Cambodia clashes could lead to war, says Thai PM

Thailand warned its border conflict with Cambodia could “escalate into a state of war” as fighting expanded to new areas and both sides exchanged heated rhetoric on a second day of clashes yesterday.

- SHWETA SHARMA

At least 15 people have been killed in Thailand and one in Cambodia, and tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the contested border. Acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai of Thailand claimed Cambodia had deployed heavy weapons on multiple fronts and said Bangkok was defending its territory.

“The current situation involves acts of intrusion and aggression that are causing harm to the people’s lives. The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war. At present, it’s a confrontation involving heavy weapons,” he told reporters. Fighting expanded to 12 locations yesterday, the Thai military said, up from six the previous day when they first erupted.

The two sides blamed each other for starting the conflict amid continued fighting, with Bangkok accusing Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilians, and Phnom Penh alleging that Thailand was using cluster munitions, an ordnance banned by an international treaty.