Thailand has confirmed civilian casualties for the first time in the ongoing border conflict with Cambodia. According to the Thai Defence Ministry, three civilians have died due to the fighting, while the military reported nine soldiers killed. The clashes, which reignited last week, have intensified along the shared border, leading to accusations from both sides of targeting civilian areas.
The situation escalated on March 15, 2024, when fighting resumed after a brief ceasefire. The Cambodian Interior Ministry reported that ten civilians have died and approximately 60 others have sustained injuries in their territory. In response to the violence, the Cambodian government has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for intervention.
In a letter addressed to the council, Cambodia’s UN ambassador urged the body to demand an “immediate cessation of all attacks” by the Thai military and called for an independent fact-finding mission to assess the situation. The letter characterized the recent Thai military operations as “violations of international humanitarian law.”
The Thai army, however, has dismissed these claims, asserting that their operations are focused solely on military targets. Tensions have surged since both nations accused each other of violating the ceasefire along their 800 km border. The renewed hostilities have reportedly displaced over 500,000 individuals from their homes, raising concerns about humanitarian conditions in the affected areas.
As the conflict continues, US President Donald Trump announced plans to engage with both parties through phone discussions. It remains uncertain whether these conversations will occur jointly or separately, and no specific details have been released regarding the participants. Trump expressed optimism about his ability to facilitate a cessation of hostilities between the two countries.
The current conflict can be traced back to colonial-era border demarcations, with the dispute centering around a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008. Both Thailand and Cambodia have laid claim to the temple and surrounding land, leading to previous violent confrontations over the site.
The latest clashes follow a previous agreement reached in late October 2023, which was witnessed by Trump. This truce, however, collapsed in November after new incidents flared up along the border.
As the international community watches closely, the urgent need for dialogue and resolution remains critical in preventing further loss of life and humanitarian suffering in the region.
