Bangkok, Thailand – armed clashes broke out between Thai and Cambodian soldiers along a border region contested on Thursday, killing at least 12 dead, a long -term climbing in a long -term simulation conflict that had become more tense in recent weeks.
The two parties pulled light weapons, rockets and artillery, and Thailand called air strikes on targets in Cambodia. Thai officials said Thursday that they closed the border entirely.
The flash point seemed to be the old Ta Muon Thom Temple, a disputed site nestled on a mountain in the province of Surin in Thailand. The initial commitment quickly spread, engulfing four Thai provinces bordering the northern border of Cambodia: Surin; If his ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Buriram, according to the 2nd command of the army of Thailand.
Each country has accused the other of starting Thursday’s skirmishes. The Thai army said that its forces heard a drone before seeing six armed Cambodian soldiers get closer to Thai military positions on the border, then opening fire. The Defense Ministry of Cambodia said that Thailand had deployed a drone before opening fire and that Cambodienes troops had reacted to self -defense.
In a statement, the Thai army said that it “condemns Cambodia for using weapons for attacking civilians in Thailand. Thailand is ready to protect sovereignty and our people against inhuman action ”.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote to the President of the United Nations Security Council to ask for an urgent meeting to arrest “unlike and premeditated military assault” by Thailand. In an article on Facebook, he called on Cambodians to “maintain their morality and their dignity, and to avoid discrimination or any action that could affect the Royal Thai Embassy in Cambodia, Thai societies and Thai citizens living in Cambodia.”
The acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Vejjayachai, told journalists in remarks that the fighting should stop before there were negotiations with Cambodia.
People killed included a soldier and 11 civilians, according to the Thai Health Ministry. At least eight soldiers and 35 civilians were injured, the ministry said. Thailand has evacuated more than 40,000 people from border areas, passing by many of them in temporary shelters.
Cambodia has not yet commented on the victims on its side. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Scheata did not provide details when he was asked at a press conference.
Thursday’s fights took place after weeks of reception of tensions following a shooting incident on May 28 who killed a Cambodian soldier. Since then, Cambodia has requested the International Court of Justice, forbidden certain Thai imports and announced that it would start to conscript younger citizens from next year.
On Wednesday, Thailand expelled the ambassador of Cambodia and recalled his envoy to Phnom Penh after closing certain border passages. The former Prime Minister of Thailand was suspended after an appeal disclosed between her and Hun Sen, the former Prime Minister of Cambodia, sparked political crashes.
The 800 -kilometer long border between Cambodia and Thailand has been a source of discord for decades, with old temples and historical claims frequently triggering diplomatic friction.
Includes the reports of RFA Khmer and Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA, as well as anchons France-Press, the Associated Press and Reuters.