Thailand and Cambodia: Conflict escalated – many injuries

A bitter border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia continues to escalate. According to both countries, there were violent shot in the border region in the morning (local time). While the Thai army emphasized that Cambodian soldiers had opened the fire on a military base in the northeastern province of Surin, Kambodia accused the neighboring country of shot.

According to police, eight Thai civilians are said to have been killed. At least 13 other people were injured by artillery fire and rockets in five different locations, it said in a message from the Kantharalak police station in the northeast of Thailand – including a five -year -old child.

On pictures shared by the police on social media could be seen how dense black clouds of smoke rose from a petrol station. A small supermarket and a hospital are said to have been attacked. Thailand had previously accused Cambodian troops of using BM-21 missiles.

It was “violent and inhumane deeds on the Cambodian side” that had fired the BM-21 missiles to a municipal area. According to Bangkok, a Thai civilian is also said to have been killed by a Cambodian artillery attack.

According to reports, people in the region are said to have brought themselves to safety in bunkers after loud artillery fire could be heard. Explosions could be seen on videos spread on the Internet and hearing loud shooting noises. According to the newspaper “Khaosod”, incidents are said to have occurred in six different locations. One occurred near the ruins of the well-known Khmer Temple Prasat Ta Muen Thom.

The newspaper “Bangkok Post” reported that Cambodian soldiers are responsible for the escalation and also had targeted rocket advertisers on Thailand. The Cambodian newspaper “Phnom Penh Post”, on the other hand, spoke of a “blatant act of military aggression, which threatens peace and stability in Southeast Asia” and emphasized that it was an “unprovoked attack on Cambodian troops.”

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote on Facebook: “Cambodia has always campaigned for a peaceful solution to problems, but in this case we have no choice but to react to armed aggressions with armed forces.”

Only shortly before had both countries declared their diplomatic relationships down. Thailand called back his ambassador from Phnom Penh and at the same time showed the Cambodian ambassador. Thailand’s message in Cambodia recommended Thai nationals who are permanently or temporarily in Cambodia and whose stay is not absolutely necessary to leave the country as quickly as possible – “as far as this is certainly possible”.

Since the colonial period, a dispute over the exact course of the more than 800 kilometer long border between the two Southeast Asian countries has been smoldering. Most recently, the dispute was escalated after a change of shot between soldiers from both countries had already occurred at the end of May. A Cambodian soldier had been killed. At the end of June, Thailand closed the border crossings in six provinces.

It was only on Wednesday that several Thai soldiers were injured by the explosion of landmines in the controversial region. According to the army, one lost one leg. Thailand accuses the neighboring country of having recently laid the mines.

Note: This post has been updated.