Military stays mum over chopper shooting

Dec 19, 2011
Bangkok Post

TRAT : Military officials are saying little about the outcome of talks yesterday over a shooting incident involving a Thai military helicopter near Cambodia.

Captain Kittikhun Naksuk, left, commander of Trat Marine Special Unit, shakes hands with Maj Gen Yun Min, commander of the Koh Kong Command. JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG

Troops from both sides met for more than two hours in Trat's Muang district about the incident, in which Cambodian troops opened fire on Thursday at a Thai helicopter delivering relief supplies near the border.

The Bell 212 helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Ban Khao Lan in Trat province, but no one was hurt.

Those involved in the talks said they had reached a preliminary agreement, but refused to go into detail.

Maj Gen Yun Min, Cambodian commander of the Koh Kong Command, who led the Cambodian side in the talks said they did not discuss who was at fault, nor whether Cambodia would have to pay compensation.

Maj Gen Yun Min said both sides only discussed how they could prevent a repeat of the incident.

Lt Col Jan Seri, a deputy military chief of staff of Koh Kong province who left the meeting room before Maj Gen Yun Min, said an agreement had been reached and both sides proposed not to talk about who was at fault.

Maj Gen Yun Min declined to comment further on the helicopter shooting and the border dispute regarding Area 326, which is close to where the helicopter was shot. The Area 326 dispute could be discussed at the Thai Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, he said.

Captain Kittikhun Naksuk, commander of Trat Marine Special Unit, who led the Thai side in the meeting, said he could not say whether Cambodia would have to apologise or pay compensation. Spare parts for the helicopter were brought in yesterday to replace those damaged in the attack. The helicopter was later flown back to the Tak Sin military camp in Chanthaburi.

Vice Adm Phongsak Phureeroj, commander of the Royal Thai Marine Corps, said Maj Gen Yun Min had conceded during yesterday's meeting that Cambodian troops were at fault for shooting at the helicopter and he apologised for what he described as "over reacting".