Cambodia doubles military budget after Thai clash

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Impoverished Cambodia has doubled its 2009 military budget to $500 million (311 million pounds) following this month's border clash with Thailand, officials said on Wednesday, an increase that is likely to anger its donors.

The National Assembly is expected to approve the new budget next week, with the military accounting for 25 percent of all spending, said Cheam Yeap, head of its finance commission.

"This incident has awoken us to the need for our soldiers to be better equipped. We cannot sit and watch Thai troops encroach on our border," he told Reuters. "Our army needs to be more organised, better trained, with newer bases and well-fed troops."

Three Cambodian soldiers and one Thai died in the October 15 firefight in the shadow of the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, a stunning set of Hindu ruins that have been claimed for decades by both countries.



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE49S23V20081029

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1. Very sad waste of limited resources!

I was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last week for two nights. While the country has been developing quickly over the last few years there is still intense poverty, spotty infrastructure, and incredible potential.

The economic situation in the developed world could severely impact foreign investment in developing countries in SE Asia for the immediate future and slow down or suspend the improving quality of life and opportunities for the wonderful Cambodian people.

The confrontation with Thailand wasn't on the radar for tourists visiting, like myself, I didn't see or hear anything about the Thai border problem in the capital. Of course the Cambodians have a different alphabet, unlike Vietnam, so I didn't get any local news or look at pictures in newspapers.

[Coventina]

2. The situation with Thailand has been going on for quite some time now.

The border stand-off continues, but they are talking about a settlement now, which is good.