Thailand says Cambodia violated truce with cross-border ‘accident’

Thailand accused Cambodia of violating a 10-day ceasefire on Tuesday, saying cross-border mortar fire injured one soldier, while Phnom Penh said a “garbage pile” exploded and injured two of its soldiers.

The decades-old border dispute between Southeast Asian countries has led to military clashes several times in the past year; Dozens of people died and nearly a million people were displaced on both sides in the December clashes.

The two countries agreed to a fragile ceasefire on December 27 that brought an end to three weeks of fighting.

“Cambodia violated the ceasefire,” the Thai military said in a statement on Tuesday morning, accusing Cambodian forces of firing mortars into Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.

It was stated that one soldier was injured by shrapnel.

The Thai military later said in a statement that the Cambodian side contacted a Thai military unit and claimed “there was no intention to fire on Thai territory”, adding that “the incident was due to an operational error made by Cambodian personnel”.

The Thai army stated that it warned the Cambodian forces to be careful and emphasized that Thailand may have to retaliate if a similar incident occurs.

Two Cambodian soldiers were injured on Tuesday morning in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, opposite Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani, Cambodian defense ministry spokesman Maly Socheata said.

He said that while Cambodian forces were performing their “organization and order” duties, “an explosion occurred in the garbage heap” and as a result, two injured soldiers were taken to hospital.

Socheata did not mention Thailand’s alleged attack, but said both countries’ border coordination teams had consulted and addressed the incident involving Cambodian soldiers.

Saying that the explosion occurred in a border region known as the Emerald Triangle, Socheata added that it occurred where the borders of the two countries and Laos meet.

In May, the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a clash with Thai troops in the region reignited the border conflict.

– ‘Accident’ –

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his government had protested to Phnom Penh, stating that “the ceasefire has been violated”.

“We have been told at the military level that the incident was an accident, but we are seeking clarification on how to take responsibility,” Anutin told reporters in Bangkok. he said.

Charnvirakul added that Thailand has the “capacity to respond” to Cambodia, which has been largely outperformed by its neighbour.

The countries’ long-running conflict stems from a dispute over the colonial-era drawing of the 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, where both sides claim land and centuries-old temple ruins.

Under a ceasefire signed in December, Cambodia and Thailand pledged to cease fire, freeze troop movements and cooperate in demining efforts along their borders.

On December 31, Bangkok released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained since July, when dozens of people were killed in border clashes.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said their release was “a show of goodwill and confidence-building”.

Phnom Penh said last week it was “hopeful” that their return would “significantly contribute to the building of mutual trust”.

The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a ceasefire to end the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in July, but this ceasefire was short-lived.

– Disputed border –

On Saturday, a week after a December ceasefire came into force, Cambodia called on Thailand to withdraw its forces from several border areas that Phnom Penh claims as its own.

The Thai army has denied claims that it used force to seize Cambodian territory, maintaining that its forces have always been in areas belonging to Thailand.

Although the two countries agreed to stop fighting late last month, they still need to resolve the demarcation of their disputed border.

Phnom Penh has proposed holding a bilateral border committee meeting with its Thai counterparts in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province this month, Cambodia’s defense ministry said on Tuesday.

Bangkok has previously said meetings to discuss border surveys and restrictions may be required by Thailand’s next government following elections scheduled for Feb. 8.

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