Thailand and Cambodia are like two siblings who keep fighting. Life goes on in silence in many corners of the world, invisible to the rest of us. But occasionally, within historical and contentious borders, daily life can abruptly shift. The previous few days have served as a harsh reminder to many who live near the Thai-Cambodian border of how easily tranquillity may turn to anxiety and how brittle peace can feel when long-standing disputes resurface. Following an outbreak of fighting that rocked border towns and forced thousands to flee, the two neighbours are maintaining a ceasefire.
There is no peace between these two nations
A fragile truce between Cambodia and Thailand held for a second day on Wednesday, despite mutual accusations of violations, and Cambodia took military attaches and diplomats to a border checkpoint destroyed by fighting to verify the ceasefire. The visit took place hours after Thailand’s military accused Cambodian forces of breaching the truce at three separate locations along the disputed frontier. The Cambodian government denied this.
The two sides agreed at a meeting in Malaysia on Monday to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to halt the heaviest fighting between the two countries in over a decade. There have been no reports of any exchange of heavy artillery fire since the truce was announced, but Thai and Cambodian troops were still massed along the frontier where fighting raged for five days at multiple locations.
The Thailand and Cambodia war’s statistics of people killed and injured
At least 43 people, many of them civilians, were killed, and more than 300,000 people were displaced. At the checkpoint in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, which was now a pile of concrete, bricks and metal, Cambodian military officials told foreign observers on Wednesday that Thailand had illegally captured 20 Cambodian soldiers, according to a government statement. Major General Chan Sopheaktra saind,
“One of our soldiers managed to flee. We suspect two others may have died, but the rest are still being held by the Thai military, with no signs of release as of this afternoon.”
Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said Thailand’s military was currently holding 18 Cambodian soldiers who it said surrendered in Sisaket province. They had been provided clothes, food, water and medical care, he said. he said, adding the bodies of two deceased Cambodian soldiers had been returned on Tuesday,
“They are expected to be sent back to Cambodia after a permanent ceasefire is reached.”
Leaders are under pressure to have conversations and prevent further violence
Although their leaders are facing domestic pressure, Thailand and Cambodia both claim to want to maintain peace. Thailand’s government aims to demonstrate power and defend its borders. Leaders in Cambodia aim to reassure the populace that they are resolute and protecting their territory. Both nations have strong senses of national pride, and any hint of weakness can rapidly incite public ire. The spokesperson said:
“Cambodia was able to act more quickly than Thailand because they were the party that initiated the attacks, which gave them immediate command and control over the area.”
The ceasefire, which also agreed to halt troop movement, paves the way for a high-level military meeting that includes defense ministers on August 4 in Cambodia. Thailand and Cambodia have argued for decades over the jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, and there have been occasional skirmishes, with ownership of several ancient temples central to the disputes. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief gun battle, which led to a troop buildup and a diplomatic crisis. Right now, everyone’s biggest wish is for everything to go back to normal.