About 40 thousand civilians evacuated, at least 12 deaths and dozens of injuries: the historical dispute between Thailand and Cambodia on the temple of Preah Vihear is re -elected with fire clashes and attacks aimed at civilians, while Hun Manet asks for the UNUGE intervention of the UN and China invokes the dialogue
The border between Thailand and Cambogia returns to be a powder keg. After years of never dormant tensions, the clashes between the armies of the two countries have caused at least 12 dead and dozens of injuries, with theevacuation of over 40,000 civilians from 86 Thai villages. Bangkok accuses the Cambodian forces of deliberately affected civil areas, including a hospital and a service station, speaking openly of “targeted attacks” and “war crimes”.
Clashes on the border and civil victims
The latest attacks focused near the Hindu Khmer Temple of Ta Muen Thom, between the Thai province of Surin and the Cambodian one of Oddar Me also. The most serious balance is recorded in the province of Sisaket, where six people, including an eight -year -old boy, died after a minimarket within a service station was hit, with 14 other people who were injured. Two victims and as many injured are counted in the village of Kab Choeng, always in the North-East Thai.
The contested temple and the political fuse
The central knot remains the historical dispute on the temple of Preah Vihearassigned to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 and confirmed in 2013. For Bangkok, that decision is an open wound, never accepted. However, the current crisis has also exploded for internal political reasons: The Thai Premier FRATONGTARN Shinawatra, daughter of the former leader Thaksin, was dismissed after calling “uncle” Hun Sen, a historic Cambodian leader. An appellation that, in Asia, can be interpreted as a sign of deference or subordination, causing the reaction of the Thai generals, true referees of the country’s policy.
Cross accusations and escalation risk
While Bangkok denounces the use of heavy artillery and the use of drones by Cambodia, Phnom Penh replies by speaking of “unavailable military aggression” and claims the “right to self -defense”. The Cambodian Premier Hun Manet sent a letter to the UN Security Council asking for an “urgent meeting” to stop hostilities.
The shadow of Beijing and the regional concern
China, the historic ally of both countries, invited the parties to “return to dialogue” And he recommended his citizens to avoid border areas. The international community observes with growing restlessness: Asean, already often paralyzed by internal contrasts, risks not being able to manage a crisis that could destabilize the entire Southeast Asia.
A conflict that sinks into the past
The territorial dispute dates back to the beginning of the twentieth centurywhen the Indochina was French colony. Over the past 15 years there have been several episodes of violence, in particular between 2008 and 2011, with at least 28 deaths and thousands of displaced people. The current escalation – the most serious since then – shows how much the question of the boundaries remains a nerve discovered for Thailand and Cambodia, fueled by nationalisms and fragile internal political balances.
