Latest news with #Thailand
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is it safe to travel to Thailand? Latest advice as it seals Cambodia border
At least 12 people have been killed over clashes as a result of the disputed land border between Thailand and Cambodia. Thai protesters wave national flags and hold placards during a demonstration over tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border. (Getty) Thailand has closed its border with Cambodia following military clashes that left at least 12 people dead. Violence erupted on the disputed land border between the two nations, escalating a territorial conflict that traces back over a century. Thailand and Cambodia have long contested sovereignty at various points along their 820km (508 mile) land border, which has led to skirmishes over several years. Tensions were reignited in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis, triggering armed clashes. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of initiating the attack with unprovoked aggression, while Thailand claims Cambodian troops fired rockets into villages and targeted a hospital, prompting Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military positions. ADVERTISEMENT Both nations have traded accusations of violating international law, with Cambodia downgrading diplomatic relations and appealing to the UN Security Council to intervene. Where has the violence been? The clashes have been concentrated along the Thai-Cambodia border, specifically in Thailand's eastern provinces of Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. These areas, close to a disputed Khmer-Hindu temple, have seen intense fighting, including Cambodian rocket attacks and Thai airstrikes. Clashes have broken out near the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, around 362km (225 miles) east of the Thai capital Bangkok. Map showing the locations where military clashes have occurred along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia. (Reuters) Smoke rises from a petrol station as clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continue. (Reuters) Thailand's health minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters the deaths took place across three border provinces and included an 8-year-old boy in Surin. ADVERTISEMENT In Sisaket province, a petrol station was heavily damaged, with thick smoke rising from the site. The Thai government has also taken over national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including Phu Chong Na Yoi and Khao Phra Wihan, to use as military bases. Is it safe to travel to Thailand? Travel to Thailand remains generally safe – however anyone visiting the country should avoid the volatile border regions near Cambodia. The UK Foreign Office has issued a specific advisory for British citizens, warning of avoiding all but essential travel to some parts of the country. The Foreign Office has some travel advisories in place for Thailand. (FCDO) Specifically, the Foreign Office advises only essential travel to the Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of the southern Songkhla provinces along the Malaysian border. Currently there Foreign Office has not issued any travel advisories for areas along the Cambodian border but extra caution is advised. ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo News UK has contacted the Foreign Office for comment. Which areas in Thailand are considered safe for tourists? The conflict is taking place in eastern provinces, far from Thailand's major tourist destinations. Cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya, as well as southern beach destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui, are far from the conflict zones and continue to welcome tourists with no reported disruptions to hotels, attractions, or transportation. Northern regions like Chiang Rai and island destinations like Koh Phangan also remain safe. How can I stay safe in Thailand? Travelling safely in Thailand requires preparation and awareness, especially given the current tensions. You should make sure you know the location of the British embassy in Bangkok, and register with them to receive emergency updates. ADVERTISEMENT Staying away from the conflict zones is critical, as these areas are currently unstable due to military activity. When exploring Thailand, avoid carrying large amounts of cash to reduce the risk of theft, and opt for ATMs in secure locations like shopping malls or banks. Tuk tuk scams in Thailand are common and fares should be agreed beforehand. (PA) Political demonstrations, which can occasionally occur in Bangkok, should be avoided, as they may escalate unexpectedly. Tourists should also be cautious of common scams, such as tuk-tuk drivers offering suspiciously cheap rides only to detour to overpriced shops. You should always agree on the fare and destination beforehand. Another frequent scam involves unsolicited offers to buy 'discounted' gems, which are often overpriced or counterfeit. Staying informed through local news, using reputable tour operators and respecting cultural norms will help ensure a safe trip.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Why have tensions escalated between Thailand and Cambodia - and is it safe to travel there?
Military clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, killing at least 12 people. A long-standing dispute over border areas escalated into an exchange of gunfire, shelling and rockets being launched on 24 July, with both sides accusing one another of initiating the violence. Relations between the Southeast Asian neighbours deteriorated sharply after an armed confrontation in May that killed a Cambodian soldier. Nationalist passions on both sides have further inflamed the situation. Here is all you need to know about the situation and how it got to this stage. What is happening in Thailand and Cambodia? Tensions first broke out on Thursday morning in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. The Thai army said that most casualties occurred in the Si Sa Ket province, where six people were killed after shots were fired at a fuel station. At least 14 people were injured in three other border provinces. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed, Thailand's health minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand's foreign ministry said Cambodian troops fired "heavy artillery" on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas, including a hospital. In response, the Thai army said a Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed military targets in Cambodia. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thai jets had dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, saying it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia". Clashes are now thought to be ongoing in at least six areas along the border, the Thai defence ministry said. What caused the escalation? For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have laid claim to undisputed points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border. This has led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Tensions were reignited in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered recent armed clashes. Both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions, but Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten restrictions on the other. Tighter restrictions on Thailand's land border with Cambodia were implemented, stopping almost all crossings except for students, medical patients and others with essential needs. Thai authorities sealed the border entirely after Thursday's escalation. Meanwhile, Cambodia has banned Thai movies and TV shows, stopped the import of Thai fuel, fruits and vegetables and boycotted some of its neighbour's international internet links and power supply. Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador a day earlier, in protest against a number of land mine blasts that injured a total of eight Thai soldiers. Thai authorities alleged the mines were recently laid along paths that by mutual agreement were supposed to be safe. They said the mines were Russian-made and not of a type used by Thailand's military. Cambodia accused Thailand of making "baseless accusations", pointing out that the unexploded mines could have been from previous periods of unrest. Political fallout Earlier this month, Thailand's former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attempted to resolve tensions via a call with Cambodia's influential former prime minister and current president of the senate, Hun Sen. Their conversation was later leaked, revealing Ms Shinawatra referred to Mr Sen - who stepped down as prime minister in favour of his son Hun Manet in 2023 - "uncle" and criticised Thai military leadership. Her comments caused widespread outrage and protests and led to Ms Shinawatra being suspended from her position on 1 July after a court ruling. Her ally, former defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai was appointed as acting prime minister. Mr Wechayachai said on Thursday that fighting between Cambodia and Thailand must stop before negotiations between the two sides can begin. Is it safe to travel there? The neighbouring countries are both hugely popular with tourists, but since tensions escalated on the border on Thursday, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has updated its advice for individuals already in the area or planning to visit. The FCDO website states: "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." It adds that British nationals should "exercise a high level of vigilance in border areas" and "follow the instructions of local authorities. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area". The US Embassy in Thailand also released new advice, telling US citizens to "follow direction from Thai security services and consult local government authorities for the latest information". Why is the border contested? Tensions over the border largely stem back to a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has used the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been over the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Cambodia sovereignty over the temple area, which caused irritation between the neighbouring countries. Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia's favour in 2013. Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes but Thailand has rejected the court's jurisdiction.
CNA
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNA
Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets and rockets in deadly border row
The Thai public health ministry said one soldier and at least 11 civilians were killed, most of them in a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province. Footage from the scene showed smoke pouring from a convenience store attached to the petrol station. Provincial officials said most of the dead were students inside the shop when the attack happened. "I heard a loud noise three or four times, and when I looked over, there was a gigantic cloud of smoke," Praphas Intaracheun, a 53-year-old gardener from Sisaket province, told AFP. He was refuelling at another petrol station around 300m from the one that was hit. "I was absolutely shocked. This is the first time I've ever experienced anything like this," he said. "I'm scared it might escalate during the night when you can't see anything. I don't even dare sleep." The Thai public health ministry said 35 civilians have been wounded. "I DON'T EVEN DARE SLEEP" Fighting was focused on six locations, the Thai army said, with ground troops and tanks battling Cambodian forces for control of territory. Six Thai air force jets were deployed, hitting two "Cambodian military targets on the ground", according to Thai military deputy spokesperson Ritcha Suksuwanon. Cambodia has not yet commented on casualties on its side. Defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata refused to answer when asked about the issue at a news conference. Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting, which erupted near two temples on the border. The Cambodian defence ministry said its forces had responded in self-defence against an "armed assault". Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address what his foreign ministry labelled "unprovoked military aggression". Thailand's government, meanwhile, accused Cambodia of being "inhumane, brutal and war-hungry" and said all border crossings had been shut and nearby residents evacuated. The Thai military blamed Cambodian soldiers for firing first, and later accused them of a "targeted attack on civilians", saying two BM-21 rockets had hit a community in Surin province, wounding three people. Thailand's embassy in Phnom Penh urged its nationals to leave Cambodia "as soon as possible". China, a close ally of Cambodia, said it was "deeply concerned" about the clashes, calling for dialogue - while urging its citizens in Cambodia to avoid the border with Thailand. LONG-RUNNING ROW The violence came hours after Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy after five members of a Thai military patrol were wounded by a landmine. Cambodia downgraded ties to "the lowest level" on Thursday, pulling out all but one of its diplomats and expelling their Thai equivalents from Phnom Penh. The border row also kicked off a domestic political crisis in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office pending an ethics probe over her conduct. A diplomatic call between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, Cambodia's former longtime ruler and father of Hun Manet, was leaked from the Cambodian side, sparking a judicial investigation. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on both sides to "stand down" and start talks.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Thai fighter jet bombs Cambodian targets as border battle escalates
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Reuters) - Thailand scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia on Thursday after artillery volleys from both sides killed at least 11 civilians, as border tension boiled over into rare armed conflict between the Southeast Asian countries. Both blamed each other for starting a morning clash at a disputed area of the border, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations 209 kilometres (130 miles) apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century. Thailand positioned six F-16 fighter jets in an uncommon combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target, among measures Cambodia's foreign ministry called "reckless and brutal military aggression". Thailand's military said the use of air power was to strike with precision. The worst fighting between the countries in 13 years came after Thailand on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. The two countries have been braced for conflict since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish, with troops reinforced on both sides of the border amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Thailand said there were 12 fatalities in three Thai provinces, 11 of them civilians including an eight-year-old boy. Authorities said 31 people were injured on Thursday. The number of Cambodian casualties was unclear. "We condemn this - using heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones... the use of force and did not adhere to international law," Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters. "We remain committed to peaceful means and there should be discussions, but what happened was a provocation and we had to defend ourselves." Thailand's Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters a hospital was hit by shelling in Surin province, an attack he said should be considered "a war crime". Cambodian government, defence and foreign ministry officials at a press conference gave no indication of fatalities sustained or any estimate of the number of people evacuated. In a letter to Pakistan, the current president of the United Nations Security Council, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, urged the body to convene a meeting to stop what he called "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression" by Thailand in violation of international law. As clashes spread to different border areas, Thai villagers including children and the elderly fled to concrete shelters fortified with sandbags and car tires. "How many rounds have been fired? It's countless," an unidentified woman in Surin province told the Thai Public Broadcasting Service while hiding in the shelter as gunfire and explosions were heard in the background. Video footage showed a plume of thick black smoke rising from a gas station in the neighbouring Sisaket province, as firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze. Thailand has evacuated more than 40,000 people from border areas, moving many to temporary shelters, where elderly people and small children gathered on floor mats as authorities prepared meals and unloaded food and bottled water from trucks. "I'm worried about my children," said Suphap Wongwai, an evacuee in Surin province. "My children are scared and crying." Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes. Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. Cambodia in June said it had asked the ICJ to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach. Thailand's use of a fighter jet underlines its military advantage over Cambodia in terms of size and range of defence hardware. The clashes have caused jitters in the region, with the Philippines and Vietnam calling for restraint and China expressing willingness to play a role in promoting de-escalation. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Thailand and Cambodia are members, said he would speak to leaders of both countries. "The least we can expect from them is to just stand down and hopefully to try and enter into negotiations," Anwar said. The clashes erupted hours after a downgrade in diplomatic relations between the two countries following a series of landmine injuries to Thai soldiers patrolling border areas. Thailand accused Cambodia of placing the mines recently, which Phnom Penh dismissed as baseless. De-mining groups estimate as many as 4-6 million landmines remain in Cambodia following years of civil war.
France 24
an hour ago
- Business
- France 24
EU says China's links with Russia now 'determining factor' in ties
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