The BLDP were the re-invented KPNLF, and were in an alliance with the Khmer Nation Party and Funcinpec as the "National United Front". Kem Sokha was a prominent member of the BLDP and Sam Rainsy was head of the Khmer Nation Party. All had been in an alliance with the "Party of Democratic Kampuchea" (Khmer Rouge) pre-UN intervention (CGDK), and in this difficult post-UNTAC period in 1997 Sam Rainsy and Nhek Bun Chhay (FUNCINPEC) made overtures to the remaining stalwarts of the Khmer Rouge in Anlong Veng (Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Son Sen and Ta Mok being some of the prominent leaders in that area), attempting to get them to join with their factions and fight the CPP. So for anyone wondering what the big animosity between the CNRP and CPP is about, this is crucial. The events described above led to the factional fighting in July 1997, and the sidelining and eventual demise of these traitorous parties. Nhek Bun Chhay has defected since, the others are still trying to drag this nation back into war.Enter the Blue Khmer
Fri, 21 February 1997
Tricia Fitzgerald and Sok Pov
THMAR KOL - As Battambang's military and police factions polarized into hostile camps last week, heavily armed pro-royalist troops moved south from Nimith and Thmar Pouk to occupy norther Battambang province.
The BLDP-aligned soldiers, who military sources in Sisophon put at between 500-800, were trucked down from their Division 7 and 12 bases 100 kms north of Battambang
Feb 14, Thmar Pouk field commanders said.
Thmar Pouk soldiers said they were moving down to support Funcinpec troops at Phnom Thippedey, when they met resistance from CPP forces on Route Five.
The occupying troops from the north, dubbed the "Blue Khmer" by locals, wore bright blue bandannas and neck-ties over their government uniforms, and around
their guns, to distinguish themselves from troops loyal to the CPP.
"We will shoot any soldiers without these blue flags," said one soldier in the occupied zone.
Commanders occupying the Thmar Kol Primary School said their commanders were Koy Chien, the BLDP, deputy military commander of Region 5 and Sour Chan Heng, the Division 7 commander of Thmar Pouk.
Camped in groups of 10 at regular intervals along Route Five, the soldiers set up machine guns next to their hammocks.
Civilians and militia from the village of Chroy Sdau, 32km north of Battambang town, who were injured in clashes as the Blue Khmer moved into the province, say it was
difficult to identify who was firing rockets into their village.
"At around 6.00am our village was hit by rockets...it seemed to come from forces moving from the north," said one local militia from Chroy Sdau, who lost his
leg in the attack.
On Feb 17, 36 hours after the co-Defence Ministers had ordered troops to return to their bases, the Blue Khmer were still occupying north of the river in Thmar Kol
and CPP police said they were ready for a second wave of military clashes.
"We are ready to fight with those troops who are loyal to Funcinpec," said deputy police chief of Thmar Kol, Sem Ny, whose front-line police bordered the occupied
zone.
"Government administration, schools and markets have been shut down since the northern troops moved into Thmar Kol, and our [CPP aligned] government soldiers and officials are unable to enter the zone," Ny said.
"Even in civilian clothes, I cannot go over the bridge to my police base...I am afraid," said a CPP police deputy.
Ny said local chiefs had moved out of their homes in Thmar Kol and that the Blue Khmer had entered some local police stations, confiscating weapons and uniforms.
"They are using this chance to rob money and watches from villagers."
"Blue Khmer" soldiers said Sunday they had no immediate plans to retreat to their northern headquarters despite orders from senior military officials in Phnom Penh, that all troops withdraw to their bases.
At press time, provincial sources said the Blue Khmer had not left.
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