Thailand and Cambodia traded accusations on Saturday of fresh attacks as deadly border clashes entered a third day, leaving at least 33 people dead and more than 1,68,000 displaced, as international pressure mounted on both sides to reach a ceasefire.Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near several border villages, expanding the area of the fighting that flared again on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to have acted in retaliation.Both countries recalled their ambassadors and 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 regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is under growing pressure to defuse the situation between its two members. During an emergency meeting on Friday, members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation and urged ASEAN to mediate a peaceful solution.Cambodia’s defence ministry condemned what it said was an expanded Thai offensive early on Saturday after five heavy artillery shells were fired into multiple locations in the province of Pursat, calling the attack an “unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression.”Ministry spokesperson, Lt Gen Maly Socheata, said tensions flared in the province of Koh Kong, where four Thai naval vessels were reportedly stationed offshore and four others en route. She said the naval deployment was an “act of aggression” that risked further escalation.Maly Socheata said seven civilians and five soldiers were killed in two days of fighting. Earlier, one man was reported dead after a pagoda he was hiding under was hit by Thai rockets. India issues advisory In an advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Cambodia, officials have urged Indian nationals to avoid travelling to border areas amid escalating armed violence with Thailand. The advisory also urged Indian nationals to approach the Embassy in case of an emergency. On Friday, the Indian Embassy in Thailand had also advised against travel to more than 20 locations across its several provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Burirama and Sa Kaeo.Trump seeks to broker truce‘Reminds me of Indo-Pak conflict’US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had spoken to the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand and that both countries want an immediate ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace while fighting along their border extended into a third day.In social media posts during a visit to Scotland, Trump said he wanted an “End to the war, which is currently raging” and warned that he would not make trade deals with either of the Southeast Asian governments if they are still fighting.Trump wrote in his initial post: “I am trying to simplify a complex situation!” Minutes later, he posted: “I have just spoken to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, and it was a very good conversation. Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and peace. I am now going to relay that message back to the PM of Cambodia… After speaking to both parties, ceasefire, peace and prosperity seems to be a natural,” Trump added.He further said that the conflict reminded him of the Indo-Pak conflict, which, he claimed was brought to a successful halt with his intervention.Thailand’s ambassador to the United Nations told a Security Council meeting on Friday that soldiers had been injured by newly planted land mines in Thai territory on two occasions since mid-July — claims Cambodia has strongly denied — and said Cambodia had then launched attacks on Thursday morning.
Thailand, Cambodia trade accusations as clashes enter 3rd day
