3/03/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
With Cambodian forces in sight on the other side of the border, Thai troops stationed near Preah Vihear temple and on Phu Makhua mountain never have time to relax.
They have been living on a knife-edge since the last round of clashes with Cambodian troops ended on Feb 15.
Despite a gentleman’s agreement to stop firing that was reached between army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan and Maj Gen Hun Manet, the deputy army chief of Cambodia, on Feb 19, gunshots and explosions have still been heard from time to time.
The explosions were believed to be landmines, sometimes detonated by Thai or Cambodian soldiers and sometimes by wild animals.
But the nerve-racking sound of gunshots is heard almost every day – usually the result of Cambodian soldiers firing guns into the sky.
“[Those] Cambodian soldiers lack discipline. Sometimes they are drunk and shoot a gun [up to the sky] to challenge us to return fire, but we have enough discipline to not respond to their game,” said Col Thanasak Mitraphanont, head of the 23rd military ranger special task force.
There are two types of Thai troops deployed at the border. The military rangers are dressed in black uniforms, while regular soldiers wear camouflage uniforms.
“The Cambodian troops appeared more at ease with the black-clad troops stationed in sight than when they saw soldiers in camouflage because they have known each other well through long-time close coordination at the border,” said Col Thanasak.
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