Relating to the incident happening at the Cambodia-Laos border in Steung Treng province, Mr. Svay Nhon, Deputy Operation Commander in Steung Treng province, told reporters on Sunday that the Cambodian Army Corps of Engineers is building the border beltway following the maps from the French era. However, the two countries did not plant any border post yet in the area in question.
He added that despite Lao disaccord, the Army Corps of Engineers were still continuing to build the beltway by negotiating with Lao people at the same time. For him, it is impossible this incident could lead to a military engagement.
According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), Mr. Men Kung, spokesman for the provincial cabinet, said that his cabinet has been already reporting this issue to the government which will make a decision regarding the issue. He added that Lao authority was not clear yet about the border demarcation. As a result, they asked Cambodian counterpart to wait until the negotiation is done.
On Saturday, Fresh News, a trusted local online newspaper, reported that there were Lao soldiers, from the province of Attapu, equipped with all kind of weapon, coming to interrupt the construction of the border beltway in Thmor Keo commune, Siem Pang district, Steung Treng province.
In response to the reinforcement of the Lao armed force, Cambodian counterpart tried to talk with them to not to use weapons in Cambodian soil, but Lao soldiers did not agree saying that they were only following the order from Lao high command.
For their safety, the Cambodian armed force was reinforced to be able to continue the construction of the beltway that was at the time 150 kilometers long.
The total length of the border between Cambodia and Laos is 540 kilometers, along which 145 border posts have to be planted. So far, both countries has agreed to plant 121 border posts, or 83% of the demarcation process.
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