Latest news with #PrasatTaMoanThom
Time Out
25-07-2025
- Time Out
Is it safe to travel to Thailand and Cambodia right now? Latest advice after border closes
Thailand and Cambodia attract millions of visitors every year respectively, but the two countries have had border disputes bubbling under the service for more than 100 years. While historically conflict has been intermittent, relations deteriorated severely this week with gunfire being exchanged in a handful of disputed areas, and multiple civilian deaths have been reported as a result. It seems that the border regions are the only ones affected right now, but this is evidently worrying news if you have plans to travel to either country soon. So, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as it continues to unfold, and how it might affect your travel plans. What's happening between Thailand and Cambodia? Relations between two countries have been tense since a soldier was killed during gunfire over a disputed area in late May, but things deteriorated severely yesterday (Thursday July 24) with more fire exchanged over several different border zones after Thailand accused Cambodia of laying landmines in disputed areas. The affected areas reported are: along Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey (near the ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple) and near Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province (which is close to the Prasat Ta Krabey site). The Independent reports that according to the Thai health ministry, 14 civilians and a soldier have been killed and 46 people have been injured. Is it safe to travel? Since the exchange of fire began, Thailand has ordered the closure of its entire 817km border with Cambodia, and several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, the US, and the UK, have warned against travelling to the areas nearby. However, travel to the rest of each country seems unaffected, and it is exclusively the border area which is advised against travelling to. Are flights still running to Thailand and Cambodia? At the time of writing, flights to both Thailand and Cambodia from major destinations such as Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are operating normally, but if you plan to travel keep a keen eye on your flights status. What's the latest UK Foreign Office travel advice? Updated advice on the travel pages for both Thailand and Cambodia read: 'There are reports of fighting including rocket and artillery fire on 24 July between Thailand and Cambodia at several locations along the border. Casualties have been reported, as well as evacuations of areas close to the border. Land borders/crossings between Thailand and Cambodia have been suspended. Some tourist destinations in border areas such as the Khao Phra Wihan/Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai/Ta Krabey temple and the Ta Muen Thom/Tamone Thom temple are currently closed. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area. We advise against all but essential travel to the affected border areas.' Specifically, travellers are told to avoid all but essential travel to within 50km of the border, and reminded that ignoring this advice will invalidate their travel insurance. Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel because of the conflict? Because the FCDO has not warned against all travel to Thailand and Cambodia (only against essential travel to within 50km of the border areas) it's unlikely you will be able to cancel your trip for a refund. The conditions for cancelling will depend on your provider, so the best thing to do if you're keen to avoid travelling is contact them directly. When was the last conflict between Thailand and Cambodia? The roots of this conflict technically date back more than a century, when the borders of each country were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia. Back in 2008, things got heated when Cambodia tried to register an eleventh century temple, which is located within a disputed zone, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There have been intermittent clashes over the years since, but it was in May that a Cambodian soldier was killed that tensions resurfaced.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is it safe to travel to Thailand and Cambodia? Foreign Office issue updated advice after border clashes
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have deteriorated over the past week, with the two countries exchanging fire across several disputed border zones on Thursday, 24 July. The Thai health ministry said 14 civilians and a soldier had been killed in the fighting so far and 46 people wounded. The Cambodian government did not provide any such details but an provincial official in Oddar Meanchey said a civilian had been killed and five wounded. Tensions have run high between the two countries since a soldier was killed during gunfire in a disputed border area in late May, only to escalate again earlier this week after Thailand accused Cambodia of laying landmines in a disputed territory. Both countries attract large numbers of tourists each year, with Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex and its capital Phnom Penh major draws, while Thailand sees many visitors in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, along with islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui. While these hotspots are not located near the border clashes, tourists should be aware of the closure of the crossings between the two countries as tensions escalate. Read more: Thailand-Cambodia border clash latest Where have clashes occurred? Gunfire began early on Thursday morning near the ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple, found along the border between Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey. Both sides accused the other of firing the first shots, initiating the attack. Further clashes were reported near the Prasat Ta Krabey site and along the border separating Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani. Footage in Thailand showed civilians fleeing explosions and seeking shelter in concrete bunkers. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed Thailand had targeted Cambodian military positions in multiple places. One of Thailand's six F-16 fighter jets launched an attack, destroying what Thai officials described as a Cambodian military target. Has the shared border closed? Thailand has ordered the closure of all the crossings along its 817km border shared with Cambodia, areas of which are undemarcated. What is the UK government's advice? In its travel advice for Cambodia, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed the border's closure. 'Land borders/crossings between Cambodia and Thailand are temporarily suspended,' it wrote in an update on Thursday. 'The line of the international border near the Preah Vihear temple ('Khaoi Pra Viharn' in Thai) has been in dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, with occasional clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops. 'There have also been disputes over control of the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, which are close to the Cambodia-Thailand border. 'Take extra care when travelling in this area, and follow the instructions of the local authorities.' The FCDO travel advice for Thailand says the same about the border crossing, but adds: 'Take extra care and stay alert in border areas and follow the instructions of local authorities, especially at tourist destinations such as the Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai temple and the Ta Muen Thom temple. 'There are also unexploded landmines in the border area. Stay on marked paths, especially around Ta Krabey.' Separately, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the south, near the Thailand-Malaysia border, including the Pattani Province, Yala Province, Narathiwat Province and southern Songkhla Province – south of the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and south of the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Padang Besar. FCDO also advises against all but essential travel on the Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line that runs through these provinces. Can I cancel my holiday? As the FCDO has not warned against non-essential travel to Thailand or Cambodia, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you the daily Crossword
Al Jazeera
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
What we know about clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border
At least 11 people have been killed in deadly clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border between both countries' troops and involving heavy weapons, rockets and fighter jets on Thursday. The outbreak of fighting between the South Asian neighbours follows weeks of tensions which have been brewing since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an armed confrontation on the border. In February, a dispute over Prasat Ta Moan Thon, a Khmer temple close to the border in Thailand, intensified when Thai police stopped Cambodian tourists from singing their national anthem at the contested site. Shelling damaged hospitals and other civilian locations in Thailand during Thursday's fighting, resulting in deaths and injuries, according to statements from the government. Thailand said it had retaliated with air attacks, but it is not yet clear if there have been casualties in Cambodia. Each side blames the other for launching the first attack, as they have cut diplomatic relations with each other. Thailand said it had closed all border crossings with Cambodia. Here's what we know about the clashes so far: What has happened and where? Armed fighting broke out on Thursday morning near the disputed, ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom Temple in Surin province, Thailand, very close to the border with Cambodia, where tensions have been running high in recent weeks. It's unclear yet who fired the first shot, with each side blaming the other. The Thai military accused Cambodian soldiers of 'provocation'. Cambodian troops deployed a surveillance drone at 7:35am (00:35 GMT) before soldiers with rocket launchers approached a Thai military post, according to the Thai military. Thereafter, Cambodian forces opened fire towards the eastern side of the temple, 200 metres (650ft) from the Thai military base, and also targeted a local community with rockets, the Thai military said. Deputy army spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters that air attacks were launched in response, including six F-16 fighter jets which attacked sites over the border in Cambodia and reportedly destroyed two military targets. However, Cambodian defence officials denied that their troops fired first and said the country only responded after Thai troops launched an 'armed assault on Cambodian forces'. Spokeswoman Maly Socheata accused Thailand of violating Cambodia's territorial integrity and said Cambodian troops 'exercised their right to defend their sovereignty' after Thai fighter jets dropped two bombs on a road. How many casualties have there been? At least 11 people have been killed in Thailand – mostly civilians – the Ministry of Public Health said. An eight-year-old child was among the dead. Six people were killed and 10 were wounded in one strike when a Cambodian rocket hit a busy gas station in Sisaket province, the Thai army said in a statement. Three other deaths were recorded in Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. It is still unknown if there have been any casualties in Cambodia. Why has fighting broken out? Thai-Cambodia relations are at their worst in more than a decade. The 818km (508-mile) border between the two countries has long been a source of tension and rivalry, as they both dispute demarcations drawn in 1907, during French colonial rule in Cambodia. There have been skirmishes before, but this is the first time fighter jets have been involved, marking a significant escalation. The border areas are replete with centuries-old historical temples, some of which are claimed by both sides. Although the establishment of a demilitarised zone has been discussed in the past, there are no formal zones in place now. Troops from both sides clashed in 2011 near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, killing 15-20 people and causing the displacement of thousands. Cambodia first took the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1963. In 2011, Cambodia again went to the ICJ in relation to the Preah Vihear Temple. The ICJ ruled in Cambodia's favour and handed it control of the immediate area around the temple in 2013. However, the court did not address any of the other disputed areas, especially those within the 'Emerald Triangle', a shared border region between Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, where troops also frequently clash. Thailand has refused to acknowledge the ICJ's jurisdiction in this issue. Tensions have simmered until this year's escalation. 'The whole situation has been spiralling downwards for weeks, with Cambodia laying landmines that injured Thai soldiers, and Bangkok's expulsion of the Cambodian ambassador was apparently the last straw,' Phil Robertson, director of the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates Consultancy, told Al Jazeera. 'So now the question is really how long will both sides continue fighting, and how many civilians will get killed in the indiscriminate crossfire that is already apparent,' he added. How have tensions escalated between Thailand and Cambodia this year? On February 13, Cambodian soldiers escorted 25 civilians to the Prasat Ta Moan Thon Temple, where they reportedly sang the Cambodian national anthem. Thai military officials said they stopped the tourists from singing, on the basis that it violated mutual agreements about tourist protocols. On February 17, the Thai army sent a warning letter to the Cambodian military, accusing it of 'inappropriate behaviour' and instructing it not to repeat the incident of February 13. In a statement, the Thai Ministry of National Defence said the temple was officially in Thai territory and that while Cambodian citizens could visit, singing the country's national anthem 'raises concerns'. On May 28, both sides clashed in the disputed border area of the Emerald Triangle, leaving one Cambodian soldier dead. The tri-border area connects Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. Again, each side blamed the other for starting the violence. On June 12, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that Cambodia would stop relying on Thai electricity and internet infrastructure due to 'threats'. Cambodian TV stations stopped broadcasting Thai movies, and Cambodia also blocked imports of fuel and gas, as well as fruit and vegetables, from Thailand. On June 14, officials from both countries met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for talks. However, no concrete agreement for peace was reached. Both countries instead boosted border security and tightened checks at crossings. On June 15, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is the country's youngest premier at 38, held a call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen and discussed the tensions. Hun Sen is the father of the current prime minister, Hun Manet. On June 26, Thailand ordered operators to stop providing broadband and mobile internet connections to Cambodia. On July 1, Shinawatra was suspended after her phone call with Hun Sen was leaked to the public. In it, Shinawatra appeared to criticise the Thai military's actions, signalling discord between the government and the army. Pro-military protesters have since called for her resignation. On July 16, a Thai soldier lost a leg in a landmine explosion while on patrol in First was in the Chong Bok area of Nam Zuen district, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, escalating tensions. On July 23, a second blast injured five Thai soldiers near Chong An Ma point, in Ubon Ratchathani province, causing a second soldier to lose a leg. Thailand immediately recalled its ambassador to Cambodia and shut border checkpoints at Chong An Ma, Chong Sa-ngam, Chong Chom and Chong Sai Takoo. Ta Moan Thom and Ta Kwai temples were also closed. On July 24, violence erupted between the two sides, involving heavy weapons and air attacks. Cambodia also recalled its diplomatic staff in Thailand. What does each side say about the conflict? Thailand's acting premier, Phumtham Wechayachai, said in a statement on Thursday that the dispute was 'delicate' and must be resolved according to international law. Suspended Prime Minister Shinawatra – who is also the culture minister – condemned Cambodia, in a news briefing, for opening fire and accused the country of allowing the situation to escalate beyond diplomatic levels. 'We have always respected international protocols, but now Cambodia has forced our hand. We may have to take actions we have tried to avoid in the past,' she said. For his part, Cambodia's prime minister, Hun Manet, has urged an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to stop 'Thailand's aggression'. Manet said Thai forces launched 'unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks' on the Cambodian border, violating international law. 'Facing this flagrant aggression, Cambodian troops had no option but to respond in self-defence in order to safeguard Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' Manet wrote in a letter to UNSC President Asin Iftikhar Ahmad. 'It is profoundly reprehensible that this act of aggression occurs while Cambodia is actively pursuing peaceful and impartial legal avenues to resolve outstanding border issues with Thailand through both bilateral and international mechanisms,' he added. Both countries have closed borders and announced evacuations of their citizens from the border zones. The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh urged citizens to leave Cambodia. What reactions have there been from other nations and international bodies? The United States and China issued warnings to their citizens to be vigilant in the border areas. The US embassy in Thailand urged Americans to heed advice from Thai authorities, who commenced evacuation from the worst-hit areas on Thursday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that China is 'deeply concerned' about escalating tensions between its neighbours, and stressed the importance of 'maintaining friendly relations' with 'long-term interests on both sides'. China will 'continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and dialogue to help ease tensions', the spokesperson said. Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia and current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Thailand and Cambodia are members, said he would engage both sides in negotiations. 'I have sent messages to both prime ministers and look forward to speaking with them later today or tonight,' he told reporters. 'The least we can expect is for them to stand down and hopefully try to enter into negotiation,' Ibrahim said, calling the situation 'worrying' and describing Thailand and Cambodia as key ASEAN members. Will this situation escalate further? Robertson of AHRLA said the situation would likely 'get worse before it gets better'. Bad blood between Cambodian PM Hun Sen and former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, respectively the fathers of both countries' current leaders, could add to the political will to continue fighting, Robertson said. Although Thaksin and Hun Sen were longtime allies, Robertson said Hun Sen's leaking of the recording of the damaging phone call between him and Thaksin's daughter, suspended PM Shinawatra, means 'the gloves are now off between the two sides. 'Right now, neither side wants to be seen as conceding any ground to the other, so the fighting is likely to continue for some time, primarily in the form of firing across the border with artillery and firefights across the border in disputed areas,' he said. Robertson added: 'We're not going to see either side invade the other, but the damage will be lasting and it's hard to see how this will be mediated towards peace, at least in the short-to-medium term.'
The Independent
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Thailand residents run for cover as Cambodia border erupts in gunfire
Residents in Thailand 's Surin province fled their homes to hide in an underground bunker amid explosions and gunfire on Thursday, 24 July. Thai and Cambodian soldiers fired at each other in multiple contested border areas, injuring three civilians, after diplomatic relations were downgraded in a rapidly escalating dispute. Clashes appeared to be ongoing in several areas; the first occurred in an area where the ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia 's Oddar Meanchey province. Both Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of opening fire first. Relations between the neighbours have deteriorated sharply since May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in an armed confrontation in one of the several small patches of land both countries claim as their territory.
Telegraph
24-07-2025
- Telegraph
Live Thailand bombs Cambodia with F-16s
At least one civilian was killed and others injured after Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed over disputed border areas on Thursday, as relations between the two countries imploded. According to Thai officials, several more have been injured, while 40,000 civilians have been evacuated from 86 villages close to the border. Tensions between the southeast Asian neighbours have been mounting for months, but the bitter spat escalated dramatically on Thursday when border clashes were reported in six locations in an area known as the Emerald Triangle – where the two countries meet Laos. Both sides have claimed that the other started the ongoing fighting, which began early in the morning near the ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom, some 250 miles northeast of Bangkok. By midday Thailand had dispatched F-16 jets to strike a pair of military targets in Cambodia. The clash has engulfed some civilians. Footage from Thailand's side of the border showing people running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker to shelter from periodic explosions, while media reported that a fire broke out at a fuel station after it was struck by bullets.
