On 22 April 2011, at 09.40 hrs., Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, gave an interview about the recent armed clash at the Temple of Ta Kwai (Prasart Ta Kwai) in Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province, at the Thai-Cambodian border as follows:

At 06.30 hrs., during a routine patrol by a Thai military unit around the area near the Temple of Ta Kwai, they discovered the presence of armed Cambodian forces in the Temple. The Cambodian side’s presence constituted a violation of the understanding between the two sides that no armed forces should be in the Temple and that the forces of both sides should be deployed approximately 100 meters away from each other. The Thai troop tried to warn the Cambodian side to withdraw from the area but was fired upon. Therefore, the Thai side had to retaliate in self-defence. At present, the situation has stabilized and the authorities concerned are verifying information about the incident.

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22 April 2011