SITUATION CALM OCTOBER 16 AROUND DISPUTED PREAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 003120

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS
NSC FOR LAN TRANH
PACOM PASS AMB. JOHN, A/S HILL, DAS MARCIEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH CB
SUBJECT: SITUATION CALM OCTOBER 16 AROUND DISPUTED PREAH
VIHEAR AREA, THAI SHOW OFF ALLEGED CAMBODIAN LANDMINE

REF: BANGKOK 3094 (AND PREVIOUS)

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
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1. (C) The situation in the Preah Vihear temple area appeared
calm October 16 as the two sides reportedly agreed to conduct
joint patrols in the disputed area. The Thai MFA asserted in
a briefing for the diplomatic corps that Cambodia had
recently placed mines in the disputed area and presented what
it said was one such mine for inspection. The MFA also
expressed frustration at what it claimed was a lack of
patience on the part of the Cambodian government in trying to
resolve the border conflict; a Royal Thai Armed Forces
General expressed similar confusion over why Hun Sen would
have initiated armed conflict at this time.


2. (C) Comment: We are pleased that the two sides have
reportedly been able to agree to joint patrols that could be
a useful confidence building measure. However, the buildup
of military assets in the vicinity of the temple and
continued rhetoric by both sides create an environment that
could lead to further conflict. With the Thai Parliament
scheduling the mid-August Thai-Cambodian provisional
agreement for consideration October 22, we hope that the two
sides will refrain in the interim from escalating tensions.
We will continue to urge restraint and consultation on the
Thai side. End Summary and Comment.

SITUATION ON THE BORDER CALM
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3. (C) As of late October 16 the situation at Preah Vihear
appeared calm, with no reports of further clashes. DAO
observers who traveled October 16 to vicinity near Preah
Vihear reported the situation quiet. Thai artillery were
seen in the vicinity ,as well as heavy transport vehicles
that had likely been used to transport tanks to the area.
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) had reportedly recently deployed at
least one artillery (likely 155 millimeter guns) and one tank
battalion to augment Thai troops in the vicinity of the
disputed area.


4. (C) Colonel Werachon Sukondhapatipak, Director of the
Foreign Liaison Division at the RTA Headquarters, told us
early October 16 that the situation on the border was calm.
The RTA retained forces in the disputed area and was ready to
reinforce those troops. Werachon made a point of reiterating
the RTG's intention to defend Thai territorial rights.


5. (SBU) Media reports late October 16 said the Thai and
Cambodian militaries had agreed to conduct joint military
patrols in the disputed territory. The Royal Thai Armed
Forces Headquarters (RTARF) told Defense Attaches during a
late October 16 briefing that Thai and Cambodian military
representatives would meet October 21 under the auspices of
the Regional Border Committee. The RTARF confirmed that
local commanders from the two sides had met earlier October
16 but did not have details on the results of the meeting.
The RTARF also reiterated Thai Army Commander General
Anupong's public statements that Thailand would not initiate
hostilities in the disputed area and would only respond with
force commensurate to that displayed by Cambodia. The RTARF
said approximately 600 Thai troops were located approximately
10 kilometers from the temple and stood ready to support
paramilitary troops located in the disputed zone. The RTARF
claimed that 1,600 Cambodian troops were located in Cambodian
territory below the temple.


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THAILAND CLAIMS STRONG EVIDENCE OF RECENTLY-PLACED MINES
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6. (SBU) During a October 16 briefing for the diplomatic
corps led by MFA Director-General Virachai Plasai, the MFA
claimed that "it was a fact" that Cambodia had recently
placed mines in the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear
temple. Evidence to this effect included a mine that
appeared to be new, fresh soil found over the mines, the
strength of the October 6 explosions that injured Thai
troops, and the tightness of the detonator found in the mine
that had been removed from the disputed area.


7. (SBU) The MFA presented for inspection by the diplomatic
corps a mine that it claimed had been removed from the
disputed area October 12 after two previously marked mines
had disappeared from the area. The MFA said the mine was a
Russian-made PMN 2 landmine. The mine appeared (by the
inspection of Embassy representatives who attended the
briefing) to be a new mine, not one that had been weathered
by being located in the ground for 20 to 30 years since the
Khmer Rouge era. The MFA also claimed that the mines found
in recent days were placed on well-worn pathways used by Thai
troops to patrol the disputed area and which had been used
regularly by local villagers prior to the outbreak of
tensions over the Preah Vihear temple.

CONFLICTING REPORTS ON THAI CAPTIVES
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8. (U) Local newspapers October 16 featured the October 15
border clash incident and reported that 7 Thai soldiers had
been wounded. Media reports said the RTA claimed that 2
Cambodian soldiers were killed and 2 were injured during the
fighting. The media also reported that Cambodia claimed to
have taken 10 Thai paramilitary rangers captive. Despite
official Thai denials to the contrary, photos in the local
media and in the IHT appeared to confirm Cambodian claims
that had they taken Thai troops captive. One photo showed a
Cambodian soldier talking on a radio while 4 Thai
paramilitary rangers sat unarmed nearby in the traditional
Ranger uniform of black pants and shirt. A caption for
another photo claimed to show an armed Cambodian soldier
standing watch over several Thai paramilitary soldiers. MFA
Director-General Virachai stressed during the October 16
briefing to the diplomatic corps that the pictures that the
media had published earlier in the day had been taken some
time earlier when the two sides were mingling amicably.


9. (C) RTA Colonel Werachon disputed the reports of Thai
captives and said that the RTA had accounted for all military
and paramilitary troops in the area. The Cambodian claim of
Thai captives was "propaganda." Werachon confirmed the
reports of Thai injuries but said none was life threatening.
Most of the wounds were from small arms fire and from
explosions of rocket-propelled grenades. Werachon said the
RTA had evidence that 3 Cambodian soldiers had been wounded.

RTG ASKS "WHY ESCALATE TENSIONS NOW?"
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10. (U) During the October 16 briefing, MFA Director-General
Virachai repeatedly expressed RTG frustration that the
Cambodian government had not been patient in trying to
resolve the dispute. Virachai said that the Thai
constitution required Parliamentary approval of the
provisional agreement that had been agreed to by then-Thai
Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and Cambodian Foreign Minister
Hor Namhong in mid-August. The Thai Parliament would
consider the agreement October 22, Virachai said. Thailand
was committed to addressing the issue bilaterally and
peacefully and would display the patience necessary to come

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to resolve the issue.


11. (C) In a late October 15 conversation with a DAO
representative, Lieutenant General Surapong Suwana-adth,
Director of Joint Intelligence at the Royal Thai Armed Forces
Headquarters, expressed surprise at the pace of the conflict.
Surapong asked rhetorically: "why do you think that the
Cambodians have pushed the issue so quickly?" Surapong said
many factors could be involved, one of which could be
"influence" on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. DAO will
separately report more from this conversation.
ENTWISTLE