At least one person was killed and several injured on Wednesday as Cambodia and Thailand exchanged fire along a disputed stretch of their border, shattering a fragile US-brokered ceasefire.
The renewed violence followed Thailand’s decision on 10 November to suspend the implementation of a peace deal after a landmine allegedly planted by Cambodian forces went off and wounded four Thai soldiers.
The rival nations traded accusations over who fired first near the Sa Kaeo-Banteay Meanchey border. Cambodia’s defence ministry claimed that Thai troops opened fire at around 3.50pm local time, killing one person and wounding three. Thailand insisted that its soldiers only discharged warning shots in self-defence.
“Thai forces took cover and fired warning shots in response, following rules of engagement,” Thai army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree said, adding that there were no casualties on the Thai side. “The incident lasted about 10 minutes before calm was restored.”
The latest fighting came a day after Thailand demanded an apology from Cambodia after accusing it of laying fresh landmines that injured Thai soldiers.
Cambodia denied laying new mines, including the one that exploded on Monday and maimed Thai soldiers during a patrol along the disputed border.
Tensions between the Southeast Asian rivals have been running high since a five-day conflict in July killed at least 48 people and temporarily displaced some 300,000. The fighting, marked by exchange of rocket fire, heavy artillery and airstrikes, ended after telephone calls to Thai and Cambodian leaders by American president Donald Trump, who also presided over the signing of an enhanced truce agreement in Malaysia last month.
“We want the Cambodian side to issue an apology,” Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said. “We asked them to find the facts on what happened and who is accountable, and with it, asked them to put in place measures to prevent future recurrence of the situation.”
A Cambodian government spokesman declined to comment on Thailand’s demands. The defence ministry said it was committed to working with Bangkok in accordance with the peace deal.
Landmine blasts along the disputed border were among the reasons behind the clashes in the summer, with seven Thai soldiers injured in as many mine-related incidents since 16 July.
Some of these mines were likely newly laid, Reuters reported, based on expert analysis of material shared by Thailand’s military.
For over a century, the Southeast Asian neighbours have contested sovereignty over undemarcated points along their 817km land border, first mapped in 1907 by France when it ruled Cambodia as a colony.
