PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A border clash between troops from Cambodia and Thailand resumed Saturday, a day after at least six soldiers were killed and thousands of civilians were forced to evacuate the battle zone.
The fighting springs from decades-old competing claims over small swaths of land along the border, with nationalistic politics fueling tensions. Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th century Preah Vihear temple on the border was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thai objections.
Friday's fighting was the first reported since four days of fighting in February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the Preah Vihear temple, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of the new flare-up.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said fighting resumed at about 6 a.m. Saturday at the same three locations where troops from both countries battled for several hours the previous day with artillery and small arms.
Wachira Kitphan, an official in Thailand's Phanom Dong Rak district, said both sides engaged in an artillery duel until about 8 a.m. Saturday.
Cambodian officials said that in addition to skirmishes Friday near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan and a third point, artillery fell on villages and other areas as far as 13 miles (21 kilometers) inside its territory.
Each side blamed the other for the resumption of fighting.
Thai army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul said three Thai soldiers were killed Friday and 13 were wounded, one critically. Cambodian defense spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat said three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six wounded.
No reports of casualties from Saturday's clash were immediately available.
Cambodia's Bayon TV, which has close links to the government, showed footage Friday night of damaged houses and civilians being evacuated by farm vehicles to schools and Buddhist pagodas 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the front lines.
A statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Thailand said the country had "exercised its inherent right of self-defense on the basis of necessity, proportionality and strictly directed at military targets from where the attacks were launched by Cambodian troops."
Indonesia, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called Friday for an immediate cease-fire and further efforts to resolve the border dispute. Fighting stopped by early Friday afternoon, but no cease-fire was reached, Cambodian officials said.
Tensions between the neighbors have been exacerbated in recent months in part by pressure from influential Thai nationalist groups that have protested in Bangkok, urging the government to take back disputed border territory. Hardcore nationalists insist a 1962 World Court ruling awarding the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia was unfair.
The flare-up comes as the Thai military raises its profile in domestic politics ahead of a general election expected to be held by early July. The army had previously effectively vetoed an agreed-on plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation, flexing its muscles in the foreign policy field.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong sent a note to the president of the U.N. Security Council accusing Thailand of refusing to accept the Indonesian monitors so it could carry out "this deliberate act of aggression."
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called for a meeting of one of the bilateral committees the two countries have set up to discuss border issues.
Reiterating Thailand's stance on its dispute with Cambodia, Abhisit said it was not necessary for ASEAN or other multinational bodies to take up the matter, because then "it will be harder to solve."
Cambodia insists bilateral talks are unproductive and that a third party's participation would be useful.
Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok contributed to this report.
2 comments:
Again, I urge the khmer gov't to increase in migrating more Viets for at least another 2 millions and place them around preah vihear area along the 4.6km ASAP. Because the Thai people are taking advantage of us and our down fall. We have to find way to protect our nation and our country and to do that we all must be united and work together as a team. Remember this, the Viet have helped us in many ways but never did the Thai. In 1979-1980 they helped to killed our people by dumping us in the mine-field. Many of us were killed by them. less we forget!!!. So, it is better for Viets than for the Thai. In 1979 the viets not only gave us rice to eat but also saved the whole nation. Please don't let anyone put both Viet and khmer down. We all must work together as a team and promote peace and harmony. Note do not listen to the Thai no more enough is enough!!!For Thai, you are not only attacking khmer but also Viets, I promise you this, you will pay for it, it is called 'Karma" . Aust
You fucking moron, do not get it. The real problem is not the border conflict, it's your the illegal viet people that are terrorizing the local people.
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