Friday, April 22, 2011

THAI-KHMER BORDER CLASH: Four Thai troopers killed, one seriously wounded

By The Nation

At least four Thai soldiers were killed, one seriously injured in a deadly border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops on Friday morning.

Thai Army deputy spokeswoman Sirijan Ngathong said that eight soldiers sustained injuries and there is no reports of civilians injured.

According to Sirijan, Thai army found two days ago that the Cambodian troops moved heavy weapons to an area near Prasat Ta Kwai in Surin's Panom Dongrak district.

The Thai troops on Friday told the Cambodian side to move the weapons out only to be fired at.

The clash eruptd at about 5am near the Prasat Ta Kwai, the exchange of rifle and artillery fires forced residents in about 20 villages in district to evacuate to safe areas.

The clash ceased about five hours later.

During the clash, some artillery shells fell on the Thai Santisuk village, damaging three houses. Wina Sukprasop, the chief of Tambon Bakdai, said nearly 10,000 residents of 20 villages were evacuated. The villagers were taking shelter at the Phanom Dongrak Witthaya School, the resettlement zone in Prasat district and the Kokklang village.

He said the villagers were frightened by the sounds of gunfire.

A military source said Cambodian troops fired at the Thai side from a hillside.

Source: The Nation

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