Army slams 'provocative' gunfire

CAMBODIA ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO FILM THAIS TROOPS ‘BREAKING' CEASEFIRE

- POST REPORTERS

>>The Second Army Region has accused Cambodian troops of provoking clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border after having set up cameras in advance to record the Thai reaction which they hoped to portray as Thai soldiers breaking the ceasefire.

According to a field report at 12.40pm, Cambodian soldiers fired small arms and grenade launchers into Thai territory near Chong Arn Ma in Ubon Ratchathani's Nam Yuen district, prompting Thai forces to return fire.

The Thai side believes the incident was staged to capture images that could later be presented to Asean's Interim Observer Team (IOT), which had scheduled a same-day inspection in the area.

The Second Army Region said Cambodia informed Thai authorities at 1pm the IOT delegation would cross into Chong Arn Ma later yesterday afternoon.

The timing, the Thai army said, suggested a coordinated plan to create an incident and then present it as Thai aggression.

"We had obtained footage of Cambodian troops apparently setting up cameras in advance, further reinforcing suspicions of a trap," the Second Army Region said.