Troops hammer out ceasefire [-Another ceasefire that won't hold? Thailand is embellishing the story?]

Col Neak Vong, deputy commander of Cambodia’s 402nd Brigade, centre, shakes hands with Thai soldiers after holding negotiations with Col Adul Boonthamcharoen, commander of the 26th Pararanger Military Regiment,on a ceasefire at Ta Muen Thom temple in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province yesterday. NOPPARATKINGKAEO

Cambodia wants time to collect soldiers' bodies

2/05/2011
Nopparat Kingkaeo, Pradit Ruangdit
Bangkok Post & AP

A senior Cambodian military officer has hammered out a ceasefire with Thai troops at Ta Muen Thom temple in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province.

Col Neak Vong, deputy commander of Cambodia's 402nd Brigade, contacted Col Adul Boonthamcharoen, commander of the 26th Pararanger Military Regiment around 4 pm to seek a ceasefire at the temple ruins of Ta Muen Thom.

After the meeting, both sides agreed to stop fighting and Cambodian troops agreed to move away from an area near the temple ruins.

A Thai army source said Col Neak Vong gave as his reasons for the ceasefire the fact that he wanted to collect several bodies of Cambodian troops killed in gunfire exchanges with Thai troops during the past 10 days, from a forest opposite the temple.

The bodies have begun rotting and giving off a bad odour.

He also told the Thai side that the morale of Cambodian troops has been shaken following the deaths of their fellow soldiers and a shortage of food and weapons, added the source.

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