The Thai delegation (black uniform) and the Khmer delegation (camouflage uniform) went to inspect the lands in dispute. (Koh Santepheap photo By Sovandara).
Koh Santepheap newspaper
27th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization
A tug-of war between Cambodian farmers and Thai farmers regarding rice paddies long the Khmer-Thai borders at O'Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province had occurred firstly on 17th March 2009, when two Thai soldiers and a Thai farmer came to forbid Khmer farmers from toiling the lands they claimed to have cleared and owned since 1993.
On 20th March, a group of 15 Thai soldiers came again to stop Khmer farmers from ploughing the lands in Seila Khmer village, O'Bei Choan commune in O'chrov district of Banteay Meanchey by claiming that the areas belong to Thailand.
On the morning of 26th March 2009, the Cambodian and Thai side had met at the barrack of the Thai army at Palelai town in Sakeo province to resolve the issues.
The Cambodian delegation of 8 military and police officers was led by Col. Say Sovannareth, commander of the region. When the Cambodian delegation arrived, the Thai commander who was supposed to attend the meeting was absent and only his deputy was present. However, to show goodwill the Cambodian delegation agreed to attend the meeting.
The Thai side said that the reason they forbade Khmer farmers from toiling the fields was because they received complaints from four to five Thai families that the Khmer farmers were toiling in their rice paddies. The Thai side also said that the areas belong to Thailand.
But Col. Say Sovannareth told the Thai side that the Khmer farmers had farmed on the lands for more than 10 years and that not one Thai farmer had ever claimed that the lands belong to them. However, the Thai side insisted that the Cambodian military ask the Khmer farmers to suspend their works on the lands concerned.
According to Maj. Douk Savath, spokesman for the delegation, after the meeting both sides went to inspect the lands concerned. While inspecting the lands, the Thai commander pleaded with the Cambodian commander not to report the issue to the higher authority by saying that this issue should be resolved at the lower level.
According to Maj. Douk Savath, at the end of the inspection the Thai commander request for both sides to meet in the next 2-3 days to further discuss the issue.
But Maj. Douk Savath said that since 17th March 2009, Thai soldiers had always come to harrass Khmer farmers to stop them from toiling the fields. He said that on 20th March, 15 Thai soldiers came again and during the verbal exchanges, the Thai commander had looked down on him and had insulted him with derogatory and offensive language. But he said that he follows a policy of patience of the head of the government (PM Hun Sen), therefore he didn't respond, copped the insults and remained silence.
Koh Santepheap newspaper
27th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization
A tug-of war between Cambodian farmers and Thai farmers regarding rice paddies long the Khmer-Thai borders at O'Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province had occurred firstly on 17th March 2009, when two Thai soldiers and a Thai farmer came to forbid Khmer farmers from toiling the lands they claimed to have cleared and owned since 1993.
On 20th March, a group of 15 Thai soldiers came again to stop Khmer farmers from ploughing the lands in Seila Khmer village, O'Bei Choan commune in O'chrov district of Banteay Meanchey by claiming that the areas belong to Thailand.
On the morning of 26th March 2009, the Cambodian and Thai side had met at the barrack of the Thai army at Palelai town in Sakeo province to resolve the issues.
The Cambodian delegation of 8 military and police officers was led by Col. Say Sovannareth, commander of the region. When the Cambodian delegation arrived, the Thai commander who was supposed to attend the meeting was absent and only his deputy was present. However, to show goodwill the Cambodian delegation agreed to attend the meeting.
The Thai side said that the reason they forbade Khmer farmers from toiling the fields was because they received complaints from four to five Thai families that the Khmer farmers were toiling in their rice paddies. The Thai side also said that the areas belong to Thailand.
But Col. Say Sovannareth told the Thai side that the Khmer farmers had farmed on the lands for more than 10 years and that not one Thai farmer had ever claimed that the lands belong to them. However, the Thai side insisted that the Cambodian military ask the Khmer farmers to suspend their works on the lands concerned.
According to Maj. Douk Savath, spokesman for the delegation, after the meeting both sides went to inspect the lands concerned. While inspecting the lands, the Thai commander pleaded with the Cambodian commander not to report the issue to the higher authority by saying that this issue should be resolved at the lower level.
According to Maj. Douk Savath, at the end of the inspection the Thai commander request for both sides to meet in the next 2-3 days to further discuss the issue.
But Maj. Douk Savath said that since 17th March 2009, Thai soldiers had always come to harrass Khmer farmers to stop them from toiling the fields. He said that on 20th March, 15 Thai soldiers came again and during the verbal exchanges, the Thai commander had looked down on him and had insulted him with derogatory and offensive language. But he said that he follows a policy of patience of the head of the government (PM Hun Sen), therefore he didn't respond, copped the insults and remained silence.
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