Thai man mourns wife and children killed in shelling near Cambodia border
By Shoon Naing and Artorn Pookasook
Sisaken, Thailand (Reuters) -The Tayland and Cambodian armies began to bomb on the controversial borders on Thursday, the Komsan Prachan family thought that the family was far from war to be safe.
The farm worker took a phone call to parents from the children’s school, so he and his wife went and took his 14 -year -old daughters, his 9 -year -old son and his sons.
On the way home, they stopped at a gas station about 3 km (2 miles) from their homes.
Shortly after, a artillery shell hit the station and destroyed the 7-Eleven market where Komsan’s family and friend went to buy snacks.
“The only thing I thought was my wife and children at that time,” said 40 -year -old Reuters at a relative’s house in Sisakes.
“I lost all the hopes. I was just able to stand and watch.”
More than 30 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the war began on Thursday, since the war has become the worst rise between the two Southeast Asian countries for more than a decade. Both sides accused each other of starting conflict.
Komsan could hear explosions early on Thursday morning, but he did not think he had to evacuate the house because he wasn’t in the danger area.
He continued: “I did not think it would hit this region. Since it was accepted as a safe region, there was no shelter in that region.”
Komsan and his wife met in high school. After working together for a few years in Bangkok, they got married and raised their two children.
“It was the greatest blessing to be in my life,” he said.
More than 130,000 people were displaced by fighting and schools were forced to close their doors. Local university campuses are used as temporary shelters for those who are forced to escape from their homes.
Komsan said, “War is not good for anyone. He said.
His old husband and his father accused the Cambodian government of firing in civilian regions without discrimination.
“This is not just war, it’s murder.”
(Reporting by Shoon Naing and Artorn Pookasook; Editing by John Mair and Jan Harvey)
