Another Thai soldier killed

BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) - Thai and Cambodian soldiers engaged in another round of fighting late Sunday night when one more Thai soldier was killed.

The Thai side has not known about Cambodian damages in the latest round of the clash, which started last Friday. So far, the battle has claimed the lives of five Thai soldiers.

Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon said Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed with pistols on Sunday night. The fight was not serious so he has not contacted the Cambodian military leader.

The defense minister assured that all Thai soldiers were ready to protect the nation and people living along the border. They will not overly react. He also said that Thailand and Cambodia had negotiation channels at many levels and Thailand was ready to talk with Cambodia to prevent further clashes.

He wants the meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) to be advanced from June. If Cambodia is not ready to host it, Thailand will do it instead. He has also ordered the 2nd Army chief to organize a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee.

Asked if indecisive actions of Thailand invite Cambodia’s invasion attempts, Gen Prawit said Thailand was decisive but it also had to take careful actions because Thailand was a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). If there is not any other party, Thailand can be fully decisive.

In fact, Gen Prawit said, Thailand wanted all the 10 ASEAN member states to progress strongly together. (TNA)