Cambodia, Thailand vow to keep fighting in border conflict

Cambodia’s powerful Senate President Hun Sen on Tuesday vowed a fierce fight against Thailand as a second day of widespread renewed combat between the Southeast Asian neighbors drove tens of thousands of people to flee border areas.

- BY JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI AND SOPHENG CHEANG

Fighting broke out following a skirmish Sunday, during which two Thai soldiers were injured, derailing a ceasefire that ended fighting over competing territorial al claims in July. The five days of fighting then left dozens dead on both sides and forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 civilians.

Both sides vow to keep fighting

In a sign that neither side was willing to back down, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Tuesday that Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about possible negotiations and the fighting would continue.

“We've got to do what we've got to do,” he said. “The government will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier.”

He said Monday that military action was necessary to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and ensure public safety.

In a statement posted to Facebook and Telegram, Hun Sen claimed that his country had refrained from retaliating on Monday but overnight began to fire back at Thai forces.

“Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory,” Hun Sen wrote. He was Cambodia's long-serving prime minister until 2023, when he was succeeded by his son Hun Manet, but is still widely seen as the country’s de facto leader.

Thailand's military said Cambodia attacked Thai positions with artillery and rocket and drone attacks Tuesday. Thailand said that Cambodian forces also fired at its troops Sunday and Monday, but each side blames the other for shooting first.