Clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border led the Thai military to evacuate around 138,000 civilians from four provinces in Thailand. This series of violent confrontations kicked off early Friday morning, but the tensions had been mounting much earlier in the week. This humanitarian crisis continues to take a horrific toll with 15 reported casualties thus far, 14 of whom were civilian.
Meanwhile, the military announced that armed fighting first erupted in Ubon Ratchathani province and Surin province shortly before dawn this past Friday. It escalated further on Wednesday when five Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine, raising tensions further in a hotly disputed and violent frontier. On Thursday morning, violence broke out after several weeks of increased hostilities focused around the long-contested border. Combat has erupted in all 12 other districts across this long and volatile border.
So far, both Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the start of the hostilities. Thailand did not accuse Cambodia of deploying landmines to the contested area recently, however—instead, this is a charge that Cambodia has been forced to deny. In the most recent case of violence, an eight-year-old boy was found to be among those killed in the clashes.
Alongside the extraordinary evacuations occurring outside Thailand, at least 1,500 families were evacuated in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia. Cambodian local officials confirmed to Human Rights Watch one civilian killed and five civilians injured. The national government has so far failed to release specific numbers of deaths or evacuations.
The conflict goes much deeper. Nationalist sentiment and the more ire between leaders Hun Sen of Cambodia and Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand has compounded this. A Cambodian soldier who was killed in a 30-minute exchange of fire in mid-May. Today, this awful act has sparked a new wave of violence.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, meanwhile, has recently made a dire prophet. He warned that the increasing violence risk becoming a new war. He expressed concerns over the use of “heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones,” indicating the precarious nature of the ongoing conflict.
“We are … gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” – Tommy Pigott
The United States, a historically strong ally of Thailand, has called for an end to the violence today. It calls on both countries to protect civilians and pursue talks to bring about an end to the war.
“The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” – Tommy Pigott
Domestic pressure pushed China to respond strongly to the increasing violence. They expressed their deep concern and willingness to help mediate peace and dialogue between the two nations.
“China has and will continue to in its own way do its best to promote peace and dialogue,” – Chinese official
As the conflict progresses, Thaksin Shinawatra emphasized support for military action against Cambodia, stating that it is necessary to “let the Thai military do their job, and teach Hun Sen a lesson.”
“We need to let the Thai military do their job, and teach Hun Sen a lesson.” – Thaksin Shinawatra
This ongoing border dispute is a vivid manifestation of historical grudges ingrained in an intricate geopolitical dance central to Southeast Asia’s mainland. Unfortunately, the international community can only watch with dismay as this violence spreads, underscoring the crisis and the desperate need for a diplomatic solution.