Bangkok, Thailand/Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fires along the disputed border on the second day on Friday, officials from both countries said they reported dozens of people had been killed and more than 100,000 civilians had been evacuated.
Tensions between Southeast Asian neighbours have been boiling for months in a contested section of the 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border, partially distinguished by former Cambodian colonial ruler France, near several archaeologically important religious sites claimed by the two countries.
Colonel Richa Soowanon, a deputy Thai Army spokesman, told CNN that Cambodia had launched a local time at 4:30am on Friday after it began firing using small and heavy weapons. The Thai army responded with artillery fire, he said.
The Thai Army warned the public to avoid the area, saying that clashes were taking place in two locations, Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces. It was reported that heavy weapons and rocket fires came from Cambodia, it said.
The force also warned that it was conducting bomb disposal operations from the Cantalak district, which was attacked by Cambodia’s Rockets on Thursday.
A video shared by Reuters on Friday showed Thai artillery fire, each absorbing shots of massive booms and smoke emitting shots.
The clash on Thursday saw the exchange of small weapons and rocket fires between the United States and its small neighbour, Cambodia, Thailand.
Thailand later scrambled the F-16 jet and bombed what it said was a military target within Cambodia.
The two countries also have close ties with China. China, together with the US, is seeking to de-escalate.
A video without date shared by the Thai military showed drones dropping bombs on what they said were several military targets within Cambodia. Smoke and flames erupted after a site that appeared to be in a forest area was attacked. CNN was unable to verify the video.
Video shows Thai drone dropping bombs at the Thai-Cambodia border
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health says that at least 14 people have died so far in Thailand, most are civilians.
And in Cambodia, at least one person has been killed and five people have been injured, according to Met Majfeekdi, a spokesman for Odal Jaqi provinces, which is adjacent to the borders of Thailand’s Buriram, Surin and Si Sakhet provinces. He added that as of Friday morning, the tensions were “still hot.”
“The exchange of battles…it’s still going on,” he said.
Cambodian officials accused Thai troops of using cluster ammunition at two locations early on Friday. CNN contacted the Thai Army for comments.
More than 4,000 Cambodia have been expelled from homes near the border, The Associated Press reported Friday, citing another Odal Sheen Chi official.
A video of Ode Meansey on Thursday shows villagers running away late at night, stuffing their belongings into a car and sleeping under a tarp.
As of Thursday night, more than 100,000 Thai residents had been evacuated to temporary shelters, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Video from Surin State showed evacuees evacuated to the university, placed on a mat on the floor and eating out from plastic containers.
In another part of the state, evacuated Ngaantra Planolam said she was “shocked” by the battle. “No one wants this to happen. I feel for the elderly and the disabled. It’s very difficult for them to come here,” she said. “Some people have cars, which is good, but it’s really hard for people who don’t.”
The recent flare-up comes after five Thai soldiers were injured in a mine explosion on Wednesday.
However, tensions have been building since May, when Cambodian soldiers were killed in a clash between Thailand and Cambodian troops. There, both sides fired fire in another contested border area of the Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet.
Thailand and Cambodia have a relationship of both cooperation and rivalry. They share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border – primarily mapped by France when it ruled Cambodia – it was a source of political tensions, seeing regular military conflicts.
“Both Cambodians and Thais feel they are resentful of history,” said Chitinan Ponsudirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
“The Thais believe that the French took the land from Thailand and gave it to Cambodia. The Cambodians believe that this is an ancient civilization and ultimately this is their land.”
But it’s not an evenly matched fight. Thai military dwarf Cambodia is in both personnel and weapons. The 361,000 active duty personnel are three times more than Cambodia.
The US then classifies Thailand as a major non-nat ally, allowing Bangkok to enjoy decades of US support for its arms programme.
Thailand is currently broken with uncertainty. Prime Minister Paetong Tarun Sinawatra was suspended from duties in July after a call was leaked with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen.
Thai military has long been a major player in kingdom politics, seizing power in multiple coups and often overthrowing the Democratic government. It portrays his status as the ultimate defender of the monarchy.
CNN’s Patrick Sarnsamak and Len Leng contributed the report.
