At Cambodia’s request, Thai forces yesterday took down a camera and antenna they had installed at the eastern side of Ta Moan temple, which sits on Thailand’s border with Oddar Meanchey province, the deputy commander of Cambodian forces at the base said.

Lieutenant General Chhin Chanpor of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces said Thai paratroopers had installed the antenna several days before, but when they additionally installed a camera that could see into the Cambodian side, the RCAF decided they were abusing the two countries’ cease-fire agreement instated in 2010.  

“If they install the camera, they will see into our side,” Chanpor said.

“We agreed both sides would not do anything in the area, and they agreed to pull down [the antenna and camera] on Wednesday morning.”

Chanpor said Thai troops had installed another camera in the trees on their side, but this did not affect the Cambodian side.

The Thai forces also recently erected blue tents on their side whose purpose the RCAF found suspicious until the Thais explained they simply served as sun protection, Chanpor said.

Exchanges of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai troops in April 2010 left dozens dead and displaced thousands of families.

Cambodia and Thailand have never fully demarcated their 805-kilometre shared border.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Cheang Sokha at [email protected]