Phnom Penh [Cambodia]/Bangkok [Thailand], December 11 (ANI): A truce between Thailand and Cambodia remained broken as fighting entered its fourth day on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law while awaiting a promised phone call from US President Donald Trump, according to Al Jazeera.
Cambodia accused Thai soldiers of firing on civilians in Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province. It also alleged Thai forces shelled the Khnar Temple area and fired artillery and support rounds into the O’Smach area, Al Jazeera reported.
Clashes occurred at more than a dozen locations along the contested, colonial-era demarcated 817-kilometre (508-mile) border, marking some of the fiercest fighting since a five-day battle in July that killed dozens on both sides.
Cambodia’s Ministry of the Interior said homes, schools, roads, Buddhist pagodas and ancient temples were damaged by “Thailand’s intensified shelling and F-16 air strikes targeting villages and civilian population centres up to 30km [18.6 miles] inside Cambodian territory.”
The Defence Ministry urged Thailand to immediately stop hostile activities, withdraw its forces from Cambodian territory and avoid acts of aggression that threaten regional peace and stability.
This week’s clashes are the deadliest since July’s five-day fighting, which killed dozens and displaced about 300,000 people on both sides of the border before a shaky truce, following intervention by US President Donald Trump. Trump said late on Tuesday he would make a phone call to try to stop the renewed fighting.
“I am going to have to make a phone call. Who else could say I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia,” Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania. (ANI)
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