Thailand-Cambodia border war drives mass exodus as attacks mount

Fresh fighting came as Asean chair Malaysia urged both sides to halt violence that has left at least 15 Thais dead

Around 100,000 people have fled clashes along Thailand’s border as Cambodia was accused on Friday of launching renewed rocket barrages and rival troops exchanged gunfire in a crisis that has left at least 15 Thais dead.

A weeks-long stand-off erupted into open conflict on Thursday, with Thailand using F-16 fighter jets to strike targets inside Cambodia while salvoes of Russian-made rockets hit Thai territory.

Both sides blamed each other for triggering the violence along at least six spots on their shared border, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet calling Bangkok’s action “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate” in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, which will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the violence.

Meanwhile, Thailand on Friday accused Cambodia of striking first and targeting civilians, including in a hospital in Surin province. The health ministry said 15 people, including a soldier, had died so far.

According to the Thai interior ministry, more than 100,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated to temporary shelters.

Cambodia is yet to issue an official casualty report from its side.

Renewed clashes took place early on Friday, according to Thailand’s military.

“Cambodia forces have conducted sustained bombardment using heavy weapons, field artillery and BM-21 rocket systems,” it said in a statement, adding its forces “have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation”.

Fresh fighting came as calls mounted for a ceasefire, with the risks of a prolonged conflict likely to lead to greater loss of life and damage the economies of two nations already in the teeth of punishing tariffs from the United States.

Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Asean chair, said he had spoken to the warring sides – who are members of the bloc – overnight and “appealed directly to both leaders for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further hostilities and to create space for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution”.

“I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward.” The UN and US echoed calls for ceasefire.

The neighbours share a 500km border, with the dispute centring on ownership of several areas, demarcated by temples.

Rolling clashes between 2008 and 2011 left at least 28 people dead and displaced tens of thousands.

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The dispute draws back to colonial-era maps made over a century ago by France when it governed Cambodia.

Several temples mark the dividing line, revered and claimed by people from both sides of the border as their own. They have become the symbolic front lines in long-running contested ownership and the subject of caustic debates by Thais and Cambodians over heritage.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Preah Vihear temple, a 1,000-year-old Khmer-era Hindu shrine, belonged to Cambodia – a decision rejected by Thailand, which says it was based on inaccurate boundary lines drawn by French colonialists.

Cambodia turned to the ICC again in 2011 following clashes over the temple. The court reaffirmed its earlier judgment that the area fell within Cambodia’s sovereignty, prompting Bangkok to dismiss the ruling.

Cambodia also accused Thailand of damaging the Unesco World Heritage site in air strikes, according to the Khmer Times. It was not immediately possible to verify the claims.

Conflict began to edge closer after Hun Sen, a long-time ally of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and father of Cambodia’s current leader, ripped up their friendship with the release of a call between him and the billionaire’s daughter, Paetongtarn.

In the call, Prime Minister Paetongtarn was accused of being too respectful to the Cambodian former strongman by calling him “uncle” and appearing to denigrate a senior Thai army commander in the border area.

The leaked conversation has seen Paetongtarn suspended from office pending a court ruling that has tipped Thailand into a new political crisis.

She has until the end of July to offer her defence against the allegations of ethical misconduct by a court that has ousted several leaders linked to her father’s party.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse, Reuters