Thais capture Cambodians

Press, 26 August 1977, Page 6

Thais capture Cambodians

[ NZPA Bangkok Six Cambodians have been arrested and another has [been killed in a clash with; [Thai troops near the Thai- ! Cambodian border yesterday, [ a military spokesman has said. At least 30 others sus-‘ [pected of being soies were! •arrested in the border area: • during last week. The latest jarrests took place in a vil-i •lage of Ta Phraya district,! 250 km east of Bangkok, the spokesman said. In another village, Thai 1 security forces exchanged fire with Cambodian soldiers 'when they intruded into [Thai territory, the spokesman said. They retreated across the border and Thai authorities later found the [body of a Cambodian soldier. I In Bangkok, the First Army commander (Lieuten-ant-General Amnaj Dam-; rikarn) said Cambodian) troops were still con-

; centrating along the border areas directly opposite the i key border town of Aran- ; • Thai security forces along the border are on full alert , in case of more Cambodian attacks and more than 1500 •people, most of them farm- . er.., have left their villages .[in the area. i More than 50 Thais have ;[been killed since July 20 • when Khmer Rouge intrud-, Jers ambushed a police-mili->'tary patrol killing 17 sol-! [ diers and policemen. Earlier i last week Bangkok reported I [that Cambodia had sent 1000 ;! troops to border regions and > there were indications that another border attack was I imminent. i! Further north, Thai naval : patrols along the Mekong • River border with Laos were put on full alert today fol1 lowing brief clashes with (Laotian security forces,; • Radio Thailand has an-; nounced.