There is probably no other part of the day that is more dangerous, difficult and fraught with stress than when darkness descends on the battlefield. Despite the warm climate of Southeast Asia, a noticeable chill covers the jungle areas during this time of the year and nowhere is this chill felt more than the frontlines of Cambodia’s conflict with Thailand.
Cambodian soldiers cautiously patrol and watch the terrain near these border areas, looking for any movement or indication of impending attack. In some instances, they are not passively observing, but rather seeking out or actively engaged in intense combat operations, involving artillery, heavy machine guns and other weapons to counter Thai military forces who are attempting to seize territory and destroy Cambodia’s ability to defend itself in these areas.
It’s difficult to truly imagine, let alone understand, the incredible challenges these soldiers face. In addition to the deafening silence that some soldiers face when they are awaiting attack, or the extraordinary violence that some units face in attempting to defend or dislodge Thai forces from Cambodian territory, there is the human and environmental strains common to all soldiers in a field environment.
The struggle with the cold at night, staying awake and the difficulty of laying motionless and always prepared for immediate action, despite the lack of sleep, can be overwhelming. There is also the exhaustion of traveling great distances, sometimes under fire, carrying heavy equipment, and preparing for or engaging in brutal battles. Above all, Cambodian soldiers on the frontlines are faced with the mental anguish that comes with being isolated from family, friends and not knowing what the future holds.
The strain of this conflict and the challenges with nighttime combat operations cannot be adequately described in such a short commentary, but we can at least acknowledge these Cambodian defenders’ struggles. It is true that modern technology allows night vision, but even night vision and other technologies do not remove the challenges and complexity inherent to war fighting.
While technology is important and even essential for the military’s ability to confront a technologically advanced adversary, bravery, discipline and quiet resolve are also essential, and the Cambodian soldiers on the frontlines are setting the standard for the Cambodian Nation’s resilience and mature response to this extraordinary aggression on the part of the Thai military.
The future of warfare is often described as one that is increasingly dependent on advanced weaponry and information technology; however, the strength of leadership, military discipline and military values remain as essential to victory in the future as they do today, and the Cambodian People have reason to be proud of and have faith in these Cambodian heroes.
Youk Chhang is director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam). The view ands opinions expressed are his own.
