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Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Cambodia calls for immediate ceasefire with Thailand
Cambodia on Friday called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following an escalation in violence along its border with Thailand. "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire - unconditionally - and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," Cambodia's ambassador to the UN, Chhea Keo, said following a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. Keo dismissed Bangkok's accusations that Cambodia had attacked the country, pointing out that Cambodia's army is only a third the size of Thailand's. He also said that Cambodia lacks a fully equipped air force. At the closed-door meeting, members of the Security Council called on both sides to exercise extreme restraint. Long-standing tensions between the two South-East Asian neighbours flared on Thursday, when exchanges of fire broke out along the border. In response, the Thai military said it had deployed fighter jets against Cambodian positions. Cambodia responded with artillery fire, hitting areas including civilian infrastructure. A petrol station and a hospital were struck. Each side has blamed the other for initiating the latest round of fighting. According to media reports, Thailand carried out further airstrikes on Friday.


News18
5 days ago
- News18
‘Monitoring Situation': India Urges Thailand And Cambodia To De-Escalate
Last Updated: India monitors Thailand-Cambodia border clashes, urging both nations to cease hostilities. Indian embassies advise nationals to avoid border areas and stay in touch for help. Thailand-Cambodia Clashes: India on Saturday responded to the ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia 'We are closely monitoring the situation along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. India has close and friendly relations with both countries and hopes that both sides will take measures for a cessation of hostilities and prevention of further escalation," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press statement. The MEA further urged the Indian travellers in both the countries to saty in touch with their respective embassies for any assistance. 'Embassy of India in Bangkok, Thailand- Helpline: + 66 61 881 9218 (WhatsApp calls also). Embassy of India in Phnom Penh, Cambodia- Helpline: +855 92 881 676 (WhatsApp calls also)," the press release added. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia had issued an advisory for Indian nationals travelling to the country amid ongoing clashes with Thailand, suggesting that they avoid going to border areas. 'In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid traveling to the border areas," the Embassy said. 'In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email it added. Indian Embassy In Thailand Issues Advisory Earlier on Friday, Indian Embassy in Thailand advised its nationals to practice caution and avoid travelling to seven provinces in view of the situation arising out of the clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops over a disputed border. In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) Newsroom, the Indian embassy said in a social media post. Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes Thailand and Cambodia continued their fighting for the third straight day on Saturday, as the death toll in the deadly fighting rose to 33. Phnom Penh has said that it was ready for an 'immediate ceasefire, unconditionally". A decades-long border dispute between the two countries erupted into an intense military confrontation involving jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, after which the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Friday. AFP on Friday reported Cambodia called for a ceasefire with Thailand. The report cited Chhea Keo, the country's ambassador to the United Nations. Quoting Keo in a social media post, AFP mentioned that Cambodia asked for an 'immediate unconditional ceasefire". Reportedly, Keo made the statement following a closed meeting of the Security Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
32 Killed, thousands flee Cambodia-Thailand conflict
Shafaq News - Phnom Penh/ Bangkok At least 32 people were killed and more than 35,000 displaced during three days of cross-border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, Cambodian Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday. The clashes, which began on Thursday, involved heavy artillery fire in disputed areas along Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province. Phnom Penh reported 13 Cambodian deaths — eight civilians and five soldiers — alongside 21 troops and more than 50 civilians wounded. More than 35,800 civilians were also evacuated from high-risk zones in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat provinces. Meanwhile, Thai officials confirmed 15 fatalities, including one soldier. The escalation followed a deadly border incident on May 28, when a Cambodian soldier was killed, reigniting a longstanding territorial dispute between the two Southeast Asian countries. During a closed-door UN Security Council session on Friday, Cambodia's Ambassador Chhea Keo called for 'an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,' emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution. "How can they accuse us — a small nation with a military three times smaller and no air force — of initiating an attack against a much larger neighbor?" Keo remarked. While the UN urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and seek a diplomatic settlement, no ceasefire had been declared. The border, particularly the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, has long been a source of friction. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but tensions have persisted. Past confrontations in the region, including a major flare-up in 2011, resulted in dozens of fatalities and widespread displacement.


Arab Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Tens of thousands flee their homes as Thailand and Cambodia clash
SURIN, Thailand, July 26, (AP): Tens of thousands of people sought refuge as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day Saturday, heightening fears of an extended conflict with the total death toll reaching 32. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors late Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs the 10-nation regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. The council did not issue a statement but a council diplomat said all 15 members called on the parties to deescalate, show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully. The council also urged the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations known as ASEAN, to help resolve the border fighting, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. Cambodia's UN Ambassador Chhea Keo told reporters afterward that his country, which called for the emergency meeting, "asked for immediate ceasefires, unconditionally, and we also call for the peaceful solution to the dispute.' He responded to accusations that Cambodia attacked Thailand asking how a small country with no air force could attack a much larger country with an army three times its size, stressing, "We do not do that.' Keo said the Security Council called for both sides to exercise "maximum restraint and resort to diplomatic solution' which is what Cambodia is calling for as well. Asked what he expects next, the ambassador said: "Let's see how the call can be heard by all the members there.' Thailand's UN ambassador left the meeting without stopping to talk to reporters. The Thai Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters in four affected border provinces, while Cambodian authorities said more than 23,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border. The latest flare-up in a long-running border dispute between the two countries has killed at least 19 people in Thailand - mostly civilians -while Cambodia said Saturday that 12 people more people have killed on its side, bringing its death toll to 13. Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said Friday that Cambodia may be guilty of war crimes due to the deaths of civilians and damage caused to a hospital.

The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
New front opens as clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continue
People rest inside a temporary shelter in Srisaket province, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread. - Reuters BANGKOK: Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day on Saturday (July 26), with a new front opening further south in Thailand's Trat province, newspaper Khaosod reported, citing military sources. Both sides again accused each other of initiating fire, as tensions between the South-East Asian neighbours continued to escalate. The Thai Navy is now also involved in the conflict. ALSO READ: Thai Navy joins conflict against Cambodia as death toll climbs to 30 Long-standing tensions between the two countries flared on Thursday, when exchanges of fire broke out along the border. In response, the Thai military said it had deployed fighter jets against Cambodian positions. Cambodia responded with artillery fire, including on residential areas. It remains unclear who fired first. On Friday evening, Thailand imposed martial law in eight districts in the provinces of Trat and Chanthaburi, citing "ongoing threats to national security" posed by Cambodia. The Foreign Ministry in Bangkok said martial law would allow the military to carry out all necessary operations to maintain peace and order. In Cambodia, 13 people have been killed so far, including eight civilians, the Phnom Penh Post reported, citing Phnom Penh's Defence Ministry. More than 70 people have been injured, 50 of them civilians, according to the newspaper. In Thailand, government figures put the death toll at 14, including 13 civilians, with more than 60 people injured, some seriously. The Thai government said around 130,000 people are currently fleeing the conflict zones. Amid the escalating violence, thousands of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand are reportedly preparing to return home. According to Thai broadcaster PBS, large crowds - possibly tens of thousands - have applied to cross the border at Ban Laem in Chanthaburi. Social media posts described the movement as a "mass exodus," with many saying they no longer felt safe staying in Thailand. According to the Cambodian government, more than 1.2 million Cambodians were living and working in Thailand in 2024. Images circulating online showed groups of people arriving at the border with their belongings. Cambodia on Friday called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire - unconditionally - and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," Cambodia's ambassador to the UN, Chhea Keo, said following a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. Keo dismissed Bangkok's accusations that Cambodia had attacked, pointing out that Cambodia's army is only a third the size of Thailand's. He also said that Cambodia lacks a fully equipped air force. Thai ambassador to the UN, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, meanwhile, called on Cambodia to immediately cease hostilities in order to open a path to dialogue. He described the escalation as an "illegal and arbitrary act of aggression" but added that the two countries are close neighbours and the violence must end. Thailand and Cambodia have disputed sections of their more than 800-kilometre border for decades. The conflict centres on the temple of Prasat Preah Vihear, a Unesco World Heritage site that both countries claim. - dpa