cambodian territory with weapons, not riot gears. He warned that if Thai protesters crossed into Cambodian territory, armed clashes are unavoidable.

Cambodia plans to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Preah Vihear inscription as a world heritage site tommorrow, the 7th of July. And the Cambodian civil society, notably Cambodian Watchdog Council led by the firebrand Rong Chhun, also plan to hold rallies across the capital on 15th July to condemn the Thai invasion of Preah Vihear.