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Ranariddh loyalists try to regain S
Subject: Ranariddh loyalists try to regain Siem Reap
July 10th Bangkok Post
Ranariddh loyalists try to regain Siem Reap
Hun Sen's soldiers hold the perimeter
Post reporters
Troops loyal to Prince Norodom Ranariddh were fighting to regain the
northwestern city of Siem Reap from Hun Sen's forces yesterday.
As Hun Sen's soldiers held the perimeter, sporadic fighting was reported
in the nearby district of Kra Lanh. Four of Hun Sen's tanks were
spotting rumbling in that direction.
An official loyal to Hun Sen said Prince Ranariddh's troops planned to
move the fighting to Siem Reap on a large scale. On Tuesday, gunfire
rang out among the temple ruins of Angkor Wat as the opposing forces
fought along the crumbling walls of the ancient former capital near Siem
Reap.
With Hun Sen's failure to wipe out resistance in outlying provinces,
hopes for a quick, complete victory seemed to be fading. An unknown but
probably substantial number of refugees was expected on Thailand's
doorstep as a result of heavy fighting between Sisophon and Poipet.
Fighting raged on Route 5, Cambodia's main lifeline, according to a
report received yesterday from sources close to the prince's Funcinpec
party.
Refugee movements had been reported since Monday, from areas believed
controlled by Funcinpec soldiers north of Route 5, including Thamar
Puok, adjacent to Ta Phraya, Prachin Buri.
In another development, Cambodia state radio played down the strife
between the warring prime ministers and told Cambodians along the Thai
border to conduct business as usual.
But if the situation got out of hand, they should seek refuge in
Thailand, according to the broadcast from Poipet. It said the fighting
was a military matter and people should not panic.
The broadcast came as Cambodian workers in Thailand headed home to care
for their families caught in the thick of fighting as troops battled to
control strategic provinces.
Many Cambodian workers were arrested by authorities at Aranyaprathet
railway station for illegal entry and sent back across the border.
Meanwhile, a son of the Banteay Meanchey province deputy governor fled
to Thailand along with other refugees. An army officer, he had been with
Sisophon-based troops loyal to Prince Ranariddh.
He maintained he did not want to go to war with his own countrymen and
refused to clash with Hun Sen forces in Battambang. "Cambodians, no
matter what factions they belong to, are Cambodians," he said.
The Battambang governor, who has been made his enemy by the conflict,
was his drinking pal. "There is simply no point turning the gun on your
own people and friends." he said.
He said the Ranariddh-backed troops in Battambang had the capacity to
counter-attack but refused to do so to prevent bloodshed.
The deputy governor's son said the safety of his family took priority
over his military duty. He did not think the violence would escalate
since Hun Sen would likely wait and see how the world community
responds.
A fierce clash is expected in Sisophon as the advancing Hun Sen army is
expected to reach the province early today.
Meanwhile, opposing forces had a tense confrontation at Tuek Tara, a
small town 7km west of Sisophon.
Lt-Gen Vun Savoeun, Region 5 commander loyal to Hun Sen, reportedly
negotiated with 5th Division commander Lai Veera to return weapons
seized from Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party.
He also demanded that Lai Veera hand over Funcinpec spokesman Seri Kosol
who is believed to be in Thailand.
In another development, Hun Sen was reported to have despatched troops
to block any links between Funcinpec forces and the Khmer Rouge.
Sok Pheab, leader of a dissident Khmer Rouge faction, said at his Phnom
Malai base opposite Aranyaprathet he would remain neutral.
He predicted the fighting would end soon as soldiers loyal to Hun Sen
control Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang. Neither side had foreign
logistical support and the fighting should end in 10 days, he said.
Thai military sources said troops loyal to Prince Ranariddh have
withdrawn from Sisophon to an area opposite Ta Phraya. All temporary
border checkpoints in northeastern Thailand remain open as the battle in
Cambodia has not yet affected border areas.
But the Second Army Region, based in the Northeast, is on full alert to
deal with a possible influx of refugees and robberies.
Lt-Gen Surayuth Julanond, the commander, said the military has kept a
close watch on Cambodia but there was no need to close checkpoints in Si
Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani.
The Suranaree task force and local police have also been cooperating on
intelligence work, prevention of illegal entry and suppression of Khmer
bandits along the border.
In Surin, villagers spotted 1,000 soldiers believed to be loyal to
former Khmer Rouge leader Iang Sary, who had already defected to Prince
Ranariddh, heading towards Siem Reap.
Security sources said these soldiers may join another of Prince
Ranariddh's forces at Chong Jom, near Surin, to block Hun Sen forces
from moving into the western part of the country.
"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE. ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION." "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."
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