A senior opposition party official, Um Sam An, has described the five-day conflict between Cambodia and Thailand as a pointless loss of Cambodian soldiers’ and civilians’ lives, as well as national assets, if Cambodian leaders fail to take decisive measures to prevent Thai troops from re-entering Ta Moan Thom temple.
In a Facebook post today, Um Sam An warned that Thai forces could end up controlling Ta Moan Thom temple again, as they did before the outbreak of armed clashes with Cambodian troops, if leaders allow them to occupy Cambodian land in exchange for peace, effectively conceding territory.
He said that immediately after the ceasefire, Cambodian soldiers had full control of Ta Moan Thom temple and had pushed Thai troops back by between 700 metres and one kilometre. However, Thai forces have since re-entered the temple, setting up barbed wire and placing sandbags to build bunkers inside the site.
Um Sam An stressed that during active combat, Thai forces could not penetrate Cambodian territory, but after the ceasefire, they entered freely, knowing Cambodian soldiers would not open fire because they were under orders to comply with higher command directives.
On August 10, the commander of Cambodia’s 42nd infantry unit stationed near Ta Moan Thom, Brigadier General Nak Vong, told a group of foreign military attachés that Thai troops continued to violate the ceasefire. He said they had built bunkers on the temple grounds and installed barbed wire within the site.
The commander added that on the night of August 9, Thai forces fired around 100 rubber bullets at Cambodian troops in their bunkers. He said Cambodian soldiers only reported the incident up the chain of command and did not respond to it.
Commenting on the situation, social observer Vorn Chanlot wrote on his Facebook account on the night of August 10, questioning whether the government was trading away national sovereignty for peace with Thailand. He asked why Cambodian forces have repeatedly been at a disadvantage since the ceasefire took effect.
Vorn Chanlot suggested that Thailand’s assertive actions stem from the belief that it holds the upper hand over Cambodia, even without the use of live ammunition, enabling Thai forces to deploy and encircle Cambodian territory at will.
