Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand resumes: raids, bombings and thousands of displaced people along the border
The armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand have now entered their fifth day and Thai forces would have carried out new attacks in three Cambodian provinces in the early hours of today, Friday 12 December, at least according to the Cambodian newspaper The Khmer Times. Less than two months after the ceasefire after the skirmishes last July, following the death of a Thai soldier earlier this week, an event that Bangkok attributed to Cambodian fire, some retaliatory air raids were launched by the Thai Air Force.
The war scenario
Cambodia is blaming the Thai military for continued bombing and Thailand’s interim prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that he has scheduled a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the meantime, however Thai forces reportedly opened fire in the areas of Ta Moan, Ta Kra Bei and Thmar Daun, in the Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey. Additionally, Thai shelling is reported to be ongoing in the Phnom Khaing and An Ses areas of Preah Vihear province, as well as the Prey Chan and Boeung Trakuan village areas in neighboring Banteay Meanchey province. According to international observers, at least twenty people were killed on both sides with almost 200 injured only since Monday 8th, the day of the first fighting.
The impact of the war
As always, the consequences of war on the civilian population are devastating: they are estimated at approximately 600,000 people displaced on both sides of the border since the breakdown of the peace deal brokered by Trump last October. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense has instead denied and branded as false news a statement by the Thai army according to which Phnom Penh is reportedly using foreign mercenaries to employ suicide drones against targets located in Thailand. Furthermore, the Ministry also rejected Thai media allegations that it was preparing to launch Phl-03 missiles Made in China. These are guided and non-guided (ballistic) devices that launch from a multiple rocket launcher mounted on trucks, which have a range of between 70 and 130 km, a system to which Cambodia responds with the Bm-21 multiple rocket launcher of Soviet design which however has a range of only 15-40 km.
The claims of Cambodia and Thailand
The situation is also complicated by the fact that the two neighboring Southeast Asian states accuse each other of having reignited the conflict revolving around a centuries-old border dispute along their 800km border, where both sides claim ownership of some historic temples. Wednesday President Trump announced his intent to contact leaders on December 10 of both countries, saying he thought he “could convince them to stop fighting.”
The White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavittsaid Trump had not yet reached out to the warring leaders and that “the administration is obviously monitoring the situation at the highest levels.” However, Sihasak Phuangketkeowhead of Thai diplomacy, spoke with the US secretary on Friday Marco Rubio before the scheduled phone call between Trump and Anutin, reporting that Thailand is committed to a peaceful resolution but also that sustainable peace must be supported by concrete actions and concrete commitment, adding that Rubio confirmed the US’s willingness to promote peace.
Thailand’s government crisis
Among the issues that make negotiations difficult is the fact that December 11th the same Anutin dissolved Parliament before the end of the legislature. The decision was taken following the breakdown of relations between the Thai Pride Party of Anutin and the opposition People’s Party, with the government spokesperson, Siripong Angkasakulkiatwho said that “a legislative deadlock has paralyzed the government’s agenda, meaning Anutin’s party cannot advance in parliament.” Above all, the king of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the dissolution and paving the way for early elections which should be held within sixty days.
