Thailand and Cambodia border clashes escalate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

VIA caai

Up to 50,000 people flee as fighting over disputed Preah Vihear temple spreads, despite US-backed ceasefire negotiations

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 26 April 2011

Children who fled the fighting wait for food at an evacuation centre in Surin province, north-east Thailand. Photograph: AP

The worst fighting in years between Thailand and Cambodia has spread, with the neighbouring countries exchanging artillery fire at a disputed temple east of where 12 soldiers were killed and nearly 50,000 people have fled in recent days.

The fighting along the border near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday followed unsuccessful international attempts to secure a lasting ceasefire after four days of largely long-distance artillery battles at two other temples about 100 miles (160km) to the west.

Preah Vihear was the scene of four days of deadly fighting in February and is the most prominent symbol of a border dispute between the two south-east Asian countries that goes back generations. It has long stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides of the frontier.

The latest round of fighting began on Friday around the 1,000-year-old Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, which are on territory claimed by both countries, and in the days since at least 12 soldiers on both sides have been killed and 50,000 villagers forced to flee.

Both sides have accused each other of starting the battles.

The US on Monday threw its support behind the efforts of Indonesia, current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to mediate an end to the conflict.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said Washington was deeply concerned about the violence. In a statement, she urged both sides to exercise restraint and act to reduce tensions. Clinton said US officials were talking to officials from both countries.

Thailand has so far rejected outside intervention, saying the two countries have to resolve the dispute alone. But on Sunday, the Thai foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, indicated that Bangkok might accept Indonesian military observers at the border, a proposal already accepted by Phnom Penh.

That would likely call for behind the scenes approval from Thailand's military, which so far has effectively vetoed the plan. Some have accused the Thai army, which staged a coup in 2006 and continues to hold influence in domestic politics, of using the border dispute to raise its profile ahead of general elections expected by early July.

In recent years, political groups on both sides have accused their opponents of using the border issues to stir nationalistic fever and further their own domestic political agendas.

Tuesday's fighting erupted as Cambodia misinterprets Thai force's exercise: official

http://news.xinhuanet.com/

via CAAI

English.news.cn 2011-04-26

BANGKOK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai Royal Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Tuesday that another fresh round of gunfire exchange took place nearby Preah Vihear temple at about 1. 30 p.m. as Cambodia misinterpreted Thai Air Force's military exercise.

Col. Sansern said Cambodian troops misinterpreted the Air Force ' s military exercise which included flying a fleet of F-16 fighter jets and started opening fire at Thai soldiers. After exchanging gunfire, cannon firing followed.

"The Air Force was conducting military exercise as usual," Col. Sansern told Xinhua by telephone but refused to elaborate further when the exercise would finish.

The fire exchange in the disputed area around the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple at the border of Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket province finally ended at around 2 p.m.

Moreover, according to the army spokesman, another skirmish involving exchanges of small arms and heavy weapons also occurred at the border around Ta Muen Thom temple in northeastern Surin province at about 2.30 p.m., marking the fifth straight day of deadly fighting since April 22.

However, all fighting have already stopped, Col. Sansern said.

Initially, when the sound of fierce exchanges was first heard, the village head of Tambon Sao Thong Chai was preparing to evacuate the residents but as both sides stopped firing, people still remained in their houses, the spokesman added.

There is no additional report on further casualties on Thai side, Col. Sansern said.

The latest five-day border clash between Thailand and Cambodia has killed five Thai troops and injured some 41 without civilian casualties. Since the first flare-up erupted on last Friday, over 30,000 people living along the border of Surin and Buriram provinces fled their homes to stay at safer shelters.

Posted in: Xinhua