Prawit applauds Army’s defense during border clashes

SI SA KET, 9 February 2011 (NNT) – Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has paid a visit to Thai soldiers at the disputed border while complimenting them on their defensive tactics during the recent clashes with Cambodia.

Accompanied by Permanent Secretary for Defense General Kittipong Keskowit, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Army Chief-of-Staff General Dapong Rattanasuwan and other military top brass, General Prawit visited troops of the Army Region 2 stationed at the Thai-Cambodian border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province.

Before attending the cremation ceremonies of soldiers who were killed in the artillery exchanges, the Minister said he was updated by Commander of the Army Region 2 Lieutenant General Tawatchai Samutsakorn about the overall border situation. He noted that there were no additional policies to be handed down as the officials had carried out their tasks perfectly in the protection of local residents and national sovereignty.

General Prawit confirmed that peace and order had been restored in the area while shrugging off the report of Cambodian soldiers’ transfer of weaponry from Preah Vihear Temple, saying that it was the neighboring country’s business and that Thailand only aims to maintain peace at the border and secure people’s lives and properties.

However, the Minister expressed concerns over the plans of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to travel to the border area to give the troops support and necessities. He wished to see no confrontations between the two rivaling groups as any violence would disrupt local residents’ way of life.

As for Cambodia’s attempt to involve the international community in the border dispute, General Prawit assured that the Ministry had already prepared evidence of the latest clashes, which would be used by the Foreign Ministry to justify Thailand’s innocence.