Thai and Cambodian leaders urge calm after deadly border clash

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have called for restraint, to prevent further escalation of tensions along their shared border, following a fatal armed clash near Thailand’s Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said today that no country wants tension or chaos with its neighbours or any other nation, adding that the military chiefs of both countries are due to meet this afternoon in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is on an official visit to Japan, posted on his Facebook page that he has been receiving regular updates on the situation and on the communications between the two forces.

He wrote that he does not wish to see armed conflict between the nations, as it would benefit neither side, especially the soldiers stationed on the front line.

Hun Manet expressed hope that the upcoming meeting between Cambodian and Thai army chiefs would yield positive results, to preserve stability and maintain good military communication between the two countries, as has been the case in the past.

“Cambodia has no intention of invading any country. We want to resolve border disputes based on technical grounds and international law,” he said.

Nonetheless, he affirmed Cambodia’s right to use all necessary means, including military force, to protect its territorial integrity in the event of aggression or encroachment.

He also urged Cambodian citizens to remain calm in response to unverified information and appealed for efforts to prevent the situation from escalating into an international conflict.

Assuring the public of his commitment, he said that, even while abroad, he is doing his utmost to help prevent further tension between the two nations.

Hun Manet also shared two photographs on Facebook, which he said were taken about ten years ago, during past fighting between Cambodian and Thai forces at the Preah Vihear and Tak Brey temples.

One showed him near a frontline command post in Samraong in Oddar Meanchey province, while the other depicted a negotiation between Cambodian and Thai commanders at the Choam Sa-ngam border checkpoint, aimed at de-escalation.