Russian Tank

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We look at Russian Weapon

Flood Season in Cambodia

Cambodian child plays near a boat on the Mekong river in Kandal province on the outskirts of Phnom Penh August 18, 2008 .The Mekong river has hit its highest level in at least 100 years after several months of unusually heavy rain, officials said on Friday.

Cambodian boys dive into water as a motorized wooden boat loaded with grass drives by at Prek Sdey village in Koh Thom district of Kandal province about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. The villagers would drive their boats twice a week to collect grass to stock for their cow's food during the flood season.

Cambodian villagers drive their motorized wooden boats loaded with grass to go back to their homes in Prek Sdey village in Koh Thom district of Kandal province about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. The villagers would drive their boats twice a week to collect grass to stock for their cow's food during the flood season

Hun Sen most likely has more police guarding the Thai embassy than the Ta Moan temple occupied by Thailand

Riot police walk near the Thai embassy asdeploys more security in the area after a demonstration organized by then Confederation of Unions protesting against Thailand's deployment of troops at the disputed Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temples located at then-Thai border, in Phnom Penh August 17, 2008.n and Thai troops started to pull their troops back from the disputed border area on Saturday,n army officers said, after a month-long stand-off centring on the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

Rong Chhun (C), president of then Independent Teachers Association, takes part in a demonstration organized by then Confederation of Unions protesting against Thailand's deployment of troops at the disputed Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temples located at then-Thai border, in Phnom Penh August 17, 2008. Cambodian and Thai troops started to pull their troops back from the disputed border area on Saturday,n army officers said, after a month-long stand-off centring on the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

Rong Chhun (L), president of then Independent Teachers Association, takes part in a demonstration organized by then Confederation of Unions protesting against Thailand's deployment of troops at the disputed Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temples located at then-Thai border, in Phnom Penh August 17, 2008.n and Thai troops started to pull their troops back from the disputed border area on Saturday,n army officers said, after a month-long stand-off centring on the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

Flooding of the Mekong River in Kampong Cham

Cambodians are transported by boat near the Mekong river in Kampong Cham province, 130 km (80 miles) east of Phnom Penh, during floods Aug. 16, 2008.
Cambodia children play in front of their house near the Mekong river during floods in Kampong Cham province, 130 km (80 miles) east of Phnom Penh, Aug. 16, 2008.
A Cambodian woman transport her cows to higher ground during floods near the Mekong river in Kampong Cham province, 130 km (80 miles) east of Phnom Penh, Aug. 16, 2008. The Mekong river has hit its highest level in at least 100 years after several months of unusually heavy rain, officials said on Friday.
A Cambodian man rows a boat during floods near the Mekong river in Kampong Cham province, 130 km (80 miles) east of Phnom Penh, during floods Aug. 16, 2008.

Standoff at border deadlocks

ANOTHER round of crisis talks over the military standoff at Preah Vihear are expected later this month, but Cambodian troops along the de facto frontline near the 11th-century temple say they are hunkering down for a protracted dispute."Our soldiers are digging trenches because the Thai soldiers are digging trenches," General Srey Doek, commander of Brigade 12, told the Post on Thursday. "We have to take precautions, this is a frontline," he added.

While Thailand's cabinet has approved the withdrawal of troops from Preah Vihear temple, Srey Doek said that the Thai military appeared to be bringing in reinforcements to strategic Cambodia-controlled positions along the border. "They are digging more bunkers and building large encampments to settle on the frontline at Preah Vihear temple and Trop mountain," he said, referring to a mountain near the temple that Cambodia claims Thai troops tried to occupy last weekend. "We absolutely have to prevent them getting up ... Trop mountain because it is right in the middle of the disputed area," Srey Doek said.In Phnom Penh, officials remained optimistic that the Thais would re-deploy, with Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith telling the Post that "some of Thailand's soldiers have withdrawn from the pagoda [in the Preah Vihear temple complex] and they have withdrawn all their troops from Ta Moan Thom temple." "If they increase their armed forces in their territory along our joint border, it is their business," he said. Foreign Minister Hor Namhong is scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart Tej Bunnag in Thailand on August 18 for a second round of talks aimed at defusing the situation at Preah Vihear, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday