New outbreak of violence between Thailand and Cambodia

Border conflict in Southeast Asia

New outbreak of violence between Thailand and Cambodia

The border region of Cambodia and Thailand is not calming down. The countries accuse each other of violating the agreed ceasefire. Was the peace agreement in October in vain?

Less than two months after the signing of a peace agreement, tensions in the border region of Thailand and Cambodia are escalating again. On Monday morning, the Thai military carried out airstrikes in the border area, including near the Hindu temple Prasat Preah Vihear, which is claimed by both Southeast Asian countries.

The aerial shelling came in retaliation for attacks by Cambodian troops in the Chong An Ma border area early in the morning that killed a Thai soldier, Thailand’s army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Thai media. Cambodia first fired grenades and rockets at military and civilian targets in Thailand, and several other soldiers were injured.

Cambodia’s defense ministry called Thailand’s account “false information” and accused the neighboring country’s armed forces of first opening fire in the Cambodian part of the disputed border area. In addition to F16 fighter jets, they also used gas, explained ministry spokesman Maly Socheata. What kind of gas it was said to have been was not described in more detail. For its part, Cambodia “exercised the greatest restraint” and did not return fire, the spokesman said.

According to media reports, residents on both sides of the border fled their residential areas.

At the end of October, the neighboring countries signed a peace agreement at the summit of the Southeast Asian community of states, Asean, after heavy fighting between their armed forces in the border area in July. This was mediated by US President Donald Trump. But the agreed ceasefire had already been suspended in November after another incident at the border. The conflict over the course of the 800 kilometer long border between the two countries has been simmering for decades.