Evacuation ordered near border after clash with Cambodian military

The Thai Second Army Region has ordered people living near the Cambodian border in Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani to move to evacuation centres for their safety, following an armed clash in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket today between Thai and Cambodian forces. Two Thai soldiers were injured.

The army said in a statement today that, although the fighting stopped at about 2.50pm, the situation remains uncertain and fighting may flare up again and even escalate.

As a precautionary measure, for the safety of the people, the army ordered the evacuation, in accordance with the published plan.

The army accused the Cambodian troops of firing on Thai troops first, in Phupha Lek-Plarn Hin Paed Korn, triggering a retaliatory engagement. It also accused the Cambodian troops of using recoilless rifles in their attack on Thai troops.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the Defence Ministry and the Royal Thai Army to take necessary measures to protect Thai sovereignty and to ensure the safety of people near the Cambodian border. He also ordered the governors of the four border provinces to take good care of those who are being displaced to the evacuation centres.

Army Spokesman Maj-Gen Winthai Suvaree dismissed an accusation by the spokesperson of Cambodian Defence Minister, Maly Socheata, that Thai troops opened fire first with small arms, B-40 rockets and 60mm mortar shells, while Cambodian troops did not return fire.

Winthai said that the Cambodian claim is “a complete lie”, as he explained that Cambodian troops fired first on Thai troops guarding a construction crew repairing a border road.