Renewed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia at border Financial Glossary

Renewed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia at border

BANGKOK (eTN)-It sounds almost like routine. But after a brief two-month lull in creeping fights across the border to the well-know Preah Vihar temple, clashes erupted again yesterday between Thai and Cambodian troops. A statement from Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions that “Around 06.30-07.00 am, Cambodian troops opened fire and launched heavy weapons, including mortars and artillery, without any provocation, into the area of Ta Kwai Temple and along the Thai-Cambodian border towards Ta Muen Temples, situated in Surin Province. The Cambodian troops launched these attacks after a Thai Military Patrol Unit encountered armed Cambodian soldiers constructing bunkers in the area of Ta Kwai temple on Thai territory and informed the Cambodian side that such acts clearly violate Thai sovereignty”. Ta Muen and Ta Kwai (Ta Krabey in Cambodia) temples are located 150 km southwest of Preah Vihar.

Still according to the Ministry statement, despite discussions held between the commanders of both countries, mortars firing and artillery started again from the Cambodian side at 8:30 am. Three Thai soldiers died in the fighting. Between 7,500 and 10,000 civilians were evacuated on the Thai side as a precaution measure.

Of course, the version is rather different from the Cambodian side, the blame being put of course on Thailand. According to the newspaper the Phnom Penh Post, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the fighting broke out after Thai troops fired on their Cambodian counterparts around 6.00 am near Ta Krabey temple, about 15 kilometres from Ta Moan temple in the border province of Oddar Meanchey on Cambodian side. PReliminary reports said three Cambodian soldiers were killed while 200 families were relocated for safety reasons. “We did not start this fight,” claimed Phay Siphan. “We cannot accept this act.”

The current clashes are the most violent since a ceasefire was agreed on February 22, following days of fighting around Preah Vihar temple, killing 11 people and wounding dozens of villagers on both sides of the border. After negotiations in Jakarta under the auspices of Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs who chairs this year the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), it was agreed that unarmed Indonesian military observers would be stationed along the border. However, the agreement has still not been implemented yet. Situation remains then tense between the two Kingdoms but so far, UNESCO-listed Preah Vihar temple has been spared from fighting. Talking to the Phnom Penh Post, a major from the Royal Cambodian Army explained that troops were ready at Preah Vihar if necessary…

Although tourism is not affected by this stand-off between both countries, local people along the border areas are likely to suffer as the situation remains unstable. TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni told a few weeks ago during the fights around Preah Vihar temple that it would be indeed hard to promote Southeastern Isaan provinces -even domestically- due to the insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, development around Preah Vihar temple – one of Cambodia’s top tourist assets- will probably stay in limbos for a couple of more years… And ASEAN is loosing a little bit more of its credibility to show a unified face to the rest of the world.

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