Death Toll Surpasses 30
Both Countries "Principally Agree to Ceasefire"
As the armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day, the front line has expanded to the western Cambodia-eastern Thailand border area.
On the 25th (local time), Thai military artillery fired towards Cambodia from the border area of Surin Province in eastern Thailand. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Thai Ministry of Defense on the 26th (local time), at around 5:10 a.m. that day, Cambodian troops invaded three locations in Trat Province, eastern Thailand. The Thai Navy responded and repelled the Cambodian forces.
Cambodia also announced that Thai troops fired five shells into Pursat Province in western Cambodia, which borders Trat Province. This area is located approximately 250 kilometers southwest of the previously contested northern Cambodia-eastern Thailand region.
Authorities in Trat Province reported that they issued evacuation orders to residents near the site of the clashes.
The Thai military stated that clashes also occurred in Sa Kaeo Province in eastern Thailand on the same day, making six out of the seven Thai provinces bordering Cambodia now part of the conflict zone.
The previous day, the Thai military authorities declared martial law in eight areas of Trat Province and central Chanthaburi Province.
According to the Thai military, as of this day, a total of 20 people have died in the fighting, including 14 civilians and 6 soldiers, and more than 60 have been injured.
The Cambodian military reported that 13 people, including 8 civilians and 5 soldiers, were killed and 70 were injured.
According to AFP, the number of deaths from this clash has surpassed the 28 major casualties during the 2008-2011 border dispute.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the father of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the current Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Culture who is currently suspended from duty, visited a shelter that day to comfort evacuees. Former Prime Minister Thaksin told reporters about Hun Sen, the President of the Cambodian Senate and his close friend for over 30 years, "His actions reflect an unstable mindset," adding, "He must reflect on his behavior."
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