Cambodia, Thai troops clash at border; at least one [Thai] dead

Ta Moan Thom temple

Japan Today
Friday 22nd April,

BANGKOK —Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fire along their disputed border area Friday morning, with Thai media reporting that at least one Thai soldier was killed and five injured.

Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, told Kyodo News the clashes started at around 6 a.m. when Thai troops approached two disputed temples along the border between Cambodia’s Udor Meanchey Province and Thailand’s Surin Province.

He alleged that Thai troops moved 300-500 meters inside territory claimed by Cambodia, with the clash starting at Ta Krabey and spreading to Ta Moan, as the temples are known in Cambodia, and two other spots.

Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told Kyodo News the clashes occurred when Thai soldiers patrolling in the area came under artillery attack from Cambodian soldiers, and returning fire.

Thai media quoted hospital officials as saying that besides the Thai soldier killed, at least two of the five injured Thai soldiers were in serious condition.

Cambodian military sources at the scene said fighting was continuing as of 8:13 a.m., though it had faded in intensity.

Several rounds of border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand have occurred in recent years, with one in February leaving at least 10 people dead. Cambodia and Thailand typically blame the other for firing first.

Sansern said residents of some villages in the vicinity of the border were being evacuated.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over their overlapping territorial claims, including 4.6 square kilometers of land around the Preah Vihear, an ancient temple was registered as a World Heritage in 2008.

That temple is located about 200 kilometers east of the scene of Friday’s fighting.