Twelve killed as Cambodia, Thailand trade fire in fresh border clashes

The two countries are locked in a bitter feud over parts of the Emerald Triangle, where their borders meet Laos and several ancient temples stand.

As many as 12 people have been killed in clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops on their shared border on Thursday with both sides blaming the other for the sharp escalation in a broiling, century-old territorial dispute.

Cambodia fired artillery and rockets into Thailand killing 11 civilians _ including an eight-year-old boy – and one soldier, while Thailand launched air attacks against Cambodian military positions in the worst violence between the two neighbours in more than a decade.

The clashes occurred a day after Thailand withdrew its ambassador from Phnom Penh, expelled Cambodia’s ambassador to Bangkok and sealed all land border crossings with Cambodia in protest over a landmine explosion that injured several Thai soldiers.

Royal Thai Army soldiers on a road in Chachoengsao province. Picture: AFP

By Thursday morning, Cambodia had reciprocated by downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian embassy staff from Bangkok.

Thai military officials claim Cambodia initiated Thursday’s violent clashes, and that six Cambodian soldiers opened fire with heavy weapons including rocket launchers on a Thai position near the Khmer Hindu Temple Ta Muen Thom, which both nations claim, despite Thai attempts to defuse the situation.

They also accused Cambodia of firing rockets into civilian areas in at least four other Thai provinces, prompting the evacuation of some 40,000 people from border areas and the deployment of Thai F-16 fighter jets.

Thailand’s health minister said Cambodia’s attack on civilian targets including a Thai hospital constituted war crimes.

But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has claimed Thailand fired first with a pre-mediated assault on Cambodian troops at the disputed temple claimed which lies on the border between Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.

Cambodian soldiers reload the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher in Preah Vihear. Picture: AFP

While his nation had consistently pursued peaceful solutions, Cambodia had “no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression”, he said Thursday, calling on the UN security council to convene an “urgent meeting” over the issue.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence also issued a statement condemning the “reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia”.

Thursday’s clashes are the latest in a century of tensions along the shared 817 km border, sections of which remain subject to overlapping territorial claims.

But the situation has been worsening since a May confrontation that killed one Cambodian soldier, with nationalist sentiments inflaming tensions on both sides.

Thai people who fled clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers take shelter in Surin province. Picture: AP /Sunny Chittawil

Thailand’s acting PM, Phumtham Wechayachai, told reporters on Thursday that the border situation was “delicate” and that fighting had to stop before there could be any negotiations, but stressed there had been no declaration of war.

“We have to be careful,” he told reporters. “We will follow international law.”

Neighbouring countries, meanwhile, are urging a de-escalation, with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim _ the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation to which both nations belong _ saying he would be speaking to both countries by the end of the day.

“The least we can expect is for them to stand down and hopefully try to enter into negotiation,” Mr Anwar said. “Peace is the only option available.”

China’s foreign ministry said it was deeply concerned about the violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border and urged both sides to resolve the tensions through dialogue.

Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra was quick to blame Cambodia for initiating violence along the Thai border on Thursday in a social media post that declared her full support for government, military and diplomatic retaliation measures within international legal frameworks.

People take shelter in northeastern Thailand. Picture: AP /Sunny Chittawil

Ms Paetongtarn, the daughter of Thailand’s divisive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, was stood down from office early this month pending an investigation into alleged ethics violations over her handling of the border dispute, after a leaked phone call in which she referred to former Cambodian PM Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised Thai military leadership.

Hun Sen was a long-time friend of Mr Thaksin until the relationship faltered over the border dispute.

The leaked call sparked widespread outrage and protests and prompted Bumjaithai, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, led by Thaksin’s Pheu Thai party, to withdraw its support.

Thai Ministry of Defence spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri confirmed ongoing fighting in at least six border areas.

– with AP