Thai, Cambodian troops exchange fire at Chong Bok border area

by Steve Suwannarat

Thailand has downplayed the incident, while Cambodia has not yet issued a statement. No one was killed or wounded during the 10-minute exchange. Quick action by the military of the two countries avoided escalation. The incident stems from unresolved border disputes, which also concern Laos.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Thai and Cambodian troops briefly fired at each other at dawn today in Chong Bok, a border area in the eastern Thai province of Ubon Ratchathani, putting the spotlight back on unresolved border issues between the two countries.

Despite periodic talks and statements of good neighbourliness, the two countries are still at odds with each other over their mutual border. In the latest incident, Thailand reacted downplaying the situation, while Cambodia has not yet issued a statement.

As soon as they were informed, the military of the two countries immediately initiated contacts to ease tensions; but the fact remains that both claim the area, one of the many border disputes along the 800 km border that separates the two countries.

Cambodia reportedly violated an agreement that bans any action that changes facts on the ground without notifying the other side. Thailand rapidly deployed military units to the area and an exchange of fire followed that lasted about ten minutes. No casualties have been reported.

According to a Thai military source, all Thai personnel are safe, and the situation remains under control. It goes on to say that the Royal Thai Army is committed to peaceful solutions and values the strong relationship with Cambodia, coordinating cooperation at all levels to maintain border stability and peace for the people of both countries.

In addition to contingent factors such as smuggling, human trafficking or other cross-border criminal initiatives, nationalism also plays a great role in shaping the attitudes of the two countries, putting pressures on civil and military authorities to stand firm on territorial issues that are a legacy of French colonial rule in Indochina.

Given the lack of external mediation, the situation is managed through formal and informal initiatives that limit, but do not prevent the risk of violence as was the case from 2008 to 2011.

The most contentious and best known dispute is over the Preah Vihear. Located on the Cambodian side of the border, the main access to the Hindu temple is from the Thai side. Thailand continues to claim it on historical grounds.

Over the years, about a dozen of the various disputed border areas have been better demarcated, while contacts between the two governments continue for the others.

In another disputed border case, an armed clash occurred between Thai border guards and Laotian soldiers on 5 May in Phu Chi Fah, a mountain area that overlaps Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai and the Laotian province of Bokeo.

According to reports, Laotian troops crossed the border during an operation against rebels and drug traffickers who had attacked some outposts killing five soldiers.