When the border conflict enters the third day between Thailand and Cambodia – National
Thailand and Cambodia conducted new attack charges on Saturday as deadly border conflict entered the third day, with international pressure imposing a ceasefire.
The battle killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 168,000 people.
Artillery and small arms fires reportedly expanded the combat area after five Thai soldiers injured by the border explosion on Thursday, near several border villages. Cambodian and Thai officials blame each other for starting a conflict.
The two countries recalled the ambassadors that Thailand closed its border crossing with Cambodia.
Cambodian authorities reported 12 new deaths on Saturday, resulting in 13 people, while the Thai military said a soldier was killed, increasing the death toll to 20, mainly civilians.
Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said on Saturday that the conflict forced three border provinces to force evacuation of 10,865 Cambodian families (Cambodia families) or 37,635 people to evacuate safe locations. More than 131,000 people fled the border village, Thai officials said.
The Southeast Asian Nations Association is under increasing pressure to ease tensions between its two members. At an emergency meeting on Friday, members of the UN Security Council called for a downgrade and urged ASEAN to mediate a peaceful solution.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said he was in contact with leaders in Thailand and Cambodia and urged both sides to arrive at a ceasefire. In an article on social media, Trump suggested that if cross-border hostilities continue, he would not reach a trade agreement with any country.
The 800-km (500-mile) border between Thailand and Cambodia has been controversial for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and short-lived. The latest tension broke out in May when Cambodian soldiers were killed in a confrontation that created diplomatic rifts and wasted domestic politics in Thailand.
Various trade allegations and denials of liability
Cambodia’s defense ministry condemned the Thai offensive earlier Saturday after five heavy shells were fired into the pursuit province. It said the attack was an “unreasonable and premeditated act of aggression.”
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Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said tensions broke out in the northern coastal north and expressed concern about the possibility of a maritime confrontation.
Maly Socheata said seven Cambodian civilians and five soldiers were killed in a two-day battle. Another man was reportedly killed when he was hiding in a pagoda below was attacked by a Thai rocket.
The Thai military denied targeting Cambodian civilians and accused Phnom Penh of using a “human shield” by locating weapons near residential areas.
In a statement Saturday, the Thai Navy accused Cambodian forces of launching a new attack in the Trat province, which has a border with Koh Kong, saying Thai forces responded quickly and “successfully pushed the Cambodian invasion back to three key points.” The Navy warned: “Invasion will not be tolerated.”
Thai authorities have also accused several Cambodian shells of destroying houses and property in neighboring Laos. Lao officials have not yet publicly responded to the claim.
Calls for the protection of civilians to use cluster bombs
Human Rights Watch urges the UN Security Council and other countries to urge Thailand and Cambodia to comply with international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect civilians. The rights group said in a statement Saturday that children were harmed and Thailand closed at least 852 schools and seven hospitals.
A Thai military spokesman said Friday that both sides had fired rockets and artillery, and could “use” such weapons on the necessary basis to achieve military goals on Friday after initially denied Cambodia’s claims to be using internationally prohibited cluster ammunition. Human Rights Watch condemns the use of clusters of ammunition in densely populated areas.
Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are gatherings of cluster ammunition that prohibit the use of weapons. Thai authorities used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011, killing 20 people.
“Neither Thailand nor Cambodia seem to have paid great sacrifices to international humanitarian law,” said John Sifton, director of advocacy for Human Rights Watch, in a statement. “Ongoing diplomatic efforts require priority protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
Thai officials acknowledged it launched air strikes using F-16 jets and drones.
International allies call for peace
The UN Security Council did not issue a resolution on the crisis at its emergency meeting on Friday, but Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampon said on Saturday that 15 members of the group called for restraint and an end to hostilities and a peaceful solution. He said they also support ASEAN mediation.
Malaysia’s current chairman, Malaysia’s leader said Thailand and Cambodia were in principle open to the ceasefire proposal. Malaysian media said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has tasked the country’s foreign minister to mediate peace talks.
Maris said his country agreed in principle to ASEAN’s ceasefire proposal on Saturday, but insisted that Cambodia must first stop hostilities. He said Thailand continues to interact with Malaysia on the matter.
“Thailand reaffirms its commitment to peace and to resolve conflicts in accordance with international law,” he said.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
