Surin, Thailand (AP) – Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday traded allegations of fresh attacks as the deadly border clashes entered the third day, killing at least 33 people and displaced more than 168,000, as international pressure reached a ceasefire on both sides.
Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near many border villages, which expanded the area. fighting Furked again on Thursday after another Land mine explosion with border Five Thai soldiers were injured. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to work in vengeance.
both countries Missed his ambassadors And Thailand closed its northeast border with Cambodia.
Cambodian officials reported 12 new deaths on Saturday, bringing their toll to 13, while Thai officials said one soldier died, killing 20, most of the civilians.
The regional block, the South East Asian countries or the Association of ASEAN, is under increasing pressure to reduce the situation between its two members. During an emergency meeting on Friday, members of the United Nations Security Council called for de-size and urged ASEAN to mediate a peaceful solution.
The range of 800 km (500 mi) between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but the previous conflicts have been limited and abbreviated. The current tension broke in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation which created a diplomatic rift and Roold Thailand’s domestic politics,
Latest attack and growing stress
The Ministry of Defense in Cambodia condemned that it was an extended Thai aggressive that was fired at several places in Persat province in early Saturday, the attack was called “pre -aggression and prefabricated work”.
Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Mali Socheta said tension erupted in Koh Kong province, where four Thai naval ships were allegedly upset and four other routes. He said that the deployment of the Navy was an “work of aggression” which took the risk of moving forward.
Mali Socheta said that seven civilians and five soldiers were killed in two days of the fight. Earlier, a person was reported dead after a pagoda, whom he was hit by Thai rockets.
The Thai army refused to target Cambodian civilian sites and accused Nom Penh using “human shield” in its arms position near residential areas.
Meanwhile, the Thailand’s Navy in a statement on Saturday accused the Cambodian forces of launching a new attack in the Trat province, stating that the Thai forces rapidly responded and “successfully pushed the Cambodian avatar back to three major points”, warned that “would not be tolerated”.
Thai officials also alleged that several Cambodian artillery shells had crossed the border in Laos, damaging homes and property. Lao officials have not publicly responded to the claim.
The struggle has so far displaced thousands of.
Cambodia’s Information Minister Nath Fikatra said on Saturday forced 10,865 Cambodian families, or 37,635 people, to vacate safe places in three border provinces, while Thai officials said more than 131,000 people had fled their border villages.
Call to protect citizens amid claims of cluster bomb use
Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations Security Council and the concerned governments to urge Thai and Cambodian governments to take all steps to follow the international human law and protect citizens. The rights group said in a statement on Saturday that children have been damaged and Thai officials have closed at least 852 schools and seven hospitals.
The two sides have employed rockets and artillery attacks, and initially denying the claims of Cambodian that the internationally prohibited cluster monks were being used, in a statement on Friday, Thai military spokesperson said that such weapons could be “used” when necessary. HRW condemned the use of cluster monshan in populated areas.
Neither is the party for the conference on Thailand nor Cambodia Cluster Munishan, which ban the use of weapons and Thai officials first used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011, killing 20 people.
“Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are focusing on international human laws at large expenses at a large expense,” John Sifton said in a statement, director of Human Rights Watch. “Diplomatic efforts need to be preferred to protect citizens and civil infrastructure.”
Thai officials also acknowledged the use of F -16 jets and drones to launch air strikes.
United Nations urged to mediate ASEAN block
The United Nations Security Council did not release a resolution on the crisis during its Friday’s emergency session, but Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangmpongong said on Saturday that all 15 member countries called the two sides restraint, stop the attacks and resolve the dispute peacefully. He also supported ASEAN’s role in mediation between his two member states, he said.
The Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country is the current ASEAN president, had earlier stated that Thailand and Cambodia were open in principle for their ceasefire proposal. The Malaysian media said that Anwar has tasked the country’s foreign minister to mediate peace talks to prevent the fight.
Maris said that on Saturday, his country agrees to the proposal for the proposal, but insisted that Cambodia would first continue to engage creatively with Malaysia to prevent honesty and enmity.
He said, “Thailand confirmed his commitment to resolve the struggle peacefully and according to international law,” he said, “He urged Cambodia” to return to the table of interaction with honesty and with good faith. “
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Associated Press Authors Chalida Ekwitthevchenukul and Grant Peck at Bangkok, and Eleen NG in Kuala Lumpur contributed to the report. Sofeng Cheng reported from Odar Meenche, Cambodia.
Jintamas Saksornchai and Sopheng Cheng, Associated Press
