21 August 2009
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Thai Royal Navy conducted a major naval exercise which included an aircraft carrier and several battleships near Koh Kut Island. The naval exercise was conducted as a show of force to Cambodia after the Cambodian government authorized the Total oil company to explore for oil in the nearby waters.

Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Cambodian ministry of Defense, told Rasmei Kampuchea over the phone in the afternoon of 20 August that Thailand conducted its naval exercise in the Koh Kut region for more than one week already, starting from Sunday 09 August to 17 August. The exercise included 10 ships: standard ships, an aircraft carrier and several battleships.

Chhum Socheat indicated that, following the naval exercise, Thailand left behind 3 ships in the region. Thailand undertook the exercise after it protested Cambodia’s agreement to allow to the French Total company to explore for oil.