Twenty-two security guards are to be deployed at the Preah Vihear temple which is at the centre of long-running territorial dispute with Thailand, official said. The Preah Vihear National Authority (PVNA) has trained 22 security guards to protect the province’s ancient Hindu temple, said PVNA director Hang Soth said May 14. The 11 female and 11 male guards will keep watch 24 hours a day at the temple to prevent damage and looting, Soth said. “Their job is to watch temple and stop pieces of stone from being stolen, and ban people who write or draw pictures on parts of the temple,” he said. This is the fist time security personnel have been deployed to protect the 11th century ruins. “We are preparing uniforms for them now,” Soth said. The guards, who have all completed a five-day training course, are mostly local to the area and speak both Khmer and Thai. They will also serve as tour guides, he added.
