Report from the Thai-Cambodian border

N00128

Report from the Thai-Cambodian border

tha

TH

a-thc--, a-cb---

US, CtY-CGP, Document no. N00128

13 pages

Bangkok, Phikhanet, 1975

Weekly magazine

Sold to the public

print

Prachachat raisapda, May 8, 1975vvol.2, no.77, p.28-40

The Thai Interior Ministry official complained about the illegal arm trade across the border to Thailand, in which Thai officers were involved. Since March 1975, when more Lon Nol soldiers fled to Tha iland, robbery in the Thai border villages increased. The most serious problem the Thai government encountered now was the influx of refugees. Though the government said it was obliged to give asylum to the Cambodians, some politicians disagreed. Sawat Khamprakop said the Cambodians needed not to flee to Thailand because the battle was among Cambodian factions, which would not kill their own peopl e. The Thai government, therefore, should not help the refugees, who could become a long term problem for Thailand. The opposition leader M.R. Seni Promoj shared Prakop's view. The first Khmer Rouge t roop, which officially arrived Poi Pet on April 18, were welcome by Cambodians. They set up bunkers and cannons pointing to Thailand. The Thai army thus prepared itself. A group of Thai border village rs tried to incite the Khmer Rouge border guards by contemptuous language. Some of the Khmer Rouge soldiers understood Thai, but they tried to be calm. The Khmer Rouge troop leader had asked to meet t he Thai authorities in the middle of the bridge across Klong Luk Canal. The Cambodian side asked the Thai not to shoot them first. Prachachat journal suggested that the border situation was not so fri ghtening as reported by some Thai newspapers.

© DC-Cam