Thailand Claims Cambodia Planted Land Mines, Escalating Dispute
Three Thai soldiers were injured when they stepped on a land mine during a routine patrol along an established route within Thai territory on July 16, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Sunday. The mines were not of a type used by Thailand and were recently laid in a 'blatant violation of international law,' it said.
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How a Philippine Court Handed Duterte Family Another Victory
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte gestures as she speaks during a press conference in Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 7, 2025. Credit - Basilio Sepe—AP The Philippines' notorious Duterte family has won another victory in the uphill battle it has been waging since earlier this year. The family's patriarch, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was detained at the International Criminal Court in March on charges of crimes against humanity. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, was impeached a month earlier over alleged corruption and threats against ally-turned-nemesis President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. Opponents hoped the Dutertes' unprecedented influence in the Southeast Asian nation may be coming to an end. But a midterm election in the spring proved that the political dynasty is here to stay. And on Friday, the country's top court handed the family a win, ruling that an impeachment case filed against Vice President Duterte in February was unconstitutional due to a technicality. A spokesperson for the court said Friday that the impeachment was barred by a provision in the Philippine charter stating that 'no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.' The lower chamber of the Philippine Congress received at least four separate cases of impeachment against the Vice President between December and February—though only one was transferred to the Senate, which would have served as the impeachment tribunal. While the court clarified that it 'does not absolve' Vice President Duterte of the charges, its ruling on the impeachment spares her from any other impeachment attempt until February 2026. 'It is not our duty to favor any political result,' the Supreme Court's ruling said. 'Ours is to ensure that politics are framed within the rule of just law.' The Vice President has framed the impeachment complaint against her as politically motivated, especially as she emerges to be a strong contender for the presidency come 2028. Her defense counsel said in a statement that the court's decision 'upheld the rule of law and reinforced the constitutional limits against abuse of the impeachment process,' but clarified that they are 'prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum.' Political observers, however, tell TIME that the court was instead reinforcing the legacy of the Duterte family, and that the decision does save their legacy and paves the way for a future presidential victory. Duterte appointed 12 of the 15 justices sitting in the Philippine Supreme Court during his Presidency. The ruling 'bolsters impunity and hiding behind legal technicality as part of the Duterte legacy,' Aries Arugay, who chairs the University of the Philippines' Department of Political Science, tells TIME. Richard Heydarian, a senior lecturer at the same university, says that while another impeachment complaint could be initiated against the Vice President next year, it nips future efforts in the bud. 'I don't think the idea that we can come back to this after another year is really politically feasible,' Heydarian tells TIME. 'It's all about momentum. It's all about public attention. It's all about political inertia.' The Dutertes enjoy significant popularity in the Philippines, having branded themselves as tough-talking, hard-on-crime politicians. This popularity has stuck despite many issues—particularly on the part of the family's patriarch, who led a bloody war on drugs that killed thousands while he was chief executive. (He's now facing trial in the Hague because of this drug war, but has denied wrongdoing.) Meanwhile, the younger Duterte revealed in November an apparent assassination plot against President Marcos, who her family has been at odds with after an alliance that got them elected in the 2022 national elections fell through. She has also been hounded by allegations of misuse of more than $10 million in public funds as vice president and former Education Secretary. For many Filipinos, particularly those victimized under the elder Duterte's presidency, his arrest and his daughter's impeachment served as a reckoning. The Philippines' presidential office said it would respect the court's decision. But the court's junking of the Vice President's impeachment has raised concerns about its integrity. Heydarian notes that the ruling 'undermines faith' in the Supreme Court, and 'resurrect' suspicions against the justices former President Duterte appointed. Rep. Leila de Lima, a lawmaker who was incarcerated under the leadership of President Duterte due to trumped up drug charges, questioned the procedures behind the ruling and asserted that the 'public deserves an explanation,' but argued that 'this is not vindication. This is not exoneration.' Jean Encinas-Franco, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, however, says that 'to the everyday Filipino, this may mean that the VP has been acquitted.' Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Cambodian officials report 12 new deaths in its fighting with Thailand, bringing death toll on both sides to 32
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Cambodian officials report 12 new deaths in its fighting with Thailand, bringing death toll on both sides to 32.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Thais and Cambodians slug it out on social media, as border tensions flare
As the border clashes this week killed more than a dozen people in Thailand and at least one in Cambodia, regional governments have been trying to prevent a war between the two countries. But a different kind of war between their citizens is already raging - via increasingly belligerent exchanges on social media. Nationalists from both sides have long bickered over several points of national pride - from ownership of temples and territories to the origins of traditional dances, costumes, food and sports. The rising tensions in recent weeks, which culminated in the deadly attacks on Thursday, have now prompted young people on both sides to trade fresh barbs online. The comment sections of social media posts about the conflict have turned into an online warzone, with Thai and Cambodian users arguing with each other and backing their governments official version of events. "Justice for Cambodia," one Cambodian user commented on a TikTok video of a user trying to explain the conflict. "Thai troops opened fire on Cambodian forces first." "[Who's] gonna trust [what] the largest scammer country said?" a Thai user replied, making a reference to the widespread scam centres in Cambodia that have entrapped hundreds of thousands. "Cambodia fired at Thailand first. This is the truth. Join in using the hashtag #CambodiaOpenedFire" a Thai X user wrote, in a post that has been viewed a million times. Cambodians, meanwhile, are using the hashtag "Thailand opened fire" and making their own videos about the conflict. Border tensions between the two countries have been simmering since May, after a brief skirmish killed one Cambodian soldier. Both countries imposed travel restrictions on each other and strengthened military presence along the border. As bilateral ties plunged to their lowest levels in a decade, some voiced concerns about hate-mongering on social media that threatened to divide the two countries' people even more. Cambodian and Thai journalists' associations issued a joint statement in May, saying that social media users have "circulated information without clear sources" and "caused confusion". The groups urged social media users to "carefully consider the potential consequences" when sharing content related to the border. As things heat up, a few have taken the belligerence offline too. A viral video posted on Thursday showed what appeared to be a Thai man asking Cambodian workers to speak Khmer - before slapping them in the face. "We're now beginning to see violence, even among the groups with no prior conflict between them," Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem, a journalism professor at Thammasat University, told BBC Thai, describing the nationalistic influencers as waging a "war of hate". Long cultural rivalry There are plenty of sensitive touchpoints for social media warriors from both countries to battle over. The dispute between the two countries dates back to more than 100 years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia. In 2008, Cambodia registered Preah Vihear, an 11th Century temple located near the disputed border as a Unesco World Heritage Site - a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand. The dispute later expanded to the 13th Century Ta Moan temple complex - which Cambodia claimed Thai troops had lined with barbed wire on Thursday. These historical sites are at the heart of a longstanding cultural rivalry between the two countries, which also extends to the realms of sports, cuisine and attire. Thai nationalists decry what they say is cultural theft by "Claimbodia", while their Khmer counterparts have dubbed them "Siamese thieves". In 2023, Thai kickboxers boycotted the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia after the sporting event they recognised as Muay Thai was introduced as Kun Khmer - which is what Cambodians call it. Earlier this month, controversy ensued after Cambodia nominated its Khmer wedding tradition for inscription on Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage. Thai social media users claimed that a Thai traditional dress was in the submission - igniting anger and allegations of cultural appropriation, as Thailand was also seeking consideration for its traditional attire to be recognised by Unesco. More recently, Thai tourists attacked Cambodian military officers at Ta Muen Thom, a temple in a disputed area along Thai-Cambodian border. Politicians' war on X Whether the aggression will wane remains to be seen, now that Cambodia has called for a ceasefire. On the other hand, the political kingmakers on both sides - who are avid social media users themselves - are hurling jabs at each other too. In a post on X, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's populist former prime minister, said he appreciated the offers he had received to help mediate the hostilities. "But I asked for some time because I have to let the Thai military teach Hun Sen a lesson for his cunningness," he wrote. Hun Sen, a strongman ex-leader who remains influential in Cambodian politics, retorted on his X account. "I am not surprised by Thaksin's attitude toward me, because he has even betrayed the Thai King, as well as members of his own party," he wrote on Friday. "Now, under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people." This particular escalation of events was, in fact, caused by the unexpected fracturing of a long-standing friendship between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra. Hun Sen leaked a phone call between him and Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The conversation, where Paetongtarn - then prime minister - called him "uncle", and criticised one of her own military commanders, was hugely embarrassing for her and sparked massive public anger. She has since been suspended as prime minister and Thailand's Constitutional Court is considering a petition for her dismissal. Some Thais believe that the leaking of the phone call was an attempt by Hun Sen to distract his people. "Hun wants dispute and war, he wants to solidify his and his son's future position in (Cambodia) and he needs to have bigger enemy which is why he push for anti-Thai narrative and war," said one Thai social media user in response to a Cambodian's post which said "there is no reason for smaller country with weaker economic (sic) like Cambodia to invade Thailand first". Even if the border conflict stops short of being a full-fledged war, the battles on the social media look set to continue. Additional reporting by Paweena Ninbut Cambodia calls for immediate ceasefire with Thailand Thailand warns clashes with Cambodia could 'move towards war' The fractured friendship behind the fight at the Thailand-Cambodia border
