Deadly fighting between Thailand and Cambodia flared up again on Thursday, leaving at least nine Thai civilians dead and reigniting long standing disputes over the two nations' shared border. The violence, which began early in the morning near the historic Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple, has prompted both countries to seal off the entire border.
Skirmishes have been reported further along the frontier, including near the Prasat Ta Krabey site and along the contested area between Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province. As usual, both sides are pointing fingers, accusing the other of initiating the latest round of conflict.
At the heart of the hostilities lies a deeply rooted border dispute dating back more than a century. The border between the two Southeast Asian neighbors stretches over 800 kilometres and has long been a point of tension.
Much of the discord can be traced back to a 1907 map drawn up by French colonial rulers, which Cambodia uses to assert its territorial claims. Thailand disputes the accuracy of that map and has rejected its legitimacy for decades.
One of the most contentious flashpoints is the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favour of Cambodia, granting it sovereignty over the site. But the dispute didn't end there.
After a series of deadly clashes and growing instability in the area, Cambodia returned to the ICJ in 2011. In a 2013 ruling, the court reaffirmed Cambodia's claim much to Thailand's dismay.
Despite previous efforts to defuse tensions, sporadic violence has persisted over the years. In May, another deadly incident occurred when Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire in a contested border area, killing one Cambodian soldier. Both nations claimed they acted in self defence.
Diplomatic efforts to calm the situation were quickly undercut by tit for tat measures. Thailand tightened border controls, barring casino workers and visitors from crossing into Cambodia. Cambodia, in turn, banned Thai films and TV shows, cut off imports of Thai produce and even restricted internet traffic from its neighbour.
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| Cambodia soldiers looking at people |
The situation worsened earlier this week when Thailand accused Cambodia of laying new landmines in disputed areas. This followed a horrific incident where a Thai soldier lost his second limb in just one week due to a landmine explosion. Bangkok responded by expelling Cambodia’s ambassador and withdrawing its own from Phnom Penh.
By Thursday morning, the conflict took a dramatic and dangerous turn. The Thai military deployed six F-16 fighter jets to strike what they described as a Cambodian military target near the border.
“We have used air power against military targets as planned,” confirmed Colonel Richa Suksuwanon, deputy spokesperson for the Thai army.
In response, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet accused Thailand of launching repeated attacks on Cambodian military sites.
“Cambodia has always maintained a position of peaceful resolution,” Hun Manet said, “but in this case, we have no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression.”
With both sides blaming each other and ramping up military and diplomatic pressure, the risk of a full-blown conflict is growing. International observers are calling for immediate de-escalation, but with trust at an all-time low, the road to peace looks uncertain.
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