Thailand declares martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia
"Martial law is now in effect" in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat, commander of the Border Defence Command, Apichart Sapprasert, said in a statement.
The declaration was made to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the lives and property of Thai citizens, the statement also said.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have hit their lowest point in more than a decade, with both sides trading fire and air strikes since Thursday and tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border moving away from the conflict zone.
The UN Security Council said it would hold an emergency meeting to discuss the escalating crisis later on Friday.
Over 58,000 people fled their homes from four affected Thai border provinces and sought refuge in temporary shelters, the Thai Health Ministry said on Friday.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Cambodia said more than 4,000 were evacuated from areas near the border.
The two sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets at each other, which Thailand said killed one Thai soldier and 13 civilians and wounded at least 14 soldiers and 32 civilians.
Cambodia reported its first death from the fighting on Friday.
Thailand has also launched airstrikes at Cambodia, reportedly involving one of its six US-made F-16 fighter jets.
The fighting began on Thursday morning close to the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, beside the border between Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province.
It comes after months of heightened tensions between the neighbours, following the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border skirmish in May.
The Thai army said six armed Cambodian soldiers opened fire near one of its military stations on Thursday, while Cambodia blamed Thailand for causing the latest clashes.
In a statement published on Thursday, Cambodia's foreign ministry said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms this reckless and hostile act by Thailand," urging its neighbour to cease hostilities.
Thailand's foreign ministry also issued a similar message, in which it encouraged Cambodia to bring the flare-up to an end.
"The Royal Thai Government calls upon Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents that have occurred, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand's sovereignty," it said.
Both Cambodia and Thailand have downgraded diplomatic relations since Wednesday, with Cambodia recalling its diplomatic staff and expelling the Thai ambassador on Thursday.
Thailand also sealed all land border crossings with Cambodia, following a land mine blast on Wednesday that injured five Thai soldiers, one of whom lost a leg.
Thai authorities claim that Cambodian troops have recently laid mines in previously safe areas, something Cambodia strongly rejects, saying that they are the legacy of old wars and unrest.
There have also been major political consequences in Thailand, with former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended from office last month after making what critics saw as a disparaging comment about her country's military in a phone call to Cambodia's former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who leaked a recording of it.
The border dispute between the two countries started more than a century ago, following the end of France's occupation of Cambodia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Thai-Cambodian border clashes: Trump threatens to withhold trade deals until ceasefire
02:22 27/07/2025 China calls for shared AI future, offering tech to developing countries Asia / Pacific 27/07/2025 Taiwanese voters reject attempt to recall China-friendly lawmakers Asia / Pacific 27/07/2025 Thailand and Cambodia clash despite ceasefire hopes Asia / Pacific 27/07/2025 Thai-Cambodian border conflit: 200,000 thousand people displaced Asia / Pacific 27/07/2025 Thai-Cambodia border clashes continue despite Trump's ceasefire call Asia / Pacific 26/07/2025 Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly MPs in closely watched poll Asia / Pacific 26/07/2025 Civilians flee Thai-Cambodia border zone as death toll rises Asia / Pacific 26/07/2025 Thailand and Cambodia trade accusations as deadly border clashes enter third day Asia / Pacific
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Euronews
Thailand and Cambodia show support for US-backed ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia have expressed their support for negotiating a US-mediated ceasefire following four days of fighting, which has so far left at least 34 people dead and displaced more than 168,000. Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and suggested he would not move forward with trade agreements with either country if the hostilities continued. He later said both sides agreed to meet to negotiate a ceasefire. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Sunday his country agreed to pursue an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire.' He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following Trump's conversation with Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. 'This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries,' Hun Manet said in a statement. He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailand's foreign minister to implement the ceasefire. Thailand expressed cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for 'sincere intention' from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. Phumtam called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution, it said. The fighting first flared up on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia. Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements. Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai army deputy spokesperson, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers. Richa said Trump's efforts to mediate was a 'separate matter.' The battlefield operations will continue and a ceasefire can only happen if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law," Thailand's Foreign Ministry said separately. Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, followed by a "large-scale incursion" involving tanks and ground troops in multiple areas. 'Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailand's clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict,' she said. Thailand on Sunday reported a new death of a soldier, bringing the total number of fatalities to 21, mostly civilians. Cambodia said 13 people have been killed. More than 131,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations and over 37,000 people fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut. Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, said the sudden outbreak of fighting meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return home to protect his family. 'I didn't have the heart to continue with my work when I heard the news. I wanted to come back as soon as possible but I had to wait until the evening,' he said. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his wife and twin daughters, hoping the conflict will end soon so they can return to their home in Kap Choeng district, one of the hardest hit by shelling. Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who moved to the same shelter Thursday with her family and pet rabbit, is counting on swift negotiations to end the violence. 'I pray for God to help that both sides can agree to talk and end this war,' she said. The UN Security Council has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the two members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by International law, in populated areas, and urged both governments to protect civilians. The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief.
LeMonde
a day ago
- LeMonde
Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along border as death toll rises
Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day on Saturday, July 26, as a border conflict that killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier. Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries' coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250 kilometers southwest of the main frontlines, thumping with blasts on Saturday afternoon. Both sides say they are open to a truce in the combat being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining armistice efforts. Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the countries' rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice. Cambodia's Defense Ministry said 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded. Thai authorities say 13 civilians and seven soldiers have been killed on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011. Both sides reported a coastline clash around 5 am local time on Saturday, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing "five heavy artillery shells" into Pursat province, bordering Thailand's Trat province. The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, and more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia. After an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday, Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," he told reporters. Border row Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Saturday that for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show "genuine sincerity in ending the conflict." "I urge Cambodia to stop violating Thai sovereignty and to return to resolving the issue through bilateral dialogue," Maris told reporters. Partner service Learn French with Gymglish Thanks to a daily lesson, an original story and a personalized correction, in 15 minutes per day. Try for free Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Friday, before the UN meeting was held, that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia. Malaysia currently holds the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members. Both sides have blamed the other for firing first. Additionally, Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Thailand has accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a gas station struck by at least one rocket. Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, still an influential figure in the kingdom, visited shelters on Saturday to meet evacuees. "The military needs to complete its operations before any dialogue can take place," Thaksin told reporters. The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbors over their shared 800-kilometer border, where dozens of kilometers are contested. A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for more than a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash on the border. Relations between the two countries soured dramatically when Hun Sen last month released a recording of a call with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra focused on the border row. The leak triggered a political crisis in Thailand as Paetongtarn, Thaksin's daughter, was accused of not standing up for Thailand enough, and of criticizing her own army. She was suspended from office by a court order.
