Viet Forces Overrun Guerrilla Base, Clash With Thai Troops

Vietnamese forces overran most of a key Cambodian guerrilla base on the Thai border today after heavy bombardment and hand-to-hand combat, military officials said.

The Vietnamese also shot down a Thai fighter plane.

Thai officials said their forces in Ta Phraya district opposite the fallen base, Ampil, were placed on alert to prevent a possible incursion by Vietnamese troops.

Lt. Gen. Pichit Kullavanich told reporters at the border that Hanoi infantry had taken control of most of Ampil, while Thai troops clashed with Vietnamese intruders further north along the Thai border.

Ampil was the headquarters of the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front and home to 23,000 civilians before most of them fled over the border into Thailand.

Thai supreme commander Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek said a Thai fighter plane was shot down while taking part in an attack against intruding Vietnamese troops in northeast Thailand.

He said that the plane was shot down over Buriram province, about 60 miles north of Ampil, and that fighting between Thai and Vietnamese troops was continuing.

The general said the guerrillas put up a good fight against tanks and armored personnel carriers, destroying or disabling seven of the 32 used in the assault.

“But it was like using knives to fight guns. Remember, these are guerrillas who are not going to fight to the death for territory,” he said.