Fighting was reported again yesterday at the border area between Thailand and Cambodia. At least one Thai soldier has been killed. Thousands of people have fled.
These are the fiercest confrontations in years. At least five people, both civilians and military, have been killed in the past five days. Both countries blame each other for starting the fighting. An eleventh-century temple was also damaged in the fighting.
Tensions between the two countries recently rose due to demonstrations in the Thai capital Bangkok demanding the eviction of Cambodians on a piece of land near the Preah Vihear temple. Thai nationalists argue that the area belongs to Thailand. There has been tension between Cambodia and Thailand for years. Last year, former Prime Minister Thaksin visited Cambodia, which was seen as a serious provocation by Thailand. The relationship between the two countries has since cooled further.
The United States has in the past called on both countries not to escalate the matter. The USA is an important ally of Thailand and does not want tension in Southeast Asia. The friendship with Thailand and stability in this region is of great strategic importance to the USA.
A spokesman for the Thai army said on Saturday that regional commanders have agreed a ceasefire. It was also agreed not to send additional troops to the area.
Sunday. Fighting broke out in all its intensity. Fleeing Thais terrified by the noise of artillery fire fired by their own army.
People are angry and scared.
Thailand angry at Cambodia and then at Thailand. Everything around a piece of land of less than 7 km, I believe, on which lies the road to the entrance of the temple, which has already been awarded to Cambodia in 3 procedures before the international Court of Justice and whichever agreement Thailand has signed again and again.
If I understand correctly, in the meantime another temple from the 11th century has been killed by the shelling and several innocent soldiers have been killed and many injured.
Politicians consciously cross the line and with their arrest and conviction, things escalate further.
The economic damage of stagnant trade runs into the millions. People along the border flee their homes and lose their livelihoods.
The battle continues with the levying of import duties.
I've tried it here in the Isaan, but no Thai can explain to me what it's all about. and what interest this serves (internal politics?)
Reading newspaper articles, the border division, including the temple, is already on maps from 1903 and 1906 and these are the first agreements from the early 60s. Only some small pieces of land around the temple have not yet been arranged.
Who understands? Is this worth a war? Both countries have so many other problems to solve, such as chronic poverty, health care, etc.
Hope the right people on both sides keep their cool and there won't be any more innocent victims. I can't imagine that we will soon go to war with Belgium and Germany over an enclave like Baarle Nassau and a border adjustment near Cleve.
The family I am in contact with lives in the province of Sisaket, fairly close to the border with Cambodia. They are terrified. I could hear the thumps through the phone.
They are also angry with Abhisit for not doing anything about it. According to them, confirmation that he only concerns himself with Bangkok and ignores the rest. Perhaps a little too simple, but also a core of truth.
Well, someone recently said on this blog that Thais couldn't think, and someone else was of course angry about that, etc. etc. Let's just say that the Thais have an enormous predisposition to put themselves in the trap again and again. shoot their feet and have little regard for the long-term consequences. Complete nonsense of course, these skirmishes. For those who don't get what it's all about, myself included, let's just assume that 'face' is the main driver. Amazing Thailand.
Breaking News. Apparently a solution is in the works.
During the “skirmishes” (on Thai TV it was with some feeling of pride that infantry guns were seen firing rounds of 10 heavy “bombs” towards Cambodia) a wing of the controversial temple itself appears to have been shot at and has now collapsed.
So 2 more days and then the whole temple will be flat and the problem will be solved and no one will have lost face.
Little chance. Then that temple ground is canonized by some high monk, so that one at least has good reason to fight on. That's how inventive the Thais are. 😉
The International Court of Justice has awarded part of the territory to Cambodia, but no ruling has been made on other documents about which there was/is also a difference of opinion. Thailand accepted that ruling, but at the time Thailand had little choice. The current border was drawn up by the French and Thailand "approved" it, but with a knife in hand.
Now that temple was indeed built by Khmer (like many other temples in Thailand), but given the location of this temple, it is of course nonsense to designate that temple as Cambodian territory in the current situation. Other matters played a role in that award, which are now causing problems.
For the rest, this happening in both Thailand and Cambodia is just a political game, the temple itself does not really matter.
Solution? A test of a "mountain blow-up bomb" and gone is the whole mountain and temple.
Or the entire area under UN peacekeeping (hahaha then Thailand can no longer commit 200thb National Park theft). And then those UN peacekeepers can enjoy a R&R to Phnom Penh or Pattaya.
Chang Noi
Called again today. Lots of shelling last night. The kids haven't been to school for a few days. Last night everyone had already gathered their clothes to flee. They then head towards the city of Sisaket.
Not a nice situation. The family lives half an hour from the Cambodian border. The village can be hit by shells if Cambodia deploys artillery.
Understand that you are stressed. Sympathize with you and your friend and her family
@ Ferdinand. I just spoke to her 14.00pm Thai time. It was quiet last night. It is also quiet today. They don't have to flee yet. And they remain humorous. “It looks like a movie” I heard on the phone with a lot of laughter.
Good morning Khun Peter,
Just a message.
I want to compliment you from Leidschendam (soon for good Thailand).
for the topics that pass by on Thailandblog.nl
It is with great pleasure that I open the site every morning.
The information, tips, etc. are very valuable to me.
This may also be said.
Ga zo door.
Sincerely,
Willem
@ thank you Willem. I do it with great pleasure. And good luck to you in Thailand.
I'm terribly worried. My friend (partner) is military (draft) He is stationed in Pai, but he just called me saying he will probably be deployed in this conflict, just like his whole army camp. The whole place is in an uproar there. Leave has been revoked. I hope it works out and people start using their minds.
All the best. Must be a tough time. Hope people here too in 2011 get their medieval brains straightened out and learn to talk instead of shoot.
Yes, Frank. My girlfriend lives there so we are in the same boat.
Good luck, I'm glad I live away from it with my wife. Hope it is over soon for everyone involved and all political and personal interests of a few important gentlemen can be put aside one day. Strength again. Can you have daily contact?
@ Ferdinand, yes I am in daily contact. They are scared and also worried. Leaving the village is also difficult. You don't know what you'll find when you come back.
Man Frank, that's a tough one for you. Stay strong !!
basically the same as the conflicts in Africa: arbitrarily drawn boundaries.
at the time this temple was built, thailand did not exist at all.
It was the Khmer Kingdom that controlled almost all of Southeast Asia, from South Vietnam to almost the Burma border.
Thailand, as a fairly new kingdom, which was also created through corruption and bloodshed in the family... I don't want to be too precise, could have some respect for the Khmer.
it is narrow-minded and downright rude what people are appropriating, the UN resolutions are being trampled upon, nothing new, also the refugees who are outlaws in Thailand, who also do not wish to sign these UN statutes.
thailand or at least the people wake up !
elections soon, who knows what nice things will be on the platform in central world.
Such a conflict is usually intended to get citizens on the same page and to mask domestic problems. But who is the victim again? The poor Thai. First floods, now this weather... And indeed you can attribute this to the people who prefer Yellow.
yes Peter, it is very sad that sentiment is being played on.
very sad .
and yes the yellow T shirts show their worst side.
although it also makes something clear in the thaipolitics…..
I follow this via TAN so yes, am I really informed?
no idea and actually yes because the taise tv is under guardianship ….
so again: no idea…..
Don't forget that Thailand is a "police" state, under the control of the military and cannot publish television freely.
let Cambodia prevail.
all the papers are in their favor and this temple is not a THAI temple...it is a Khmer temple
cook time now
And in Isaan everyone goes about their business.
Far from their bed. Except perhaps if your son or daughter is stationed there.
Gerrit
Isaan is quite tall Gerrit. The people who live close to the Cambodian border are quite stressed, I can assure you.
Right yes.
I did not realize that the Isaan extends to Cambodia.
Then of course my comment doesn't apply to the whole area here.
Sorry
Gerrit
I actually have no idea about the military strength of the two countries
Who has information?
Gerrit
As for Cambodia, maybe this will give you an idea 😉
http://notthenation.com/2011/02/thai-patriots-network-warns-cambodian-air-force-may-have-working-airplane/
A diversion……..Abhasit and the Zynen play it…. I think…very nice…
red shirts in Bkk….yellow shirts in Bkk….
playing a little war might be very convenient now !!
the media now automatically pays little attention .... that these groups are visiting there in Bkk ...
for me these shirts can go home again..
let bb. but just function….just makes sense anyway.
screaming and bleating so-called leaders is leafing..... how the hell can there be any longer ????????????
listen to.. let alone understand?
and the grandmothers and the rest easily put a few baht in their hand.
a child's hand is soon filled.
I'm shaking my head again… yes, we live in Asia.
I'm here a lot, but I have to work again somewhere in another part of the world... also getting ready to be here again later... I mean... LOS. Interesting isn't it... Thailand is what I mean... I quite like it there.
@ sorry, Jo . I don't understand what your message is.
robert …unfortunately the thai fly with SAAB vigen, a very smart weapon, Cambodia cannot compete with that.
excuse me ? is my reaction , because this is not accepted , now this announcement , but my question to Jo van de Zande is still PARDON ?
What are you talking about ?
huh? What are you talking about? Don't get it!
If the consequences for the victims and border residents were not so bad, I would actually have to think of the message about the Belgian Senator Marleen Temmerman, who suggested that the wives of the politicians involved "close their legs" (no sex for their husbands for the time being). ) until a government is finally formed in Belgium.
In Kenya or something like this, this seems to have been achieved within a week.
Idea for Thai and Cambodian wives (including mia nois ea) of politicians, to force them to put their heads together and finally come to a lasting peaceful solution?
Then again, some of the people on this blog are in deep trouble, so this kind of humor may be out of place. Good luck to the person involved.