Villagers flee hostilities on Thailand Cambodia border
Fighting took place in at least six areas on Thursday, according to Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri, a day after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers and led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador from Cambodia and expel Cambodia's envoy to Thailand.
On Friday, Cambodia's chief official in Oddar Meanchey province, General Khov Ly, said clashes resumed early in the morning near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. Associated Press reporters near the border could hear sounds of artillery from early morning hours.
The official also said that at least four civilians were wounded in Thursday's fighting there and that more than 4,000 people have been displaced from their villages along the border to evacuation centres. It was the first account of any casualties from the Cambodian side.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides "to exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue," according to UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.
Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the clashes, alleging that civilians were being targeted.
In Bangkok, the Public Health Ministry said a Thai soldier and 13 civilians, including children, were killed while 14 soldiers and 32 other civilians were injured. Minister Somsak Thepsuthin condemned what he said were the attacks on civilians and a hospital as violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.
"We urge the Cambodian government to immediately halt these war criminal actions, and return to respecting the principles of peaceful coexistence," he said.
The Interior Ministry was ordered to evacuate people at least 50 kilometres from the border.
In Cambodia, several hundred villagers moved from their homes near the border to about 30 kilometres deeper inside Oddar Meanchey province. Many made the journey with entire families and most of their possessions on home-made tractors, before settling down with hammocks and makeshift shelters.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote to the UN Security Council asking for an urgent meeting "to stop Thailand's aggression." The council has scheduled an emergency closed meeting in New York on Friday.
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have long had border disputes, which periodically flare along their 800-kilometre frontier and usually result in brief confrontations, only rarely involving the use of weapons. The last major combat over the issue was in 2011, leaving 20 dead.
However, relations sharply deteriorated since a May confrontation killed a Cambodian soldier.
The Thai army and Cambodia's Defence Ministry each said the other side deployed drones before advancing on the other's positions and opening fire. The two sides later used heavier weaponry such as artillery, causing greater damage and casualties, and Thailand said it responded with airstrikes to truck-mounted rockets launched by Cambodia.
Thailand's air force said it deployed F-16 fighter jets in two attacks on Cambodia.
Cambodia's Defence Ministry said the Thai jets dropped bombs that damaged the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which has been a site of past conflicts between the two countries.
The country's Culture Ministry said Cambodia would pursue justice under international law, since the temple was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the UN's cultural organisation, and is a "historical legacy of the Cambodian people."
Thai authorities allege land mines were newly laid along paths that both sides had agreed were supposed to be safe. They said the mines were Russian-made and not of a type employed by Thailand's military.
Cambodia rejected Thailand's account as "baseless accusations," pointing out that many unexploded mines and other ordnance are a legacy of 20th century wars and unrest.
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