Thailand, Cambodia War Rhetoric Heats Up
October 14, 2008 by national
Filed under Stories of Interest
Cambodian and Thai military officials said soldiers were on alert and ready to defend themselves as war rhetoric heated up Wednesday between the neighbors in a tense border dispute.
Both sides said they were ready to respond militarily if attacked, a day after Cambodia issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull back its troops from disputed border territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
“We remain on alert and have readied our forces adequately to protect our territory,” said Cambodia’s Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Neang Phat. He declined to say how many Cambodian troops had been deployed in the area.
As of late Tuesday, troops on both sides of the border were only about 100 yards (meters) apart, said Gen. Viboonsak Neepan, the Thai Army commander for the region.
“We have sent more troops to be stationed near the area but only enough to resist (an attack). We will not attack first,” Viboonsak said.
