Thai-Cambodian War May Erupt if Cease-Fire Collapses

On the Cambodian side of the border with Thailand during the last week of July and the first few days of August, a recent ceasefire has already begun to show serious signs of stress. The Cambodian army continues the phrase ammunition, weapons and men on the border. The soldiers on both sides were anxiously armed and seemed to be ready for a long -term conflict. American military officials and a small Chinese delegation attended, but both rejected interviews.

The last fighting on the border killed at least 43 people and explained about 330,000, in theory, a struggle on the border that has been working since Cambodia won independence from France. However, even the last fascism that started in late May and ended with a ceasefire on July 28, the two countries were still able to manage bilateral military cooperation after the last defeat of the Khmer Rouge’s rebellion in Cambodia in 1998.

On the Cambodian side of the border with Thailand during the last week of July and the first few days of August, a recent ceasefire has already begun to show serious signs of stress. The Cambodian army continues the phrase ammunition, weapons and men on the border. The soldiers on both sides were anxiously armed and seemed to be ready for a long -term conflict. American military officials and a small Chinese delegation attended, but both rejected interviews.

The last fighting on the border killed at least 43 people and explained about 330,000, in theory, a struggle on the border that has been working since Cambodia won independence from France. However, even the last fascism that started in late May and ended with a ceasefire on July 28, the two countries were still able to manage bilateral military cooperation after the last defeat of the Khmer Rouge’s rebellion in Cambodia in 1998.

Both countries claim low missions so far, but no one knows the real death – and the suffering is clear.

The work of the Someth SIM family was destroyed by Thai air strikes, which lasted during the beginning of August. Ibn Sim runs the family -owned gasoline station, located about one kilometer from the Cambodia military site in the Audar Menchi Province.

Family members said they fled after they saw a drone being a survey before the Thai army made a targeted air strike. On the ground, the damage was clear.

Only 62 -year -old South South South South via the famous site. He said: “This was my son’s house, and the bombing was completely destroyed.” The gasoline station was destroyed and the city was evacuated, with the site showed evidence of a incendiary bomb. No other neighboring structures were damaged.

The conflict is concentrated on the temple of Preah Vihear, a disputed location located at the top of the mountain that extends on the border. As with many clashes, the conflict has colonial roots, and dates back to the 1907 map of the era of French colonial rule. After Cambodia obtained independence in 1953, the regional conflict was brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which intervened in 1962. The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Cambodia, and the Buhair Temple was granted to Cambodia.

There was no decision on the ground, but for decades, Cambodia and Thailand had a joint publication between two soldiers for both the disputed temples, which are essential to this regional conflict, as part of the security cooperation agreement. The joint publication has not prevented clashes, such as the deadly exchange of fire in 2009, but at least prevented them from accelerating – so far.

It is tempting to attribute a renewed violent conflict to the conflict between the great powers. The United States and China are concerned and dependent on air landing locations in the region and ports for maritime military use. Cambodia is a long -term friend of Beijing, while Thailand is increasingly inclined to China but also balances in its security alliance with the United States. Malaysia, as the current president of the Association of Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN), is walking on a political rope and tries to ensure balance.

But it does not seem that the members of the Asian individuals are attracted to the United States or China; They affirm their independence and authority against their neighbors. They seize the opportunity of geopolitical chaos and politics that are concentrated locally in Washington and Beijing to restore national interests and positions at the regional and international levels. This is linked to the local political needs of these countries, such as the last scandal in Thailand about the strong links of the Shinwatra family with the Cambodian dictator Hun Sen.

The spread of global weapons throughout Southeast Asia is long -term but has increased in recent years, and as it is clear on the ground, it is increasingly used at a military operating level during the past few weeks. Cambodia and Thailand deployed high -end weapons provided by various countries that include China, Russia, Sweden and the United States, based on the latest weapons sales information available to 2023.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has been documented that Cambodia was deployed and used several Chinese missile launchers. Cambodia also used Russian BMP-3 infantry compounds-which is a severe armored machine somewhere between an armored personnel holder and a tank. Thailand Cambodia has been accused of deploying the Chinese Chinese Chinese multi -missile system along the border over the past week.

Thailand has deployed F-16 fighter aircraft, drones, stnyker infantry carriers, Swedish Gripes aircraft, according to Thai Defense Ministry data and Sipri’s Arms Trade.

This size is translated from force into collective dislocation on the ground. The camps are crowded, women and children bear the burden of this war, but they persevere and flexible. There is no agency that manages the camps. Local officials and members of society only bear the responsibility of taking care of each other. Many nurses, doctors and teachers who fled the fighting alongside civilians.

Along the Cambodian side of the border, there was no presence of any international organizations. The groups that were usually essential to support the internally displaced, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Food Program, were not clearly present. Cambodians have left a motivation for themselves.

Soeung Num, her husband, and two children, left their house in Ou Smach, directly north of Samraong, near a conflict area on the border in northeastern Cambodia. I traveled next to the tractor for three hours to a camp for the internal displaced (IDP), about 80 km (50 miles) of the fighting, and brought only clothes and 10 kilograms (22 rugs) of rice.

“I am still afraid of bullets … I don’t think Thailand will stop this war.

Sean Sukonfari-43-year-old mathematics teacher at a high school, is currently residing in a camp of the displaced in the camp-fears more war. “I want the International Court of Justice in Cambodia to demarcate the land according to the maps. I want the world to help Cambodia to maintain the ceasefire.”

At least among the refugees, there appears to be a little appetite for revenge or more conflict. However, it is not clear the time when the ceasefire will bear.

Once again at the gas station, South Sim said, “If there is peace, my son will return. But he can no longer manage his business. I appeal to the shooting. I urge the international community to help find a solution to Cambodia and end this armed clash with Thailand.