Latest news with #RoyalThaiArmy
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia says it will seek World Court ruling on border disputes with Thailand that led to clash
Cambodian General Mao Sophan (front, left) and Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk (front, right) during a meeting on May 29 near the Thai-Cambodian border after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a frontier clash. -- PHOTO: EPA-EFE via The Straits Times/ANN PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP): Cambodia's government says it plans to seek a ruling from the UN's International Court of Justice over border disputes with neighboring Thailand, one of which triggered a fatal military clash last week. Cambodia's National Assembly, where Prime Minister Hun Manet's ruling Cambodian People's Party holds all but a handful of seats, voted on Monday to support the government's decision. A 1962 ruling by the same court, awarding to Cambodia the disputed territory on which a historic temple is located, rankled Thailand and to this day remains a major irritant in bilateral relations. Thai officials did not immediately respond to Cambodia's intention to seek a ruling from the court, which is located in The Hague in the Netherlands and also known as the World Court. Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Sunday that Thailand's actions at the border were proportionate and in line with domestic and international law. He said the situation at the border remained calm, and that both sides agreed to find solutions to ease the tension as soon as possible. The brief May 28 clash near Morokot village, in Cambodia's northwestern province of Preah Vihear, in which one Cambodian soldier was killed, began when Cambodian troops were conducting a routine patrol along the border when the Thai side opened fire, the Cambodian side says. The Thai army says that Cambodian soldiers entered a disputed patch of land and opened fire when Thai soldiers approached them to negotiate. Hun Manet in social media posts on Sunday declared that his government will ask the court to rule on the demarcation of several disputed areas, including where the centuries-old Hindu-style Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch and Ta Kro Bei temples are located. In February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered the Ta Moan Thom temple in disputed territory and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai forces. After last week's flare-up, both sides quickly called for calm and talks to ease their differences, while reserving the right to use military action to safeguard their sovereignty. On Thursday, the two countries' army commanders met to discuss how to avoid more clashes. On Monday, Hun Manet called for the two countries to have their Joint Border Commission continue the work of border demarcation, as well as having the World Court take up the issue. Hun Manet's announced intention to appeal to the World Court may touch a raw nerve in Thailand, because the 1962 ruling awarding the major Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia is a touchstone issue for Thai nationalists. and wielded in domestic politics. Last year, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinatwatra's government was attacked on nationalist grounds for proposing to resume talks with Cambodia on demarcation of maritime territory believed to hold profitable hydrocarbon resources. In 2008, there were several deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thai forces at the Preah Vihear promontory, an area on which sits a 1,000-year-old temple that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that same year. In 2013, the World Court reaffirmed its 1962 ruling. Hun Manet, speaking Monday to Cambodia lawmakers, said his government would take the cases of the other disputed areas to the World Court to determine ownership even if Thailand did not join in the appeal, in order "to end this problem and extinguish it once and for all so that there is no further confusion.' "In particular, let's not fall for the incitement of a handful of extremist groups in Cambodia and Thailand, and let's not fall into the problem of confrontation by armed forces of the two countries," he said. -- Associated Press writer Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok contributed to this report.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thailand to issue statement to resolve clash point in Chong Bok area
BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is preparing to issue a statement on Friday (May 30) to resolve the recent clash point in the Chong Bok area, Ubon Ratchathani province. RTA chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk said the official statement in both Thai and English follows discussions with General Mao Sophan, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, regarding the recent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops in Chong Bok. He outlined progress on three agreements reached on Thursday (May 29) as follows: Regarding the dispute in the Chong Bok area, the Thai and Cambodian armies have agreed to utilise the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), a government-level mechanism, to expedite resolving the issue. The JBC meeting is expected to reach a conclusion within the next two weeks. Both forces involved in the recent clashes have withdrawn from the area, easing tensions. Both sides also agreed to use the Regional Border Committee (RBC) mechanism to clarify any lingering concerns and to strengthen the JBC process. Pana emphasised that operations must ensure Cambodian troops do not enter Hill 745 in the Chong Bok area. This location had previously seen Cambodian forces digging trenches and establishing a base before Thai troops negotiated their withdrawal. Today, Thai and Cambodian soldiers are conducting joint patrols in the area, he said. Regarding the second clash point, where Cambodian forces had dug trenches from the blackboard tree to the Lao Junction, a distance of 650 metres, discussions may be held to arrange unarmed joint patrols with Cambodian troops if possible. - The Nation/ANN
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
1 fatality in Thai-Cambodian army clash
The exchange lasted for around 10 minutes before the Cambodians requested a ceasefire. (EPA Images pic) BANGKOK : A Cambodian soldier was killed on Wednesday after an exchange of gunfire with the Thai army at the border, a Cambodian army spokesman said, a rare fatality in a long sensitive frontier region. 'One of our soldiers died during the fight, and there were some injuries, but we don't have detailed figures yet,' said Cambodian Royal Army spokesman Mao Phalla. The Royal Thai Army said in a statement that the clash happened after Cambodian soldiers started firing near Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand's east. Thai soldiers fired back in response to gunshots from Cambodia's border force, leading to an exchange lasting around 10 minutes before the Cambodians requested a ceasefire, according to the Thai army statement. Mao Phalla confirmed 'there were clashes', but said Thai soldiers had attacked Cambodian troops who were on border patrol duty in northern Preah Vihear province, which borders Ubon Ratchathani. 'Our soldiers died in the trenches. The Thais came to attack us,' he said. Bloody military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand erupted in 2008 over the site of an ancient Khmer temple in Preah Vihear located near the border. The row over a patch of land next to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple led to several years of sporadic violence, resulting in at least 28 deaths before the International Court of Justice ruled the disputed area belonged to Cambodia.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodian soldier killed in clash with Thai army at disputed border
BANGKOK: A Cambodian soldier was killed on Wednesday (May 28) after an exchange of gunfire with the Thai army at the border, a Cambodian army spokesman said, a rare fatality in a long sensitive frontier region. "One of our soldiers died during the fight, and there were some injuries, but we don't have detailed figures yet, said Cambodian Royal Army spokesman Mao Phalla. The Royal Thai Army said in a statement that the clash happened after Cambodian soldiers started firing near Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand's east. Thai soldiers fired back in response to gunshots from Cambodia's border force, leading to an exchange lasting around 10 minutes before the Cambodians requested a ceasefire, according to the Thai army statement. Mao Phalla confirmed "there were clashes", but said Thai soldiers had attacked Cambodian troops who were on border patrol duty in northern Preah Vihear province, which borders Ubon Ratchathani. "Our soldiers died in the trenches. The Thais came to attack us," he said. Bloody military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand erupted in 2008 over the site of an ancient Khmer temple in Preah Vihear located near the border. The row over a patch of land next to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple led to several years of sporadic violence, resulting in at least 28 deaths before the International Court of Justice ruled the disputed area belonged to Cambodia. - AFP
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cambodian soldier killed in clash with Thai army at disputed border
Representative Image (AI-generated) A Cambodian soldier was killed on Wednesday after an exchange of gunfire with the Thai army at the border, a Cambodian army spokesman said, a rare fatality in a long sensitive frontier region. "One of our soldiers died during the fight, and there were some injuries, but we don't have detailed figures yet", said Cambodian Royal Army spokesman Mao Phalla. The Royal Thai Army said in a statement that the clash happened after Cambodian soldiers started firing near Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand's east. Thai soldiers fired back in response to gunshots from Cambodia's border force, leading to an exchange lasting around 10 minutes before the Cambodians requested a ceasefire, according to the Thai army statement. Mao Phalla confirmed "there were clashes", but said Thai soldiers had attacked Cambodian troops who were on border patrol duty in northern Preah Vihear province, which borders Ubon Ratchathani. "Our soldiers died in the trenches. The Thais came to attack us," he said. Bloody military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand erupted in 2008 over the site of an ancient Khmer temple in Preah Vihear located near the border. The row over a patch of land next to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple led to several years of sporadic violence, resulting in at least 28 deaths before the International Court of Justice ruled the disputed area belonged to Cambodia.
