The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting on Friday to address the ongoing clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia. These clashes turned violent on Thursday, with fighting erupting in the vicinity of two temples situated on the border dividing Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey.
Both countries point fingers at each other for initiating the recent violence. Cambodia is accused of firing rockets and shells into Thailand, which in response deployed F-16 jets to strike military targets across the border.
As of Friday, the fighting persisted through a second day, according to Thai authorities, who also accused Cambodia of using heavy weaponry, including artillery and rockets. The Thai Interior Ministry reported a death toll of 14 among its forces and the evacuation of over 100,000 individuals from four border provinces to approximately 300 temporary shelters.
The casualty count on the Cambodian side remains uncertain, although a provincial official acknowledged the death of at least one civilian and injuries to five others, alongside the evacuation of around 1,500 families from the conflict-affected Banteay Ampil district in Oddar Meanchey province.
The root of the conflict lies in decades-old disputes over the demarcation of the border, particularly around the Emerald Triangle, a region shared by Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and home to several ancient temples. A UN court ruling in 2013 had previously settled the matter, but tensions reignited in May following skirmishes in a contested border area, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
Despite statements from both Bangkok and Phnom Penh that they agreed to de-escalate the situation post-May skirmish, tensions have persisted due to measures short of armed force implemented or threatened by both sides.
The international community has expressed concern over the clashes, with China offering to mediate, and countries like the United States, France, and the EU calling for an immediate end to the conflict and for dialogue to resolve the issues.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/thailand-cambodia-clashes-unsc-to-hold-emergency-meeting/a-73405108?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
