Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodian troops at the Thai-Cambodia border on 24 April 2011
April 24, 2011, 10:27 pm
With regard to the repeated unprovoked armed attacks on 24 April 2011 by Cambodian troops on Thai soldiers and civilians, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand wishes to state the following:
1. From 03.00 – 03.10 hrs., the Thai Military Patrol Unit detected a group of Cambodian troops advancing into the area of Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples close to the Thai front line in Surin Province. Without warning, the Cambodian troops opened fire with small arms prompting the Thai troops to return fire with rifles.
2. At 09.45 hrs., the Cambodian troops again opened fire into the area of Ta Muen Temples in the Thai territory, this time using heavy weapons, including mortars, artilleries, and tank cannons. The Thai troops responded initially with small arms and later were forced to react proportionately with mortars and artilleries, while the Cambodian troops continued to fire at the Thai troops along the Thai defensive line.
3. At 11.45 hrs., the Cambodian troops tried to invade the Thai territory by mobilizing its troops into the Ta Muen Temples supported by firing heavy weapons, with an aim to seize and take control over the Ta Muen Temples. The Thai troops repulsed the advance of the Cambodian troops. The exchange of fires stopped at 12.45 hrs.
4. At 15.25 hrs., the Cambodian troops resumed firing repeatedly using heavy weapons including mortars and artilleries into the area of Ta Muen Temples. The Thai troops responded by firing mortars and the Cambodian troops started firing artilleries at the Thai side. The exchange of fires continued until 17.00 hrs.
5. Since 22 April 2011, the Cambodian troops have moved two battalions of troops from a military base at Phra Viharn Temple into the area near Ta Muen Temples. It has been further reported on 24 April 2011 that the Cambodian military at all levels were instructed to completely reject any direct contact or talk with the Thai counterpart.
6. The Ministry steadfastly maintains that the Thai side has never opened fire first and has always exercised utmost restraint. Nevertheless, the Cambodian acts of aggression left Thailand with no choice but to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by using proportionate means with necessity, under international law, and strictly directed at only military targets.
7. Thailand, once again, protests in the strongest terms the repeated unprovoked armed attacks of Cambodia which are in clear violation of international law and Charter of United Nations. Thailand, therefore, strongly condemns all the aforementioned Cambodia’s acts of aggression, and calls on the Cambodian side to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue under existing bilateral mechanisms.
8. Thailand has instructed all of its diplomatic missions to inform their host governments.
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=27152
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