Ranariddh loyalists try to regain S

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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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