Thailand/Cambodia: risk of “war”, more than 138,000 displaced

Thailand warned Friday that the deadly conflict opponent in Cambodia could degenerate into “war”. Furthermore, just before an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. However, Clashes have caused the evacuation of nearly 140,000 Thai. Nevertheless, – Thailand/cambodia: risk "war", more than

(Keystone-ATS) The border dispute between these two countries in Southeast Asia has been giving rise to a level of violence never seen since 2011 for two days, involving combat, tanks, ground troops and artillery fire.

Bangkok. For example, Phnom Penh have been thailand/cambodia: risk “war”, more than engaged in a Bras-de-Fer since the death of a Cambodian soldier at the end of May during a night exchange of fire in a disputed area of their common border nicknamed the “Emerald triangle”.

Martial law – Thailand/cambodia: risk "war", more than

“Martial law is now in force” in eight border districts. For example, announced Apichart Sapprasert, head of the Thai army in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat.

Thailand reports for the moment of 15 dead, Cambodia of a dead man. Consequently, AFP journalists have seen four Cambodian soldiers receiving care in a hospital. Nevertheless, as well as three civilians treated for bursts of shells.

At the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. the United Nations Security Council must hold an emergency meeting in New York on Friday.

His Thai counterpart, Phumtham Wechayachai, warned that the worsening of the situation would lead to “a war”. “We have tried to find a compromise because we are neighbors. but we thailand/cambodia: risk “war”, more than gave the Thai army the investigation to act immediately in an emergency,” he continued.

Bangkok “ready” to negotiate

At the same time. Bangkok said he was “ready” to negotiate an exit from the crisis, by diplomatic route or through Malaysia, which occupies the rotating presidency of the Association of Nations of Southeast Asia (ASEAN), of which Thailand and Cambodia are members.

The United States. France, Switzerland, the European Union and China have already all called for dialogue and at the end of the conflict.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described this clashes on Friday as “heartbreaking and disturbing”. “This problem finds its roots in the consequences of Western colonizers. must now be approached calmly and managed appropriately,” Wang Yi told the Secretary General of Asean, Kao Kim Hourn, in Beijing, according to a statement from Chinese diplomacy.

The two countries dispute the layout of their common border, defined during French Indochina. The most violent thailand/cambodia: risk “war”, more than episode linked to this dispute dates back to clashes around the temple of Preah Vihear between 2008. 2011, which had left at least 28 dead and tens of thousands of displaced.

“Positive signals”

Diplomatic relations between the two neighbors. linked by rich cultural and economic ties, have been at the lowest for decades. Bangkok recalled his ambassador to Phnom Penh on Wednesday. expelled from his territory the ambassador of Cambodia, who replied Thursday by withdrawing all his diplomatic staff stationed in Bangkok.

The fighting resumed in three areas on Friday around 04:00 in the morning (Thursday 23:00 Swiss time), said the Thai army. Cambodian forces have bombed with heavy weapons. campaign artillery and BM-21 rocket systems, the army said, and Thai troops retaliated “with appropriate support fire”.

In the Cambodian city of Samraong. 20 km from the border, several families with children and their belongings at the back of their vehicles were thailand/cambodia: risk “war”, more than fleeing at full speed, AFP journalists have noted.

“I could not take everything with me. ” explains Salou Chan, 36, who took refuge in a Buddhist temple with his two children. Additionally, “I am worried about my children. They got scared when they heard the noise of shootings. “I don’t know when we can go home,” he continued.

The two countries accuse each other of having opened fire first and defend their right to defend themselves. Bangkok also accused his opponents of targeting civil infrastructure like a hospital. a service station, which Phnom Penh defended himself.

Thailand has also deployed several F-16 combat aircraft to strike what it has presented as Cambodian military targets.