A WELL-KNOWN social activist posted a photo on his Facebook page showing Cambodians building a bunker along K5 road bordering Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province with his Khmer source saying over a hundred such structures had already been constructed there, Amarin TV said last evening (Jan. 23).
Mr. Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, or Gun Jompalang, said in the accompanying message his Cambodian source revealed that a large number of such bunkers are being built along K5 road and estimated the total constructed so far had already reached over a hundred.
“Cambodia is preparing extremely quickly. I’m one of those who built many bunkers, and I’m still amazed at how fast they’re building them,” Gun Jompalang quoted his Khmer source as saying.
He also commented: “Just a few days after the fighting stopped they’ve managed to build this many. It’s shocking. Cambodia is preparing, as I always say, don’t trust Cambodia and don’t believe they will stop.”
He also urged the authorities to quickly finish Thailand’s preparations.
Meanwhile the Cambodian government said US Navy warship USS Cincinnati is scheduled to dock at Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville during Jan. 24-28 with this being the first visit of a US warship to the neighbouring country this year.
The littoral combat ship, manned by approximately 100 crewmembers, weighs around 3,000 tons and is nearly 130 metres long while being equipped with advanced weapon systems and technology, including air capabilities. It is under the command of Cdr. Andrew Recame.
This docking coincides with the official visit of Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, who aside from holding talks with Cambodian leaders will be presiding over the opening ceremony of a joint US-Cambodian naval exercise.
This visit to the neighbouring country by the USS Cincinnati is also strategically significant as it is the third foreign warship to dock at Ream Naval Base after its official reopening in 2025, following warships from Japan and Vietnam.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – A bunker Khmers are building near Sa Kaeo. Photo – Mr. Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet’s Facebook page and published by Amarin TV
Insert – USS Cincinnati. Photo – PPTVHD36
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