Thailand warned on July 25 the risk of a large -scale war against its neighboring neighboring, on the second day of cross -border clashes that left more than one fortnight of dead and tens of thousands of evacuees.
With Valentin Cebron, RFI correspondent in Bangkok, and the AFP
A territorial dispute of decades resulted in intense hostilities between both kingdoms of Southeast Asia with the mobilization of combat aircraft, artillery, tanks and infantry.
More than 138,000 civilians moved in Thailand
“If the situation worsens could lead to a war, although for now it remains limited to clashes,” warned Thailand’s interim prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, to the press in Bangkok. The Thai Minister of Interior said that more than 138,000 civilians from the four border provinces with Cambodia, including 428 hospital patients, were transferred to temporary shelters.
Read tooIntense clashes between Thailand and Cambodia leave a dozen dead civilians
The balance of the clashes in Thailand rose 15 dead – a soldier and 14 civilians – and 46 injured on Friday. In their first balance since the outbreak of hostilities, the provincial authorities of Cambodia reported a dead and five injured.
Siriwat, a Bangkok resident, told our correspondent Valentin Cebron: “I do not believe that violence is the solution, but the situation seems to get worse. We cannot remain passive to attacks against us. I am increasingly worried about the magnitude of the clashes. I really hope there are no more dead or injured.”
“I feel resentful with Cambodia. They should not have done this: the projectiles reached innocent civilians, should have been limited to the combat areas and have pointed only to military objectives. It is horrible,” Alongkorn said, a taxi driver. He was however confident: “I am not afraid. I am sure that the Thai army is superior to the Cambodian. But the result of this conflict will depend on how Thailand decides to put an end to him as quickly as well and with the least possible number of casualties.”
Cambodia, between concern and hope
In Tiktok and Facebook, videos of Cambodian soldiers are seen putting photos of their relatives in their caps. In others, you can see anxiety in the traits drawn of people forced to leave their homes along the border. Concern, also, among the relatives of the soldiers deployed in the front.
Many Cambodians expect a peaceful resolution. But many express their support to the Army and the Cambodian claims on the dispute areas. Sometimes in very bellicose terms.
Both governments have tended to struggle the patriotic and nationalist feelings of their populations. At the same time, they have urged their population to keep calm no longer attack Cambodian citizens in Thailand or Thai in Cambodia.
Waiting for negotiations
The fighting resumed in three areas in the early hours of Friday, said the Thai army. However, this afternoon the fighting would be decreasing, according to AFP the spokesman of the Thai Foreign Ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, who said that his country was willing to establish conversations, possibly with the mediation of Malaysia.
“We are ready, if Cambodia wants to solve this matter through diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do so. But so far we have not had any response,” he said.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, informed that he had spoken on Thursday with his countercald and Thailand counterparts to ask them for fire and dialogue, and they showed “positive signals and predisposition.” Currently, Malaysia occupies the temporary presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Thailand and Cambodia are part.
An old dispute
These fights represent a dramatic escalation in an old dispute between these two neighbors who share 800 kilometers of border and attract millions of foreign tourists every year.
Dozens of kilometers on that border dotted with ancient temples continue in dispute. The tension emerged again last May with the death of a soldier Jemer.
In June, Thailand rejected Cambodia’s proposal to resort to the International Court of Justice, whose Bangkok jurisdiction does not recognize. The Court ruled in favor of Cambodia in 2013 after the last conflict between the two nations for the Temple of Preah Vihear, a territory that was once again a fire on Thursday, July 24.
