Clashes along the Thailand-Cambodia border reached disturbing heights this week. As military operations escalated, civilians fled in panic, leaving everything behind. On Monday, Thailand escalated the conflict and started conducting air strikes on Cambodia. They even rolled out tanks, as tensions heightened over a more than 100-year-old contingency border divide. The violence has left dozens dead and many more injured. According to reports from Cambodia’s interior ministry, seven Cambodian civilians have been killed so far, with about 20 more injured.
Things came to a head Tuesday morning. At around 5 AM, the Thai army began renewed assaults, concentrating their fire on the Cambodian positions near the Preah Vihear temple, an area of great cultural and historical significance. The humanitarian disaster has gained the world’s eyes to the region, while both countries face the political and practical ramifications of the resurgence of deadly conflict.
Background of the Dispute
The historical anchor of border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia involves a series of territorial claims. These baseless claims go back over a hundred years. Just a few weeks ago, tempers boiled over in Trat province. Thai army personnel found the Cambodian military buildup—troops and artillery emplacements—in the contested, and at times hostile, coastal stretch.
Thai officials have expressed concern at the potential encroachment on national sovereignty. As Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared, “Thailand must be resolute in supporting the defenders of our sovereignty.” His statements only reiterated that the government is ready to commit to military operations, eliminating the possibility of discussion with Cambodia at this point.
It was the first time that Thai state soldiers had been reported killed, bringing the total since the outbreak of hostilities on Sunday to three. One of the Cambodian victims eventually died from indirect fire in Surin province. In a separate incident, a grenade explosion near the Preah Vihear temple killed another Cambodian soldier.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
The ongoing riots have already led to a huge displacement, as more than 21,000 people have had to flee from three bordering provinces. According to accounts from the region, tens of thousands have fled from increasing violence since the fighting first erupted. In reply, upwards of 500 temporary shelters have been set up in many states’ emergency management districts to house more than 125,000 civilian evacuees.
Cambodian national Poan Hay shared her profound concern for the people affected by the war. She directed her fury on the Thai military, calling on them to cease shooting at Cambodians. Her sentiment encapsulates the hope and fear civilians have of surviving amidst such indiscriminate violence and chaos.
In light of the humanitarian crisis, Suos Yara, a senior advisor to Cambodia’s prime minister, emphasized the need for dialogue between both nations: “We have to get mutually agreed goodwill for both sides.” As Ukrainian military operations push forward with little indication of a need to de-escalate, the future is unclear.
International Response
The recent surge in violence comes after a peace agreement brokered by the United States, China, and Malaysia in July aimed to halt hostilities between the two nations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened to restore order. He called upon both Thailand and Cambodia to halt the armed conflict and protect the lives and rights of their innocent civilians.
Despite widespread international calls for restraint, Prime Minister Anutin is doubling down on his position. His conclusion, perhaps the clearest expression of the speech, was this: We cannot stop now, signaling a military-first approach in preference to negotiation.
As fighting rages and the death toll increases, the suffering of civilians trapped in the crossfire becomes increasingly urgent. Both sides have dug into their trenches and not come out. With no apparent way forward, the human toll of this protracted conflict is only bound to increase in the coming days.
