Thailand seeks Cambodia's clarification on shooting of helicopters

BANGKOK, December 28 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says that his ministry has already sent a letter to the Cambodian government, seeking Phnom Penh's clarification on last week's crash of a Thai military helicopter on the Thai soil near the common border caused by shootings by the Cambodian side. Surapong insisted that the Thai government, through his ministry, has sent the letter to Phnom Penh since December 23, immediately after the falling of the Thai military chopper in the eastern Trat Province bordering Cambodia. The Thai foreign minister's confirmation followed comments aired by shadow foreign minister Ong-art Klampaiboon, a list MP of the country's now main opposition Democrat Party, over the Thai military helicopter crash, seeking the incumbent Pheu Thai Party-led administration's clear stance against Cambodia on the incident. The Thai foreign minister called on the opposition to, instead, constructively uphold national benefits and improving relations between Thailand and the neighbouring country. (TNA)