Thailand-Cambodia Clashes: Toll Rises, Both Sides Blame Each Other For Preventing Ceasefire
New Delhi: Thailand and Cambodia were engaged in military hostilities along their border for the second day on Friday (July 25), with deaths reported on both sides and tens of thousands of people fleeing the violence.
Thailand's army said six soldiers were killed on Thursday and Friday. Reuters reports that the total toll in the country is 19, with a Cambodian provincial official reporting one death on their side.
Both sides have blamed each other for initiating the hostilities, which occur against the backdrop of tensions along their long-disputed border.
The situation escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with Thai troops while he dug trenches along the border in May.
Earlier this week, a landmine explosion had injured several Thai soldiers, following which the two countries expelled each other's ambassadors in tit-for-tat moves and downgraded diplomatic ties.
While Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia – which currently chairs the ASEAN bloc that Thailand and Cambodia are members of – said he spoke to the Thai acting prime minister and his Cambodian opposite number calling for a ceasefire, both those leaders on Friday laid the blame at the other side for continuing hostilities.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Friday that he agreed with Ibrahim's proposal for a ceasefire and had heard from him that Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai too was on board, but that the Thai side ultimately “reversed their position”, choosing instead to ‘wait for a later date’.
Meanwhile, Thailand's foreign ministry said on Friday evening that although Bangkok “fully agrees with” Ibrahim's proposal and “will consider it”, “Cambodian forces have continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory”, showing Phnom Penh's “lack of good faith”.
Bangkok said in a statement on Friday afternoon that “the current situation is a dispute between the governments and armed forces of both countries and not between the people”.
“This is not a declaration of war but merely a clash along the border in order to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity and to respond to the aggression,” it added.
The UN Security Council was scheduled to discuss the conflict in New York at 3 pm local time (12:30 am on Saturday Indian time) in a closed emergency meeting.
Following the eruption of hostilities on Thursday, over 58,000 people fled from villages to temporary shelters, per the Thai public health ministry. Cambodian authorities said more than 23,000 people evacuated from the border region.
Thailand has declared martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia.
This article went live on July twenty-sixth, two thousand twenty five, at one minutes past two at night.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
