Clashes as PAD declares rights

PAD supporters carry banners declaring they won’t accept Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site in Cambodia.

Two groups clashed yesterday over the Preah Vihear Temple, despite the prominent presence of police.

The incident left more than 10 people injured, some of them clearly bleeding.

On the one side were some 5,000 People's Alliance for Democracy supporters, who  marching to the Preah Vihear Temple to announce that the temple belonged to Thailand in accordance with the demarcation set by a Thai-French committee in 1904.

On the other side of the clash, there were some 200 locals, most of them teenagers, and many of them drunk.

Following the scuffle, these youngsters ran into the forest.

The locals are suffering

Si Sa Ket Governor Senee Jittakasem says the local group was made up of people plying their trade in the area around the Preah Vihear Temple.

The temple has been closed to tourists since tensions between the two countries have been rising. At present, both Thai and Cambodian troops are being sent to man the area.

"Local people are suffering from this. Their trade, their livelihood, is hurt," Senee said yesterday, adding that PAD supporters had made it to the temple and made their announcement.

"They dispersed soon after," Senee said.

When asked about the tension along the Cambodian-Thai border, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said, "Ask the Army."

When pressed further, he said, "Ask the PAD."