Cambodian-Thai border started gunfire
- Thread starter SteelBird
- Start date
Spartan95
Junior Member
Death toll is now 7 Cambodian troops and 5 Thai troops:
Personally, with the Thai general election coming, I'm inclined to think that the Thai Army started this latest incident. This will create the reasons for the Army to clamp down on security within Thailand during the election that is expected to take place in a few months time.
Personally, with the Thai general election coming, I'm inclined to think that the Thai Army started this latest incident. This will create the reasons for the Army to clamp down on security within Thailand during the election that is expected to take place in a few months time.
SteelBird
Colonel
Agreed.
Added another reason; Cambodia is much poorer than Thailand, so it doesn't have the capital to ignite any fighting against Thailand. However, I do believe that Thailand, at the moment, doesn't dare or does not have enough excuses to start start a full scale invasion to conquer the area yet.
Added another reason; Cambodia is much poorer than Thailand, so it doesn't have the capital to ignite any fighting against Thailand. However, I do believe that Thailand, at the moment, doesn't dare or does not have enough excuses to start start a full scale invasion to conquer the area yet.
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
They may have no intention of invading but the shelling of Cambodian territory has led to many villages in Cambodia to be evacuated. What I find disturbing is that no country or international organization seems willing to admit that Thailand has clearly been the aggressor in all these engagements, often with little or no real provocation by Cambodia.
Spartan95
Junior Member
I don't think any country is planning to invade any other country here.
IMO, its just the Army's way of reminding all and sundry that they hold the true reins of power, not some civilian politician. And if the Army isn't happy with the way things turn out during/after the election, they will just stage a coup on the pretext of defending national sovereignty in the face of security threat.
As a US Citizen living for the last 2.5 years in Thailand as well as being married to a Cambodian, I am privy to info from both sides of the border.
The Thais need to look way back into their history - if in fact they do this they will know that Cambodia - in the 1300 took in the majority of southeast Asia. The Khmer's were extremely industrious and established a established a strong system of mercantilism and commercial monopolies that would become a pattern for empires in the region.
In fact the Cambodian's, up until the war in Vietnam, were far better off than the Thais. Thailand does not want to recognize that the World Court awarded the temples to Cambodia. They also do not remember how at the end of the Khmer Rouge days, when hundreds of former Khmer Rouge fighters were crossing the border and being harbored by Thailand - individuals that had murdered thousands of innocents, including babies that they swung by their feet into trees. They forget how thousands of Cambodian refuges fled across the border during the Vietnamese occupation only to be driven back years later down steep hillsides and minefields - they don't remember how the Thai military shot men women and children that would not leave.
As far as the military goes - in my opinion, and this comes from retiring after 30 years in the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot -they are "Toy Soldiers". They are great at parading around in their uniforms, shooting innocents, and utilizing superior firepower against a force not as well equipped, but a force that in all out jungle warfare would make short work of them.
As far as their ability as fighter jocks, any US fighter pilot would make short work of them. In other words, it would be "Crash and Burn" in a matter of seconds after initial engagement. The Thais also have to remember that if it had not been for the USA during, and even after Vietnam, Thailand would still be a major rice paddy.
Anyone that tours or spends any time in Cambodia will find the people to be far friendlier than the Thais, more open to foreigners, the majority of them living in the cities speak English, and many speak French and Thai as well - they have to in order to get a job, unlike Thailand where they do not want to speak English.
As well foreigners can buy property outright as well as a business...not so in T'land.
And last but not least, Thailand is still using its politics to decide what company will get the 3G network when Cambodia already has it.
Nuff said.
The Thais need to look way back into their history - if in fact they do this they will know that Cambodia - in the 1300 took in the majority of southeast Asia. The Khmer's were extremely industrious and established a established a strong system of mercantilism and commercial monopolies that would become a pattern for empires in the region.
In fact the Cambodian's, up until the war in Vietnam, were far better off than the Thais. Thailand does not want to recognize that the World Court awarded the temples to Cambodia. They also do not remember how at the end of the Khmer Rouge days, when hundreds of former Khmer Rouge fighters were crossing the border and being harbored by Thailand - individuals that had murdered thousands of innocents, including babies that they swung by their feet into trees. They forget how thousands of Cambodian refuges fled across the border during the Vietnamese occupation only to be driven back years later down steep hillsides and minefields - they don't remember how the Thai military shot men women and children that would not leave.
As far as the military goes - in my opinion, and this comes from retiring after 30 years in the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot -they are "Toy Soldiers". They are great at parading around in their uniforms, shooting innocents, and utilizing superior firepower against a force not as well equipped, but a force that in all out jungle warfare would make short work of them.
As far as their ability as fighter jocks, any US fighter pilot would make short work of them. In other words, it would be "Crash and Burn" in a matter of seconds after initial engagement. The Thais also have to remember that if it had not been for the USA during, and even after Vietnam, Thailand would still be a major rice paddy.
Anyone that tours or spends any time in Cambodia will find the people to be far friendlier than the Thais, more open to foreigners, the majority of them living in the cities speak English, and many speak French and Thai as well - they have to in order to get a job, unlike Thailand where they do not want to speak English.
As well foreigners can buy property outright as well as a business...not so in T'land.
And last but not least, Thailand is still using its politics to decide what company will get the 3G network when Cambodia already has it.
Nuff said.
SteelBird
Colonel
Fastmover1, as I notice, you're a new member. Welcome to SDF!
Thanks for the idea that you share though I don't really understand what you're trying to say in the second paragraph. But if we go on criticizing one side, I'm afraid it will soon turn into country bashing, inflaming war. I understand that in ancient time countries expended themselves by conquering others but I do hope that the Thai will face up to their history. Thai used to be a minority in Yunnan, China. The ancient Cambodian (Angkorian) did offer them a place to live and when they grew strong (and Cambodian became weak), they built their own nation and conquer large part of Cambodian territory. Don't they feel enough? Well, that is history and there is nothing we can do about it. Let by-gone be by-gone. The end of the WWII has demarcated the borders between the two nations. The verdict by International Court in 1963 has awarded the temple to Cambodia and the UNESCO in 2008 has enlisted the temple as world heritage site. What more does the Thai want? Don't they know how to abide to laws? For the sake of a little of political benefit in their own country, they shell thousands of artillery rounds into Cambodian territory and kill and wound hundreds of soldiers and people. For the sake of regional peace and development, I do hope the Thai would think it over.
Thanks for the idea that you share though I don't really understand what you're trying to say in the second paragraph. But if we go on criticizing one side, I'm afraid it will soon turn into country bashing, inflaming war. I understand that in ancient time countries expended themselves by conquering others but I do hope that the Thai will face up to their history. Thai used to be a minority in Yunnan, China. The ancient Cambodian (Angkorian) did offer them a place to live and when they grew strong (and Cambodian became weak), they built their own nation and conquer large part of Cambodian territory. Don't they feel enough? Well, that is history and there is nothing we can do about it. Let by-gone be by-gone. The end of the WWII has demarcated the borders between the two nations. The verdict by International Court in 1963 has awarded the temple to Cambodia and the UNESCO in 2008 has enlisted the temple as world heritage site. What more does the Thai want? Don't they know how to abide to laws? For the sake of a little of political benefit in their own country, they shell thousands of artillery rounds into Cambodian territory and kill and wound hundreds of soldiers and people. For the sake of regional peace and development, I do hope the Thai would think it over.
MwRYum
Major
Don't know how much that they don't want to, but I'd put my money on the "they can't" slot, especially when election is only 2 months away.
And how it'd stop? Outside power unlikely. ASEAN is impotent in such things, major powers more than welcome to earn some more "blood money" out of this, so you can pretty much rule out UN intervention.
The only way would be for Thailand to get more than just a bloody nose from Cambodian Army.
Steelbird, I respect your opinion - however living in BKK, and having gone through the last Red Shirt "uprising", and witnessed how the government, the police, whom even the Taxi drivers refer to as "Mafia", and the Thai military react to situations - without too much aforethought and planning.
The Thai military is very strong, politically speaking that is, and have been known to throw a Coup or two in the past when things did not go their way. The Thai-Cambodia conflict is just a way that the Thai military can flex their muscles using a weaker country as the target.
As I have seen mentioned here regarding NATO and Thailand - Thailand is NOT a member of NATO - President GW Bush made Thailand a Major Non-NATO country in 2003.
There has been talk here the last several months of a new coup after the elections, as well as the great possibility of a major Red Shirt demonstration - this time larger and deadlier than the last. There has also been a good deal of talk that the country is on the verge of a "Civil War", and I see this as highly possible. And I am not alone in my beliefs, many of the "Expats" I know, many of which have lived here for twenty plus years see the same thing.
This is a country that can not even get nor keep its politics straight so how can anyone expect it to remember its roots, or treat those that gave them Life" in the past - Cambodia - a break.
In the end, I believe that Cambodia will surpass Thailand, and it will do so pretty much on its own.
The Thai military is very strong, politically speaking that is, and have been known to throw a Coup or two in the past when things did not go their way. The Thai-Cambodia conflict is just a way that the Thai military can flex their muscles using a weaker country as the target.
As I have seen mentioned here regarding NATO and Thailand - Thailand is NOT a member of NATO - President GW Bush made Thailand a Major Non-NATO country in 2003.
There has been talk here the last several months of a new coup after the elections, as well as the great possibility of a major Red Shirt demonstration - this time larger and deadlier than the last. There has also been a good deal of talk that the country is on the verge of a "Civil War", and I see this as highly possible. And I am not alone in my beliefs, many of the "Expats" I know, many of which have lived here for twenty plus years see the same thing.
This is a country that can not even get nor keep its politics straight so how can anyone expect it to remember its roots, or treat those that gave them Life" in the past - Cambodia - a break.
In the end, I believe that Cambodia will surpass Thailand, and it will do so pretty much on its own.
SteelBird
Colonel
Hopefully you will win and don't forget to buy me a drink.
Wonder why they don't simply turn the country into military ruled country like Myanmar.
You know, Cambodia and Thailand share many things including the border, the lunar calendar, Theravada Buddhism, the new year and many others. They are supposed to be good brothers and neighbors but look what they have done.