Thai-Cambodian troops exchange heavy fire near border; civilians flee amid artillery damage and military presence.
The fatal fight between Thailand and Cambodia has now reached its third straight day, with 33 fatalities. Cambodia's Defence Ministry confirmed that 13 individuals, eight of which are civilians and five of whom are soldiers, have perished on their side.
Five soldiers were killed on Friday in Thailand, increasing the number of casualties there to 20, consisting of 14 civilians and six members of the military.
The long-standing border conflict, which has been going on for decades, flared on Thursday with an all-out military confrontation that saw the use of tanks, jets, artillery, and ground troops. The fighting is the worst between the two nations since the confrontations of 2008-2011, which claimed 28 lives. The toll has now surpassed that number.
The two nations blame one another for the start of the conflict. Cambodia charges that Thai troops fired five heavy artillery shells into Pursat province, close to Thailand's Trat province, early Saturday at 5:00 am.
On the other hand, Thai authorities charge Cambodia with specifically targeting civilian areas, such as a hospital and a petrol station. Cambodia also charged Thailand with using prohibited cluster munitions.
The brutality has displaced more than 138,000 citizens from Thailand's border areas, with over 35,000 others moved in Cambodia.
As the violence mounted, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Friday in New York. After the session, Cambodia's UN Ambassador Chhea Keo stated that the country is prepared to stop the war, adding, "Cambodia requested an unconditional ceasefire immediately and we also urge the peaceful settlement of the conflict."
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa reacted cautiously, calling on Cambodia to show true intentions. "I want Cambodia to cease infringing Thai sovereignty and resume solving the problem through bilateral negotiation," he said.
A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nikorndej Balankura, said prior to the UNSC session that Bangkok was willing to hold diplomatic negotiations, perhaps mediated by Malaysia.
The escalation of the conflict has also led to warnings for foreign citizens. The Indian Embassy in Cambodia released an advisory on Saturday that urged citizens to stay away from the border. "In light of the continuous clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are cautioned against traveling to the border region," the Embassy stated, giving telephone numbers as a source of emergency contact assistance.
While a 2013 judgment by the UN's highest court had relaxed tensions for more than a decade, a May flare-up following the death of a Cambodian soldier fanned the flames again. And now, with heavy weapons and evacuations of civilians on both sides, the world is watching anxiously and calling for peace.
