At least 1 dead as Cambodia, Thailand trade accusations over fresh border clashes

PHNOM PENH - At least one person was killed in Cambodia on Nov 12 amid a flare-up of its conflict with Thailand as the neighbours accused each other of opening fire along a disputed part of their border, threatening a US-brokered truce.

Five days of hostilities erupted between the two countries in July, killing 43 people and displacing around 300,000 before

a truce backed by US President Donald Trump

cooled tensions.

However, Thailand on Nov 10

paused implementation

of a follow-on deal to wind down hostilities, claiming a blast from a newly laid landmine had wounded four of its soldiers.

Two days on, officials on both sides have reported gunfire across the boundary between Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province.

Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said Thai troops opened fire near a disputed border village around 3.50pm on Nov 12. One person was killed and three wounded, the ministry said in a statement.

Thai Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree said Cambodian soldiers initially fired shots into Thailand.

“Thai forces took cover and fired warning shots in response, following rules of engagement,” he said, adding that there were no casualties on the Thai side.

“The incident lasted about 10 minutes before calm was restored,” he said in a statement. “No Thai casualties were reported.”

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said he condemned the use of violence by the Thai side on Cambodian civilians.

Local Cambodian villager Hul Malis told AFP by phone that gunfire had wounded at least three people in her area.

“They just shot at us. We did nothing,” she said. “I am so frightened, I am running away now.”

Her husband Thong Kimleang said the Thai military “fired a lot of shots” for around 15 minutes.

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century to a disagreement over the colonial-era mapping of their border.

Tensions have long flared around a smattering of border temples that both sides claim for their own as a result.

Both sides agreed to a truce in late July after intervention by Mr Trump as well as Chinese diplomats and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs Asean.

Late in October,

they signed a joint declaration

agreeing to further wind down tensions along the border, withdrawing heavy weapons and allowing ceasefire monitors access.

While experts said the deal failed to adjudicate the core territorial dispute, Mr Trump touted the deal as evidence of his presidential peace-making abilities.

But the apparent fresh landmine blast and renewed clashes have thrown its future into doubt.

Thailand has already delayed the release of 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, a key plank of the joint declaration. AFP