Cambodian, Thai troops exchange fire again

Xinhua, April 22, 2011

Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fire again at Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabek temple around 6 a.m. Friday, Cambodian military commander said Friday.

Neak Vong, deputy commander of brigade 42 at Ta Mon Thom temple, said that all kinds of weaponry have been used.

"Now the exchange of fire between Cambodia and Thai troops is continuing," he told Xinhua by telephone, with the sound of explosions also heard over the phone.

The two temples are located in Oddar Meanchey province, about 200 kilometers west of the disputed temple of Preah Vihear.

"All types of heavy weapons, including rockets, machine guns and mortars, and artillery have also been used in the exchange of fire," he said.

"As the fight goes on, we don't have any immediate report of casualties yet," he said while commanding troops in the battle.

The military clash reoccur just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage Site.

While the fighting is still going on, the sources declined to comment on the motive of the clash.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated and the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been an age-old dispute.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, a border conflict arose between Cambodia and Thailand due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple, which triggered a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.