Another Thai soldier killed in latest border clash

3 May, 2011
(MCOT online news)

A Cambodian soldier is seen near the border with Thailand in Samrong in Oddar Meanchey province. A Thai soldier was killed in fresh fighting with Cambodian troops, the army said Tuesday, raising the death toll from the worst border clashes in decades to 18, despite some signs of easing tensions.… Read more » (AFP/File)

Cambodian soldiers take up positions with their weapons in Oddar Meanchey province, near the Cambodia-Thailand border May 1, 2011.… Read more » REUTERS/Stringer (CAMBODIA - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS)

A Thai man sifts through his destroyed house Monday May 2, 2011 after it was shelled during a fighting between troops of Thailand and Cambodia, in Surin province, northeastern Thailand. In the 10 days since fighting began April 22, 16 soldiers and one civilian have died. Some 18 Cambodian and 50 Thai soldiers have also been wounded, military officials said.… Read more » (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

SURIN, May 3 - Fighting erupted Monday night on the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand's northeastern Surin province killing another Thai soldier and wounding three others, according to 2nd Army Region Spokesman Col Prawit Hukaew.

Col Prawit said the fighting started at around 9pm as Cambodian soldiers using M-16 and AK-47 rifles, mortars and hand grenades to attack Thailand. The sound of gunfire died down at about 11pm.

The slain soldier was identified as Pte Tawatchai Boonmung. The latest death brought the death toll among Thai soldiers to eight since the border clashes began last month.

Villagers in the area fled their homes to temporary bunkers, while some returned to the evacuation centres arranged by the Surin provincial authorities

The latest fighting came just hours after Surin and Buri Ram, two Thai provinces bordering Cambodia, closed their evacuation centres for local villagers centres as the residents were returning home as the border situation has eased, with no heavy weapons clashes taking place between Thai and Cambodian troops.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had earlier ordered the army to be on high alert at the Thai-Cambodian border as Cambodia is still using tactics to incite [incidents] and making sporadic attacks with small arms.
He added that the sniping and inciting by Cambodian troops could eventually lead to intensified clashes anytime so that the army must closely monitor situation.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday admitted that there were difficulties in talking with Cambodia to end attack.

Mr Suthep however said he believed Cambodian troops would stop cross-border shooting and that the tense situation could ease after Thai and Cambodian leaders meet.

Thai premier and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen are scheduled to meet at the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit May 7-8 in Jakarta, Indonesia.