Thailand and Cambodia keep fighting across contested border ahead of expected Trump calls
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Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations of targeting civilians in artillery and rocket attacks.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH – Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its fourth day on Dec 11 as both sides waited for a promised telephone call from US President Donald Trump, who said he believed he could again end the conflict
On Dec 10, clashes at more than a dozen locations along the 817km Thai-Cambodian border saw some of the most intense fighting since a five-day battle in July, which had been the worst conflict in recent history.
In July, Mr Trump halted the fighting with calls to both leaders, during which he threatened to suspend trade talks unless they ended the conflict. Mr Trump says he expects to speak to the countries’ leaders on Dec 11.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting,” Mr Trump told reporters on Dec 10. “I think I’m scheduled to speak to them tomorrow.”
However, Thailand has reacted more warily this time to overtures from Mr Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped broker the July deal that resulted in an extended ceasefire signed in October.
Thailand insists the matter is for the two countries to resolve.
Datuk Seri Anwar said he had spoken to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on Dec 9 and that although no definitive resolution was reached, he appreciated “the openness and willingness of both leaders to continue negotiations in order to ease tensions”.
The Nation, a Thai news outlet, reported on Dec 11 that the country’s government is fast-tracking the development of a financial and logistical aid package to support businesses severely affected by the conflict.
The conflict has adversely affected several industries, according to a report by the Thai Foreign Ministry, including increased costs and transport times for companies forced to rely on sea freight instead of land routes due to border closures.
Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the latest clashes
In an evening update on Dec 10, Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said homes, schools, roads, pagodas and ancient temples had been damaged by “Thailand’s intensified shelling and F-16 air strikes targeting villages and civilian population centres up to 30km inside Cambodian territory”.
The clashes have taken a heavy toll on civilians, with 10 people killed in Cambodia, including an infant, and 60 people wounded, according to its government.
Eight Thai soldiers have been killed in the fighting and 80 wounded, the Thai army said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from border areas in both countries. REUTERS, THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
