Cambodia, Thailand exchange gunfire
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2011, Saturday
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THAILAND and Cambodia exchanged artillery and gunfire for several hours yesterday in a flare-up of a long-running border dispute, and their militaries said six soldiers were killed.
The fighting near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan forced thousands of civilians on both sides to flee. Cambodia said artillery fell on villages and other areas as far as 21 kilometers inside its territory.
It was the first skirmish since four days of fighting in February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, about 160 kilometers to the east of yesterday's fighting.
A decades-old border dispute over ancient temples and the land surrounding them has fueled nationalist passions in both countries.
Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Preah Vihear was given UN World Heritage status.
Each side blamed the other for the resumption of fighting.
Thai army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Siriya Khuangsirikul said three Thai soldiers had been killed, and 13 wounded. Cambodian defense spokesman Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat said three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six wounded.
Indonesia, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called for an immediate cease-fire and further efforts to resolve the border dispute.
Fighting stopped by early afternoon, but no cease-fire had been reached.
Tensions between the neighbors have been exacerbated in recent months in part by pressure from influential Thai nationalist groups, which have protested in Bangkok urging the government to take back land awarded to Cambodia by an international court ruling.
The fighting near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan forced thousands of civilians on both sides to flee. Cambodia said artillery fell on villages and other areas as far as 21 kilometers inside its territory.
It was the first skirmish since four days of fighting in February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, about 160 kilometers to the east of yesterday's fighting.
A decades-old border dispute over ancient temples and the land surrounding them has fueled nationalist passions in both countries.
Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Preah Vihear was given UN World Heritage status.
Each side blamed the other for the resumption of fighting.
Thai army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Siriya Khuangsirikul said three Thai soldiers had been killed, and 13 wounded. Cambodian defense spokesman Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat said three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six wounded.
Indonesia, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called for an immediate cease-fire and further efforts to resolve the border dispute.
Fighting stopped by early afternoon, but no cease-fire had been reached.
Tensions between the neighbors have been exacerbated in recent months in part by pressure from influential Thai nationalist groups, which have protested in Bangkok urging the government to take back land awarded to Cambodia by an international court ruling.
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