Cambodia and Thailand border conflict dates back 100 years ago Credit: CC7/ShutterStock
Fatal battles continued on Friday’s second day at the border between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, leading to the deaths of 14 civilians and the movement of more than 130,000 people who decided to flee the ongoing violence.
“The situation may intensify and escalate into a state of war,” Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters. According to It’s Al Jazeera.
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet said he supported the ceasefire proposal submitted by his Malaysian counterpart and the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN), Anwar Ibrahim. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry later agreed in principle to Malaysia’s proposal for a ceasefire, and said it would consider the plan, but it should be based on “appropriate ground conditions.”
However, they accused Cambodian troops of “continuing indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory.” Cambodia’s actions show a lack of integrity and continue to put civilians at risk,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.
“Our doors are always open.”
in Interview Along with Al Jazeera, a spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, said that Thailand has argued that it has tools to resolve the issue bilaterally, but has not ruled out future mediation by regional partners.
“Our doors have always been open to discussion,” he added. “We are still waiting for a positive response from the Cambodian side.”
Thai military officials reported that conflicts had been reported at 12 locations along the border of the conflict a day ago. This indicates that the conflict is escalating.
A diplomatic source told AFP that the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss border combat.
China, which tends to support Cambodia, is deeply concerned about the conflict, saying that both countries have expressed their desire to “resolve the conflict appropriately through dialogue and consultation.”
As It has been reported With EuroWeekly News, the border dispute between the two countries dates back more than 100 years, when France, which occupied Cambodia until 1953, first mapped the land borders. The conflict over the border, which stretches for more than 508 miles (817 km), has been frequently erupted over the years, supported by nationalist sentiment.
