Both countries have accused each other of violating international law as they await a reassuring phone call from President Donald Trump.
The resumption of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia is entering its fourth day, with both countries accusing each other of violating international law as they await a promised phone call from US President Donald Trump.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry accused the Thai military of carrying out a number of attacks in the country early Thursday, including deploying tanks and artillery to attack targets in the country’s Pursat, Banteay Meanchey and Odar Meanchey provinces.
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In one such attack, Cambodia accused Thai soldiers of violating international humanitarian law by opening fire on civilians in Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province.
Another article accused the Thai military of shelling “the Kunar Temple area” and said the Thai military also “fired artillery and supporting fire in the Osmach area.”
“Cambodia calls on Thailand to immediately cease all hostile activities, withdraw its troops from Cambodia’s territorial integrity, and avoid acts of aggression that threaten regional peace and stability,” the Defense Ministry said.
Clashes broke out on Wednesday at more than a dozen locations along the 817-kilometre (508-mile) colonial-era border between Thailand and Cambodia, in some of the heaviest fighting reported since five days of fighting in July that killed dozens on both sides.
Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said “intensified Thai artillery and F-16 air strikes targeting villages and civilian settlements up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) within Cambodian territory” damaged homes, schools, roads, pagodas and ancient temples.
“It should be noted that these brutal acts of aggression by the Thai military, firing indiscriminately targeting civilian areas, especially schools, further destroyed the Ta Kra Bey and Preah Vihear temples, Cambodia’s very sacred cultural heritage sites and world cultural heritage sites,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that as of Wednesday, the death toll on the Cambodian side of the border was 10 civilians, including one infant, and 60 injured.
In response to the accusation, the Thai military said Cambodia was guilty of violating international law by “deliberately” using the historic site as a “military operations base.”
“Cambodia intentionally used the ancient ruins as a base for military operations to attack Thailand and intentionally undermined the protection of the ancient ruins. Thailand retaliated as necessary,” the Thai military said.
It also announced that eight Thai soldiers have been killed and another 80 injured in fighting so far this week.
Both countries blame each other for the flare-up in the conflict that began on Monday and spread to five provinces in Thailand and Cambodia, according to an AFP tally.
More than 500,000 Thai and Cambodian civilians have been forced to flee the border area due to the fighting.
It was on October 26th that President Trump presided over the signing of a ceasefire between the Southeast Asian neighbors in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. President Trump praised the agreement, which was also brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying the mediators had done “what many said was impossible.”
President Trump said Wednesday he was optimistic about another peace deal, saying, “I think we can get them to stop fighting.”
“I think we’re going to talk to them tomorrow,” he added.
