La Derecha Diario Cambodia and Thailand are involved in violent armed clashes on their border
The tension between the two Southeast Asian countries has escalated to a point of no return, where diplomatic solutions seem to have no place
Early Thursday morning, a serious escalation occurred in a long-standing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, with armed clashes at at least six points along their shared border.
The clash left at least 12 dead, mostly Thai civilians, and more than 30 injured, making it the most violent confrontation between the two nations since 2011.
The violence erupted after a landmine explosion the previous day that injured five Thai soldiers, which led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expel the Cambodian diplomat.
According to the Thai Ministry of Defense, the fighting included the use of small arms, heavy artillery, and rockets, to which Thailand replied with airstrikes, one of which bombed a Cambodian military position.
Camboya y Tailandia protagonizaron violentos enfrentamientos armados en su frontera
Both countries accuse each other
The first skirmish took place Thursday near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, in Thailand's Surin province, a historically disputed area. Both countries accuse each other of initiating the aggression.
Cambodia claims its attacks were limited to military targets in defense of its sovereignty, while Thailand alleges that Cambodian forces attacked civilian areas, including a hospital, which constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
Thailand's Minister of Public Health reported that among the deceased were a soldier and 11 civilians, including two minors aged 8 and 15. He also denounced attacks on hospitals, labeling them as war crimes.
The dispute over a temple
In response to the escalating violence, Thai authorities ordered the evacuation of their population within a 50-kilometer (31-mile) radius from the border, relocating more than 40,000 people to temporary shelters.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian government has not provided official figures on casualties or displaced persons. Its government limited itself to requesting an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to stop what it described as a "premeditated military aggression" by Thailand.
The conflict has historical roots in unsolved border disputes along the 817-kilometer (508-mile) line separating the two countries. One of the most sensitive points is the Preah Vihear temple area, a site declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962.
The international community calls for a ceasefire
Since Cambodia attempted to officially register this temple in 2008, several armed clashes have occurred. In June, the Buddhist country again appealed to the international court to solve the disputes, but Thailand rejects its jurisdiction and prefers bilateral dialogue.
The situation has also impacted local Thai politics. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended after criticism for her attempt to appease the situation through a phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Japan, the United States, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam have called for restraint and an immediate end to hostilities. The State Department described the attacks as a serious threat to regional stability and called for protection of civilians and respect for international law.
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