A HIGH-RANKING Thai military official revealed that Bangkok intends to invest in

electronic sensing devices to control the border with Cambodia.

"Now we

use night vision devices. We watch the border 24 hours a day. We will try to use

electronic sensors on the border to increase our control of it," said a Colonel

during a press trip to the border last week for Phnom Penh-based

journalists.

Thai soldiers on the border are confronted with three major

problems the Colonel explained: "Smuggling in both directions, Cambodian

banditry and booby traps."

"We have no problem controlling logging, but

it is very difficult, especially at night, to stop anyone from crossing the

border. The jungle is too thick and there are too many paths and

roads."

A colonel from Military Command in Bangkok added: "The worst

problem we have is with Royal Government soldiers. Many have crossed the border

to steal. They are not paid by their government. They are not well supplied,

maybe the supplies are going to Pailin."

The colonel added that both

Cambodian sides had planted mines on Thai side and one had killed two men at a

checkpoint.