Bangkok (AP)-Armed collisions broke out on Thursday between Thailand and Cambodia in long-term border areas, fast escalating months of tensions … …
Bangkok (AP)-Armed collisions broke out on Thursday between Thailand and Cambodia in long-term border areas, fast escalating months of tensions.
Battles gunfire changes and shelling and rocket fireThai authorities said they killed at least nine Thai citizens and wounded 14 others in three provinces. Thailand reacted with air strikes.
It was the second armed confrontation since one Cambodian soldier was shot in May and a large escalation that came hours after the two countries diplomatic relations lowered After an explosion of the land mine that injured Thai soldiers.
Collisations are underway in at least six areas along the border, said the Thai Ministry of Defense. The first collision on Thursday morning happened in an area near the old Ta Muen Thom -Temple along the border of Surin and the Oddar Meanchey province Cambodia.
This is what about the dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
How the dispute started
The dispute flared up in May after the armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia shot in short In a relatively small, disputed border area that every country claims as his.
Both parties said they acted in self -defense. A Cambodian soldier was killed.
While the countries said afterwards that they agreed to de-escalate, the Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten measures, shortly before armed power, making the tensions high.
Thailand added tight limitations to the border with Cambodia that stopped almost all intersections Except students, medical patients and others with essential needs. On Thursday, the Thai authorities announced that they completely sealed the border.
Cambodia also forbade Thai films and TV showsThe import of Thai fuel, fruit and vegetables and boycott stopped some of the international internet tires and food of his neighbor.
Fighting wraps political unrest in Thailand
Nationalist passions to both parties have inflamed the situation.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinatra It was suspended on July 1 to be investigated for possible ethical violations about her handling of the border conflict after a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian leader.
In the call of June, Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian former Prime Minister Them late As ‘uncle’ and Thai military leadership criticized, comments framed by critics as disrespectful for national sovereignty.
Their sen was succeeded by his son their manet in 2023, but remains influential as a senate speaker. He was an old friend of her father, Thaksin ShinatraA popular but division former Prime Minister, but they became alienated over the border conflict.
The leaked call led to widespread indignation and protests. Paetongtarn’s PHEU Thai party-guided coalition also weakened when her second largest partner, the Bhumjaithai party, pulled support and quoted her observed softness towards Cambodia.
Paetongtarn apologized and argued that her comments were a negotiating tactic. Her ally, former defense minister Phumtham Wateaconhaiwas appointed acting prime minister.
Border claims cause periodic tensions
Border conflicts are long -term issues that have caused periodic tensions between the two neighbors. Thailand and Cambodia share more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) land border.
The competition claims are largely stems from a map from 1907 drawn under the French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia used the card as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued that the card is inaccurate.
The most prominent and violent conflicts are around the 1,000 year old preah vihear temple.
In 1962, the International Court of Appeal granted sovereignty about the temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritating in bilateral relations.
Cambodia went back to court in 2011, after several collisions between her army and Thai troops who killed around 20 people and thousands of displaced persons. The court confirmed the decision in favor of Cambodia in 2013.
Cambodia has again used to the international court to resolve the border conflicts, but Thailand rejected the jurisdiction of the court.
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