At least fourteen people have died and dozens have been wounded in a fresh clash between Thailand and Cambodia at the shared border. The fighting is centered on disputed border areas near some ancient Hindu temples.
The violence ensued after a landmine wounded several Thai soldiers, leading Thailand to recall its ambassador and expel Cambodia’s envoy. Thailand deployed F-16 jets in “self-defense,” while Cambodia condemned the strikes as aggression and appealed to the United Nations. Increases in airstrikes have now marked an ever-increasing escalation between the two sides.
The conflict began last week, on July 24th, over contested land near ancient Hindu temples along the 500-mile border. The sovereignty of this area has been disputed since colonial-era maps were drawn in 1907. This represents a significant escalation in the long-standing border dispute.
The clashes are unusually intense for the two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. But the larger issue was that this conflict has left civilians caught in the crossfire.
Six Thai villagers died in a gas station explosion, while others were killed in shelling near evacuation shelters. Over 40,000 Thai civilians were evacuated, some taking refuge in bunkers, according to a report by Natural News.
“I heard a loud noise. My son told me it might be thunder,” said 45-year-old Tep Savouen, a Cambodian mother of four who fled her village. “At that time, I was very scared.”
Leaked phone calls about the incident have revealed that Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra was criticizing her own military while cozying up to Cambodia’s former strongman Hun Sen. Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin, and aunt Yingluck were former Thai PMs. At the same time, Sen is the father of incumbent Cambodian PM Hun Manet.
Both nations are placing the blame on each other. Thailand’s health minister accused Cambodia of “war crimes” for shelling a hospital, while Cambodia insisted it acted in self-defense.
Displaced civilians are in limbo as Bangkok rejected international arbitration and both sides continue to mobilize forces, dashing hopes for a quick de-escalation.
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