Displaced Cambodians flee again, and again, as border fight rages

Thousands of displaced civilians on both sides of the disputed areas bordering Thailand and Cambodia have been forced to bolt as fierce clashes continued for more than a week, seeking shelter wherever they can in pagodas, schools and hastily set up evacuation centres.

- May Wong Indochina Bureau Chief

When The Straits Times visited the Chroy Neang Ngourn Pagoda in Siem Reap on Dec 15, many of the displaced Cambodians taking shelter there were seen already loading their belongings onto tractors and wagons, ready to leave if the bombing and artillery fire drew closer. ST PHOTO: MAY WONG

(MAY WONG)

Some have had to flee more than others, as bomb explosions and artillery fire grew uncomfortably close.

Aerial bombings on the Cambodian side on Dec 15 sent thousands scattering yet again, this time heading farther inland about 90 minutes away from Srei Snam district, in Siem Reap province, towards Siem Reap city.

Until then, at least 2,000 people had been staying under pitched tents and on tarpaulin sheets on the grounds of the Chroy Neang Ngourn Pagoda in Siem Reap after fierce border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia erupted again on Dec 8, following five days of fighting in July.

But the dreaded sight and sounds of military drones and fighter jets overhead soon had many of them scurrying away to safer grounds.

When The Straits Times visited the pagoda sheltering the evacuees on Dec 15, many were seen dismantling their makeshift tents and loading their belongings onto tractors and wagons. The compound was already significantly emptier compared with when ST first visited two days earlier.

At the time, many tents were pitched side by side on a plot of land stretching more than 400m outside the pagoda gates.

Mr Ek Khoeung, 65, who was packing up his belongings, recounted how he "saw the drones and felt the ground vibrations from the dropped bombs" in the distance.

The farmer had fled earlier from O'Smach, a small town in Oddar Meanchey province around 90 minutes by road to the pagoda, when fighting first erupted. He said: "I thought this place was safe, but now the bombing is coming closer and closer. I don't know where a safe place is anymore."