By Khmerization
Source: RFA
Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) has on Monday, 27th June, ordered frontline Cambodian troops to be ready to defend Cambodian territory amid reports that Thailand had boosted troop numbers along the Cambodian-Thai border in preparation to launch attacks on Cambodia in July after it had withdrawn from a Unesco convention in Paris in protest against Unesco's decision to submit Cambodia's Preah Vihear management plan for consideration.
In a videoconference with frontline troops based in Preah Vihear, Mr. Hun Sen told the Cambodian troops in front of many Buddhist monks that Cambodian troops must be ready and must defend Cambodia's territorial integrity at all cost should the Thais attacked in July as rumoured. "So, I must order troops to urgently monitor the situations, especially after 12 midnight. They (the Thais) can delay their election through making a war along the Cambodian-Thai border. Please don't hold Cambodia as a hostage of Thai politics. Please hold the election and please respect the election results", he said.
Mr. Hun Sen said that when the Thai delegation walked out of Unesco convention in Paris, they have whispered to ambassadors from a number of countries that Thailand will use force to attack Cambodia. He said later, some of those ambassadors had whispered this threat to Cambodian delegation. However, there is no independent confirmation of this Thai threat.
Spokesman for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, Gen. Chhum Socheat, said Cambodia loves peace, but will use self-defence rights to defend Cambodian territory. "We love peace very much, but we reserve the rights to defend ourselves. This is our legitimate rights", he said.
There are reports that Thailand had boosted up its troop numbers along the border and there are also reports that Cambodia had also reinforced troops to the border in response to Thai reinforcements.
In a videoconference with frontline troops based in Preah Vihear, Mr. Hun Sen told the Cambodian troops in front of many Buddhist monks that Cambodian troops must be ready and must defend Cambodia's territorial integrity at all cost should the Thais attacked in July as rumoured. "So, I must order troops to urgently monitor the situations, especially after 12 midnight. They (the Thais) can delay their election through making a war along the Cambodian-Thai border. Please don't hold Cambodia as a hostage of Thai politics. Please hold the election and please respect the election results", he said.
Mr. Hun Sen said that when the Thai delegation walked out of Unesco convention in Paris, they have whispered to ambassadors from a number of countries that Thailand will use force to attack Cambodia. He said later, some of those ambassadors had whispered this threat to Cambodian delegation. However, there is no independent confirmation of this Thai threat.
Spokesman for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, Gen. Chhum Socheat, said Cambodia loves peace, but will use self-defence rights to defend Cambodian territory. "We love peace very much, but we reserve the rights to defend ourselves. This is our legitimate rights", he said.
There are reports that Thailand had boosted up its troop numbers along the border and there are also reports that Cambodia had also reinforced troops to the border in response to Thai reinforcements.
