Cambodia yesterday expressed regret over an incident last week in which a Thai Navy helicopter was fired upon by its forces, portraying it as a misunderstanding.
Local officials and military |officers from both sides met at |the Administrative Centre Auditorium in Trat's Klong Yai district before noon yesterday. The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour.
Among the participants were Royal Thai Marine Corps commander Vice Admiral Pongsak Puriroj; Trat Governor Benjawan Anpruang; Cambodian Army deputy commander General Keo Samual; the governor of Cambodia's Koh Kong province, Boun Lert; and Pad Supa, an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
On ThursdayDecember 15, the Navy Bell 212 helicopter was struck by machine-gun fire from the Cambodian side, causing damage to its rotor. At the time, the chopper was delivering food to Thai and Cambodian border soldiers based just 50 metres away.
Pongsak told a press conference after yesterday's meeting that the Cambodian side expressed regret for the incident and would take steps to see that it didn't happen again.
The Marine Corps chief said the helicopter was in Thai territory when it was fired upon, but that due to its proximity to the border, there was a misunderstanding over its location. He said the Thai Foreign Ministry would work with its Cambodian counterpart to negotiate compensation for the damage to the helicopter.
"Thailand and Cambodia still have amicable ties. We have to work together to improve trade and tourism," he said.
Keo Samual admitted it was the Cambodian side's fault and expressed regret over what happened. He explained that there had been a misunderstanding and flaws in communication.
At the end of the press conference, Pongsak and Keo Samual shook hands and embraced each other. The meeting participants later lunched together.
Meanwhile, Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday said he did not think the incident would have an adverse impact on border-dispute talks between the two countries. The General Border Committee meeting would focus on a different area of the disputed border, he said.
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