Fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border extended into a third day on Saturday, with new flashpoints emerging and both sides blaming the other for the escalation. The conflict, the worst between the Southeast Asian neighbors in 13 years, has resulted in a mounting death toll and mass displacement of civilians.
More than 30 people have been killed, with casualties on both sides including soldiers and civilians. Over 130,000 people have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in temporary shelters. A university compound in Thailand’s Sisaket province has been converted into an accommodation center, housing more than 5,000 people who have fled their homes.
The clashes, which began on Thursday, expanded to new fronts on Saturday in Thailand’s Trat province and Cambodia’s Pursat Province. The long-running border dispute is centered on a series of undemarcated points along their 817-km border, with ancient temples such as Preah Vihear at the heart of the territorial claims.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, is leading diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. While Cambodia has backed Anwar’s plan, Thailand has said it agrees with it “in principle” but insists a truce must be based on “appropriate on-the-ground conditions.”
At a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday, both nations presented their cases. Thailand’s ambassador accused Cambodia of launching unprovoked attacks and planting new landmines, while Cambodia’s defense ministry claimed Thailand launched a “deliberate, unprovoked, and unlawful military attack” and was mobilizing troops and equipment. The U.N. Security Council has called on both parties to de-escalate fighting and resolve the dispute peacefully through dialogue.
