Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day yesterday, as a border conflict that killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier.
Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries’ coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, about 250km southwest of the main front lines thumping with blasts yesterday afternoon.
“It feels like I’m escaping a war zone,” 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai told reporters at a temple shelter for evacuees in Kanthararom, Thailand, after abandoning his farm near the embattled frontier.
Photo: AFP
Both sides said they are open to a truce in the combat being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining armistice efforts.
Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites, before fighting spread along the countries’ rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said that 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.
Thai authorities said 13 civilians and seven soldiers have been killed on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.
Both sides reported a coastline clash at about 5am yesterday, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing “five heavy artillery shells” into Cambodia’s Pursat Province.
The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, and more than 35,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
After an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday, Cambodian Ambassador to the UN Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire.
“Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” he said.
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa yesterday said that for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show “genuine sincerity in ending the conflict.”
“I urge Cambodia to stop violating Thai sovereignty and to return to resolving the issue through bilateral dialogue,” Maris said.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nikorndej Balankura on Friday said that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.
Malaysia holds the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.
Both sides have blamed the other for firing first.
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