Khmer soldiers along the border call for aid

17 May 2011
By Hang Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Cambodian soldiers who are currently defending Cambodian borders in Oddar Meanchey province called on the government to provide them with food and equipments.

Some Cambodian soldiers stationed along the war operation zones in Oddar Meanchey province and who are on war alert to defend Cambodian borders along the Dangrek Mountain in Chub Koki zone, Ampil commune, Banteay Ampil district, are calling on government officials to heed their cases and to provide them with aid. These soldiers are currently on the frontline and they are facing with severe shortage, both in terms of food and in terms of material so they may build shelters during rainy season.

A Cambodian soldier stationed along the border said on Sunday 15 May that his group, which is defending the fighting frontline, does not receive much food and fresh meat. As for their lodging inside the trenches, they also lack sleeping equipments and roof materials to protect them from rain.

The Cambodian soldier above said: “First, [there are problems] with food for soldiers who are stationed along the border next to Thailand. I am staying 15 to 20m from the border with Thailand, I am at the very frontline. Since the event [clash in Oddar Meanchey with Thai troops], we received fresh pork meat about two times only. … When it rains at nighttime, we sleep on straw right on the ground. We cannot hang hammocks because we are on the alert line.”