Military Official in Cambodia Demands Public Apology for Soldier Assault in Ta Mone Thom Incident
In a recent development, Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Seiha has demanded a public apology from a former Thai patrol soldier who assaulted a Cambodian soldier at the Ta Mone Thom temple on July 13. The assault, which was widely reported in Thai media, has left the Cambodian authorities unfulfilled as no official apology has been made public.
The Thai soldier, identified as "Sommai," was arrested by Thai authorities and is facing legal consequences, but the minister argues that the suspect should be tried in Cambodia since the incident occurred on Cambodian soil. Tea Seiha mentioned that there might have been an informal apology, but it was not made public or officially recognized by Thai authorities or the suspect.
The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, particularly given that some Thai lawyers have volunteered to defend the suspect, whom he believes is guilty of a clear crime. He emphasized that Cambodia is closely monitoring the situation.
The incident occurred when the Thai soldier initially approached to shake hands but then attacked the Cambodian soldier. Sommai claimed he attacked the Cambodian soldier out of anger after seeing Cambodian civilians at Ta Mone Thom.
Meanwhile, in other news, Thailand is participating in a nationwide drug crackdown called "No Drugs No Dealers." Bangkok is also addressing issues related to emissions from an On Nut waste plant. The city is also hosting the 'Chang Noi Games,' where 753 students are participating.
Interestingly, Thailand's Culture Minister is making efforts to rebuild Buddhist faith after recent scandals. The minister's statements were made during an event to welcome Cambodian peacekeepers returning from the Central Africa Republic on July 15.
The news for this article is sourced from Niem Chheng.
- The minister's demand for a public apology from the Thai soldier highlights thepolitics of cross-border incidents, as the assault occurred on Cambodian soil and the suspect was arrested by Thai authorities.
- The incident at Ta Mone Thom temple, involving the assault of a Cambodian soldier by Thai soldier Sommai, raises concern in the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, as it remains unresolved despite legal consequences for the suspect.
- In a stark contrast, Thailand is focusing on internal issues, initiating a nationwide drug crackdown, addressing environmental concerns, and hosting the 'Chang Noi Games,' while the Culture Minister works towards rebuilding Buddhist faith Post recent scandals.
