Ten days after agreeing on one Truce The Thai army has accused the Cambodian armed forces of violating the agreement. The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of firing mortars across the border into Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province. A Thai soldier was injured.
The Cambodian army told the Thai side that it had no intention of firing into Thai territory. The incident was due to an “operational error”. The Thai army then warned the Cambodian side to be cautious and said it might have to retaliate if another incident occurred.
Thailand According to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, filed a complaint about the alleged ceasefire violation. “At the military level, we were informed that the incident was an accident, but we are seeking clarification on how responsibility will be taken,” Anutin said.
Two injured in explosion from garbage heap
Meanwhile, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata reported two injured Cambodian soldiers in Preah Vihear province, which borders Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province. Socheata explained that during measures taken by the Cambodian armed forces in the area of ”organization and order” there was an “explosion from a pile of rubbish”. Two soldiers had to be taken to hospital and one was seriously injured.
Thailand and Cambodia had agreed on an “immediate” ceasefire on December 27th after weeks of fighting. Both sides wanted to stop their troop movements and enable refugee civilians to return as quickly as possible.
A million displaced people
The border conflict between the neighboring countries, which had been simmering for many years, flared up again in December. According to official figures, at least 47 people have been killed and around a million displaced since then.
The USA, China and Malaysia had worked towards an end to the fighting. The three countries had already brokered a ceasefire in July after border clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors left dozens dead, but it was fragile. US President Donald Trump then announced a further agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in October, but this was also broken after a few weeks.
The conflict is the result of an unclear border demarcation by Cambodia’s former colonial occupier France in 1907. How the approximately 800 kilometer long border should run has still not been negotiated. Both sides also lay claim to historic temple ruins in the area.
