Tanks sent to Preah Vihear
July 10, 2009
At least that is what Thailand is saying today.
Cambodia is reported to have deployed six tanks and a large number of troops along its border with Thailand near Preah Vihear temple on Friday morning.
It was also reported that Thai troops have built 20 large bunkers to strengthen their positions on the border against any Cambodian troop incursions.
Chief of the Sao Thong Chai Tambon Administrative Organisation in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharaluck district, Boonmee Buatan, said he had warned people to refrain from traveling to border area near the ancient Khmer temple.
He was also in touch with state agencies in case people needed evacuating if there was any fighting.
Thailand has said some pretty unhinged things lately, so there’s little reason to presume that this news is true. For everyone involved, it would be a lot better if it was not.
July 11, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I was recently up at Preah Vihear and can confirm that there were three large tank carriers sitting empty on the road from Tbeng Meanchey to Preah Vihear. If they held tanks and where those tanks are now is a mystery. But the story might be true.
July 13, 2009 at 2:23 pm
In fact, a military source said in DAP last week that they had tanks “behind the line.”