. THE WXPosi: 197 5 `Cobra uerrillas Said to Harass By Chhay-Born Lay how successful the resistance Associated Press is. BANGKOK, Aug. 20—Refu- "The United States has fin- gees from Cambodia say that ished with Cambodia, and several armed resistance Thailand wants good relations WASHINGTON POST Thursday, August 21,1975 A 3 groups are continuing to fight with the Khmer Rouge govern- against the Communist-domi- ment," In Tam s aid. "We E nated Khmer Rouge govern- would need arms and aid to ment in at least four parts of succeed." the country. In Tam said the potential Khmer Rouge They say that the resistance for a Cambodian resistance groups, operating in western Movement is reinforced by what he termed resentment at Two refugees who said they Cambodia, have ambushed were former sergeants who Khmer Rouge patrols, have food shortages, forced labor, killings, harsh treatment and escaped across the Thai bor- captured weapons and have der Aug. 5, said they heard in freed soldiers and officials of the forced exodus of civilians from the cities after the a Khmer Rouge meeting that the former American-sup- an hour-long firefight erupted ported government. Khmer Rouge took over. The newly arrived refugees during the last week of July For their part, Khmer between "cobra" and Khmer Rouge troops continue to be a all come from central and western Cambodia. Of the Rouge units near the ancient threat to refugees. Two Cam- ruins of Angkor. bodians, who crossed into eastern half of the country, under insurgent domination They said they had been Thailand today said Khmer working in the rice fields of a Rouge troops opened fire on for most of the five-year Cam- I bodia civil war, nothing is nearby forced-labor camp at their group of 37 while they the time and had heard gun- were cooking rice, and as they known. Refugees from several areas fire and seen flames and fled they saw at least 12 of smoke rising. their companions lying appar- ently dead. The fate of the re- reported hearing the crackling maining 23 was unknown. of rifle fire and the crump of Hak Sum, 25, and Hak Sa- mortars almost every night. ley, 25, said the shooting took Most said they had learned of place earlier in the day in a the resistance from the One group of eight refugees the capital, with Kompong western district of Battam- Khmer Rouge themselves. said they witnessed two day- Son, the country's only deep- bang Province near the Thai One refugee who said he light "cobra' raids, one at the water seaport. border as the refugee group slipped through to Thailand end of July about 12 miles In the 1950s Chan Rangsei's was preparing to cross into last week said a friend ap- east of Sisoihon and a second, base area in the Cardamom Thailand. peared in -his village one fiercer, battle 20 miles west of Mountains around Kirirom One band of Cambodian reb- night, clad in a black pajama- the rice capital of Battambang was virtually autonomous, and els calls itself "cobra," after like uniform like Khmer in early August. he defended it against the Vi- snakes that infest Cambodia's Rouge clothing except for a In the Kirirom and Kom- etminh, the French, the paddy fields and forests, the "cobra" badge on his collar pong Speu area southwest of Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk's refugees say, and another and white stripes down the Phnom Penh, Gen. Chan Free Khmers. band is reported to be led by a sides of his trousers. Rangsei, described as a rela- There had been rumors that prince whose private army has The friend was part of tive of Prince Norodom Siha- he had been killed after the been battling for autonomy a "cobra" recruiting party, the nouk, titular head of state in Khmer Rouge took Phnom against all corners since the refugee said, but the party Cambodia, was reported still Penh April 17. 1950s. melted into the darkness when fighting for his ancestral some Khmer Rouge came Asian analysts agree that The resistance reports can- lands. the diehards cannot hope for not around and were not seen af- be positively authenti- terward. Refugees said Khmer Rouge enough support and supplies cated, but they come inde- authorities told them during a to carry on much longer. pendently from dozens of ref- "They usually operate in small groups, of about 12 men public meeting that members Communist-dominated Viet- ugees living in camps along each," the refugee said. of Chan Rangsei's 13th Bri- nam and Laos lie to the east the Thai-Cambodian border. gade have been attacking and north, and Thailand, on Some refugees report that He said Khmer Rouge au- highway outposts and ambush- the west, would risk North Vi- the Khmer Rouge look on for- ing truck convoys along Route etnamese reaction if it helped talked a lot about the mer Cambodian Premier In thorities 4, which links Phnom Penh, the resistance. Tam as leader of the resist- resistance forces, about ance. In Tam himself, living in "suicide squads" in the areas exile in the Thai border town of Battambang and Siem Reap of Aranyaprathet, denies this, in northwest Cambodia and however. and casts doubt on about attacks by night on Khmer Rouge outposts in lonely villages.