Latest news with #Khmer-era
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Thailand-Cambodia clashes: MEA urges ‘end to hostilities'; issues helpline numbers for Indian travellers
The deadly clashes between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day on Saturday, with residents of the bordering villages fled to safer locations to escape the fighting. India on Saturday issued an advisory, asking its citizens in Cambodia to avoid travelling to border areas. "In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the border areas," the Indian embassy in Cambodia said in an X post. Later on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs also issued a statement that it is 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,' the MEA statement said. The ministry also advised Indian travellers in the region to contact the Indian Embassies in the two countries for any assistance. Below are the helpline numbers: Both countries traded fresh accusations on Saturday as deadly border clashes continued, leaving at least 33 dead and more than 1,68,000 displaced. Even as international pressure to reach a ceasefire mounted on both countries, artillery fire and gunshots were reported near several border villages. According to an AP report, Saturday's fresh attacks have expanded the area of the fighting that flared again on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Officials of both the countries have claimed to have acted in retaliation. Both countries have also recalled their ambassadors as Thailand closed its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia. Cambodian authorities reported on Saturday 12 new deaths, bringing its toll to 13, while Thai officials said a soldier was killed, raising the deaths to 20, mostly civilians, the AP report said. Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a bitter dispute over the Emerald Triangle, a border region where the two countries meet Laos. The area is home to several ancient temples, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, near which clashes broke out early Thursday. The ancient Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia has also been the site of some of the most prominent and violent past conflicts between the countries. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is reportedly on the Thai side of the border, and Prasat Preah Vihear is on the Cambodian side of the border. Both countries claim ownership of these disputed sites. (With inputs from agencies)
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Thailand- Cambodia clashes enter third day; ‘feels like escaping war zone' locals share harrowing details: 10 pts
Thailand and Cambodia's ongoing conflict escalated further with the two bordering nations pounding each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day on Saturday, causing the death toll to rise to 33, while leaving over 150,000 displaced from their homes spread across the frontier. Blasts tore through the skies on Saturday afternoon, as clashes broke out for the first time in the rival-locked nations' coastal regions, where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand. "It feels like I'm escaping a war zone," a 76-year-old farmer, Samlee Sornchai described the situation to AFP, while at a temple shelter for evacuees in the Thai town of Kanthararom, after abandoning his farm near the border. People who fled their homes near the border between Cambodia and Thailand, stay at a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26, 2025. Thailand and Cambodia clashed for a third day, as the death toll from their bloodiest fighting in years rose to 33 and Phnom Penh called for an 'immediate ceasefire' (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP) 3. Cambodia's defence ministry said 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded. 4. Thai authorities reported that 13 civilians and seven soldiers have been killed on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011. 5. Residents fleeing from their homes called for peace, stating that relations between the people of the two nations 'used to be good,' and that they 'were like siblings.' 6. "We are neighbours, we want to be friends," one 50-year-old told AFP at the temple shelter in Phumi Bak Thkav. 'But they are attacking us. We are fleeing homes because of them.' A woman who fled her home near the border between Cambodia and Thailand, sits on a hammock at a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26, 2025. Thailand and Cambodia clashed for a third day, as the death toll from their bloodiest fighting in years rose to 33 and Phnom Penh called for an 'immediate ceasefire' (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP) 7. Following a UN Security Council meeting in New York, Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. 'Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,' he told reporters. 8. On Friday, Thailand had declared 'martial law' in eight of its districts bordering Cambodia, after the two nations engaged in deadly clashes. 9. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. 10. The previous most deadly clashes broke out between 2008 and 2011 – leaving at least 28 people dead.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Thailand declares martial law in 8 districts amid deadly clashes with Cambodia over Hindu temples territory
Thailand on Friday declared 'martial law' in eight of its districts bordering Cambodia, after the two nations engaged in deadly clashes over a long-time territorial dispute. According to news agency AFP, Apichart Sapprasert, commander of the military's Border Defense Command in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, said in a statement "martial law is now in effect" in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat. According to Thai media, the affected districts are: Chanthaburi province: Mueang Chanthaburi, Tha Mai, Makham, Laem Sing, Kaeng Hang Maew, Na Yai Am and Khao Khitchakut Trat province: Khao Saming An Al Jazeera report said that these national parks will remain closed: Phu Chong-Na Yoi National Park (Ubon Ratchathani province), Yod Dom Wildlife Sanctuary (Ubon Ratchathani province), Khao Phra Wihan National Park (Sisaket province), Phanom Dong Rak Wildlife Sanctuary (Sisaket province), Huai Sala Wildlife Sanctuary (Sisaket province), and Huai Thap Than–Huai Samran Wildlife Sanctuary (Surin province). The two nations are locked in a bitter dispute over the Emerald Triangle, a border region where both of them meet Laos. The area is home to several ancient temples, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, near which clashes broke out early Thursday. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is reportedly on the Thai side of the border, and Prasat Preah Vihear is on the Cambodian side of the border. Both countries claim ownership of these disputed sites. At least 130,000 people fled the fighting as Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned on Friday that cross-border clashes with Cambodia 'could develop into war". A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops on Thursday, and the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting later today. According to an AFP report, a steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border on Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian – a 70-year-old man – had been killed and five more wounded. More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities – 14 civilians and a soldier – with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops, the report added. "We have tried to compromise as we are neighbours, but we have now instructed the Thai military to act immediately in case of urgency," said Phumtham. "If the situation escalates, it could develop into war – though for now, it remains limited to clashes," he told reporters in Bangkok.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Demilitarise to stabilise: Why the Ta Muen Thom sector must be the first to fall silent — Phar Kim Beng
JULY 25 — In the long and tangled history of Thailand-Cambodia relations, the frontier between the two nations has often served less as a boundary and more as a crucible for conflict. Nowhere is this more evident than the Ta Muen Thom sector — where barbed wire, bunkers, and bitter memories converge. It is precisely here, in this theatre of overlapping claims and ancient temples, that we must begin a new journey: the full demilitarisation of the border, starting with this volatile corridor. Recent skirmishes along the frontier — most notably the deadly exchange of fire near the Emerald Triangle in May 2025 and the confirmed allegations of Cambodian minelaying reported by The Bangkok Post in July — have revived ghosts of the past. From 2008 to 2011, Thai and Cambodian troops faced off repeatedly over sacred sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Krabey. Peace was elusive because firepower and politics trumped common sense. As tensions now threaten to spiral again, the stakes are even higher, exacerbated by the intermingling of military control with the illegal digital economy, narcotics networks, and cross-border crime. The line between sovereignty and subversion is blurring fast. To break this dangerous cycle, Asean must act decisively, and Bangkok and Phnom Penh must agree to a phased, externally monitored demilitarisation. The logical starting point is the Ta Muen Thom corridor, not only because of its historical sensitivity but also its current operational volatility. This is not simply a symbolic gesture — it is a strategic necessity. The case for Ta Muen Thom Located in Surin province on the Thai side and Oddar Meanchey on the Cambodian side, the Ta Muen Thom complex has long been a fault line between military patrols and nationalist claims. It houses not just a sacred Khmer-era temple but a frontline of armoured deployments. Any spark here—be it accidental or deliberate—could ignite a wider conflict. More importantly, this area sits atop one of the most porous segments of the border, where human trafficking, scam syndicates, and illicit arms movement have flourished under the cloak of nationalism. Cambodia's decision to lay new mines, allegedly to slow Thai military advances, is a grim reminder of the past's persistence. Despite being a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines, Phnom Penh's apparent violations not only endanger civilians but inflame already raw sentiments in Thailand. For Bangkok, any suggestion of Cambodian expansionism, especially near ancient temples with shared heritage, plays directly into domestic narratives of sovereignty under siege. Yet it is this very mix of history and hysteria that makes the Ta Muen Thom corridor the most urgent candidate for demilitarisation. A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40km from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. — Reuters pic Three tiers of ceasefire: From tactical to transformational Ceasefire agreements alone are not enough. History shows that Thailand and Cambodia have repeatedly agreed to halt hostilities only to see fighting resume within days. That is why this conflict demands a structured and multi-layered approach to demilitarisation — built on three essential types of ceasefires. First, tactical or local ceasefires are needed immediately. These must be enforced at flashpoints like Ta Muen Thom, Khnar Temple, and Preah Vihear. Commanders on both sides must establish direct communication channels, perhaps via an Asean Emergency Border Hotline, to prevent miscalculations and rogue operations. When troops face off without coordination, minor incidents can escalate into major bloodshed. Second, a ceasefire monitored by neutral observers is crucial. This was the original intent behind the 2011 agreement that allowed Indonesian observers to patrol the Preah Vihear region. A similar framework should now be extended to Ta Muen Thom. The Asean Secretariat, with support from the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), can redeploy a border monitoring team composed of unarmed civilians and retired military officials from neutral Asean states like Malaysia and Indonesia. Their presence would reduce the chance of surprise offensives and increase transparency. Third, and most vital for long-term peace, a permanent ceasefire must be legally embedded in an internationally recognised framework. This would entail mutual recognition of the ICJ's 1962 and 2013 rulings, which awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia and called for the establishment of demilitarised zones. Thailand has often rejected the ICJ's broader jurisdiction over the border demarcation, but in the spirit of Asean unity, both sides must now work through the Asean Charter's High Council for Dispute Resolution or agree to third-party arbitration by an Asean–UN hybrid mechanism. Geopolitics and local politics: A dangerous nexus Why is such decisive action urgent now? Because the regional geopolitical climate is shifting fast — and not in Asean's favour. China's expanding role in both Cambodia's digital economy and Thai political patronage has introduced new complexities. Beijing's request earlier this year for Thailand to crack down on scam networks operating out of border casinos was met with quiet compliance in Bangkok but fury in Phnom Penh. Leaked communications between former Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed growing distrust. For Hun Sen, whose family network is deeply intertwined with the digital economy emanating from the Cambodian frontier, Thai enforcement risks undermining his dynastic interests. For Paetongtarn, whose premiership rests on winning over both military and civilian constituencies, appearing weak in the face of Cambodian provocation is politically untenable. Both are prisoners of their own nationalist narratives. Against this backdrop, a military provocation — even unintended — could provide domestic political capital. But it would be catastrophic for regional stability. The Asean responsibility to intervene Asean is often criticised for being slow, reactive, or overly cautious. But the bloc is not without tools. Article 23 of the Asean Charter allows the convening of a High Council to mediate disputes. The Asean Chair — currently Malaysia — can immediately request an emergency consultation with both parties, perhaps convened in neutral Jakarta. If necessary, Malaysia and Vietnam should be appointed as special envoys to mediate, given their shared borders and vested interest in a stable mainland South-east Asia. Asean must also back the creation of a Joint Border Demilitarisation Commission, supported by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA), to facilitate logistics, mapping, and troop withdrawals — starting with Ta Muen Thom. This could become a model for resolving other disputed zones, such as along the Lao–Cambodia and Myanmar–Thailand borders. Demilitarisation is not appeasement Critics will argue that withdrawing troops from Ta Muen Thom or allowing third-party monitoring is tantamount to surrendering sovereignty. But this is a false binary. Demilitarisation, when coupled with international recognition and border development funds, strengthens sovereignty by removing the incentives for proxy warfare and illegal trafficking. It also frees both governments from being manipulated by warlords, digital mafia networks, or patronage-based military elites. With peace, the border can become a zone of connectivity, not conflict — supporting trade, tourism, and joint heritage management. Conclusion: Let the silence begin where it's loudest If Asean wants to demonstrate relevance amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, the demilitarisation of the Thai Cambodian border — beginning with Ta Muen Thom — must be its priority. Here lies not just a relic of civilisational pride, but a powder keg of modern insecurity. Turning it into a demilitarised zone would send a powerful signal: that South-east Asia will not be held hostage to the past, nor to the criminal networks and nationalist tempers of the present. Peace is not forged in grand declarations but in quiet zones. Let the silence begin where the guns once roared the loudest. *Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is the Director of the Institute of Internationalisation and Asean Studies (IINTAS) at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He served as a former Head Teaching Fellow at Harvard University and is a Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar. **This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Shiva temples at heart of Thailand-Cambodia clashes: All about Prasat Preah Vihear, Prasat Ta Muen Thom
Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a bitter spat over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet. This area is also home to several ancient temples, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple near which the recent clashes broke out early Thursday. The ancient Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia has also been the site of some of the most prominent and violent past conflicts between the countries. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is reportedly on the Thai side of the border, and Prasat Preah Vihear is on the Cambodian side of the border. Both countries claim ownership of these disputed sites. Here's all you need to know about Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple in Thailand and Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia: The ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. It is among the contested sites in Thailand's northeastern Surin province. Prasat Ta Muen Thom archaeological site is located at Ban Nong Khanna, Tambon Ta Mueang and is on the Thai-Cambodian border. It is a Khmer archaeological site of three buildings located nearby each other. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It houses a Shivling from a natural rock formation in its sanctum sanctorum. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is located about 800 metres to the south of Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It was assumed to have been built around the 12th century, which is older than its two companion temples — Prasat Ta Muen and Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It is part of a larger temple complex on a strategic pass along the ancient Khmer highway that links Angkor in present‑day Cambodia with Phimai in Thailand. Both sides have been fighting because of the temple's location. The temple, accessible from both sides, is in a poorly demarcated part of the border and stands as an important religious and cultural site for both Cambodians and the Thai. Troops from both countries constantly patrol the temple's area, leading to frequent skirmishes. Cambodia claims the temple is based on historical Khmer Empire boundaries, which included modern-day Cambodia and parts of Thailand. But Thailand say it's in its Surin province. Earlier in February, a group of Cambodian soldiers had reportedly visited the temple area and began singing their national anthem, The Khmer Times, a Cambodian news outlet, reported. They were confronted by Thai soldiers. The last time clashes between Thailand and Cambodia turned deadly over the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple was in 2011. The Preah Vihear temple is dedicated to Shiva and is situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been at the center of past disputes. It "is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment," UNESCO says. UNESCO records the temple as dating back to the first half of the 11th century AD. Nevertheless, its complex history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage was founded. This site is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location. Amid the violence at the border, the Thai air force said F-16 jets carried out two bombing runs on Cambodian positions. Cambodia claimed those bombs landed near the Preah Vihear temple. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. Cambodia complained that Thailand had occupied a piece of its territory surrounding the ruins of the Temple of Preah Vihear. It asked the International Court of Justice to declare that territorial sovereignty over the Temple belonged to it and that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw the armed detachment stationed there since 1954. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the Preah Vihear temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations. It also held that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw any military or police force stationed there and to restore to Cambodia any objects removed from the ruins since 1954.
