Cambodian–Thai border dispute: 2008 - 2011

See Also:

• Border Disputes with Thailand
• Tension between Thailand and Cambodia
• Thai Cruelty 
• Border Killing

 Lead-up to the fighting

• In January 2008, the Thai Defense Ministry from the 56th Cabinet of Thailand protested Cambodia's attempt to register the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site without agreement from Thailand.

• In March 2008, Cambodia informed Thailand of their plan to register Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site.

• In April 2008, Thailand (the 57^th cabinet) and Cambodia planned a talk on the issue before the registration. Thailand insisted that it would support the registration of the temple but that the process 'must not affect the disputed borderline'.

• On June 18, 2008, Thailand and Cambodia made a joint communique regarding the temple registration.

• On June 22, 2008, Cambodia closed the border crossing to Preah Vihear in response to Thai protests held at the border crossing. The protests were championed by anti-Thaksin opposition figure, self-declared bankrupt Sonthi Limthongkul, who claimed the government of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej had gained business concessions in Cambodia in payment for ceding Thai territory to Cambodia when negotiating the Preah Vihear site map that would be presented to UNESCO in Quebec, Canada.

• On June 30, 2008 the Nation newspaper in Bangkok published an editorial online highly critical of the People's Alliance for Democracy for its use of Preah Vihear temple in its campaign against the People Power Party government of Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej.

• On July 2, 2008, as UNESCO began its annual meeting in Quebec, Canada, the Bangkok Post online published a Deutsche Presse-Agentur (German Press Agency) report that erroneously stated that Preah Vihear partially sits on Thai territory. Following the Thai government's decision to support Cambodia's bid for World Heritage listing, anti-Thaksin Shinawatra Thai opposition figures mounted a legal challenge against Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.
  • The Thai Constitutional Court finally upheld the suit on July 7, 2008 in an 8–1 judgment that the foreign minister's joint communique with Cambodia was 'unconstitutional'. Whilst UNESCO met in Quebec, Canada, there were about 20 Thai people standing and protesting outside holding sign "Noppadon, you are a LIAR" and Thai flags.

• On July 8, 2008, thousands of Phnom Penh residents marched through the streets in celebration of the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO. On the same day, the Municipality of Phnom Penh held an evening outdoor concert at Wat Phnom to celebrate the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO earlier in the day. The concert was nationally broadcast on CTN, emceed by Cambodia's biggest television star and featured traditional Khmer performances as well as a fireworks display. Despite persistent rain, thousands of Cambodians attended.

• On July 10, 2008, Thai Foreign Minister Nappadon Pattama resigned over the listing of Preah Vihear by UNESCO. His resignation followed the 8-1 judgment by the Thai Constitutional Court that he had violated Article 190 of Thailand's 2007 Constitution, which calls for a public debate and Cabinet-level approval before any such authorization can take place.

• On July 14, 2008, 8,000 Cambodians filled Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena for a concert hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and simulcast on Bayon Television. Sok An had just returned from UNESCO's annual conference in Quebec, Canada, where Preah Vihear was inscribed as a World Heritage site.

• On July 15, 2008, cross-border tensions flared after Cambodian authorities arrested three Thai nationals who had attempted to plant the Thai flag near the temple. Several dozen Thai soldiers were claimed by Cambodian to have subsequently crossed the border. One Thai soldier lost his leg to a landmine detonation.
  • Thailand maintains that its troops are deployed to protect its sovereignty and ensure that any protests by Thais near the temple remain orderly, although a senior Thai military official acknowledged that the troops were on "disputed" ground.
  • On July 16, 2008, Thailand increased the number of troops stationed in the border region^. adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.

• On July 17, 2008, the total number of troops at the temple increased to over 1,000, with some of the 400 Thai troops in the area occupying a Buddhist pagoda near the temple and claimed by Cambodia. Thai forces have denied they are inside Cambodian territory.
  • In a letter to the Thai Prime Minister, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops and protesters from the area.

• On July 18, 2008, the Thai government handed Cambodia a letter from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisting Thai troops are deployed on Thai soil. In a letter to Hun Sen, the Thai PM said Cambodian troops and buildings on the disputed 4.6 km² (1.8 sq mi) area were a "violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity", but that his government was "resolved to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation."

• On July 19, 2008, the Thai and Cambodian governments sent more troops and heavy guns to the disputed border ahead of high-level talks scheduled for July 21, 2008 between the Cambodian defence minister and Thailand's supreme military commander.
• On July 21, 2008, Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Ban and Thai Army commander Boonsrang Niempradit held talks in Thailand. The talks achieved no outcome.

• On July 22, 2008, Thailand rejected the assistance of ASEAN in resolving the border dispute. Thailand's statement came as ASEAN foreign ministers began a meeting in Singapore. The BBC reported that Cambodia had requested UN assistance in resolving the border dispute. The previous week the Cambodian government denied it had made such a call after similar news stories were published.

• On July 23, 2008, a spokesman for Cambodia's prime minister suggested that Cambodia may take the case to the International Court of Justice, as was done in 1962.

• On July 24, 2008, Cambodia announced it would postpone its request to the United Nations until the bilateral negotiation at Siem Reap in July 28 was finished.
  • Cambodia and Thailand held the meeting on July 28 without any results.
  • Reportedly, both sides are in favour of a troop withdrawal, beginning with Thailand's army; the date when Thailand would withdraw its troops was not agreed on, however.

• On August 1, 2008, Bun Rany, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, conducted a Buddhism ritual in a temple that is in a disputed-area; thousands of Cambodian people also joined the ritual. The anti-Thai government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leaders on that night led thousands of their supporters in a rival ritual, by praying Suttas that the Gautama Buddha gave to his monks, this is to prevent any negative effects from the Cambodian one, they claimed. Furthermore, there were numbers of Thai people accusing Bun Rany conducted a black magic, aimed to weaken Thailand; they believed so as Cambodia has many expertise of black magic.

• On August 1, 2008, The Nation newspaper in Thailand published an editorial criticizing Cambodia for calling on the international community to help resolve the Preah Vihear stand-off.

• On August 3, 2008, Cambodia claimed that Thailand occupied a second Angkorian-era temple complex, Ta Moan Thom and Ta Moan Touch, at 14°20′57″N 103°15′59″E
  on the border of Oddar Meanchey Province.

• On August 5, 2008, Kriengkrai Sampatchalit, Thailand Fine Arts Department director replied to Cambodia, claiming that "The Prasat Ta Moan Thom Temple is located just about 100 metres from the border on Thai soil."
  • According to the Thai authorities, the Ta Moan Thom complex is in Thailand territory as evidenced by the Fine Arts Department's registration of the ancient ruin as a Thailand national archaeological site 73 years ago in 1935, despite the ruin being located 300 meters south of the border watershed ridgeline.
  • Tharit Charungvat, Thailand ministry's chief spokesman said, "Thailand has not boosted the number of its troops [in Ta Moan Thom Temple]."
  • Thai Army chief Anupong Paochinda said Thai troops would remain at Ta Moan Thom because the temple is in Thailand.

• On August 7, 2008, ASEAN reported that both Thailand and Cambodia have withdrawn their troops from the Ta Moan Thom temple area to their original bases, according to AFP.
  • Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly is expected to visit the area near the Preah Vihear Temple, but not the Temple itself, according to Cambodian sources. Cambodia and Thailand will hold a second foreign ministers' meeting in Thailand on August 18, 2008 to seek a peaceful solution to the 25-day-long military standoff over the border dispute.

• On August 14, 2008, both nations' militaries agreed to reduce troop levels at Preah Vihear Temple prior to a meeting between their foreign ministers.

• In September 2008, Cambodia accused Thailand of sending troops to occupy the Ta Moan Thom and Ta Kwai temples. Thailand responded that the temples belong to them and are part of Surin province and that The Thai Fine Arts Department have done a registration of the ancient ruins since 1935.

 

Clashes

October 2008

• On October 3, 2008, Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire with each other on the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear Temple. The fighting lasted for nearly three minutes, wounding two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier.

• On October 4, 2008, commanders of the two countries met at their disputed border area amid accusations that each side had caused a border skirmish on the previous day. Hosted by the Cambodian commander in the area Srey Dek and his Thai counterpart Colonel Chayan Huaysoongnern, the two sides called for the situation to return to normal.

• On October 6, 2008, two Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines in the border area after allegedly wandering one kilometer into Cambodian territory.

• On October 13, 2008, Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw troops from a disputed border area by noon Tuesday, October 14. Hun Sen said Thai troops had advanced on a border area called Veal Intry (Eagle Field) near the temple in an attempt to occupy Cambodian land near Preah Vihear. "They must withdraw," he said. Thailand's Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, said he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence." "We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters, adding that he was not aware of Hun Sen's deadline.

• On 14 October 2008 in a televised interview, People's Alliance for Democracy leader and future Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya called Hun Sen "crazy", a "slave", and a "nak leng" (commonly translated as "gangster").

• On October 15, 2008, Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire on each other once again in the border area, leaving three Cambodian soldiers dead and two Cambodian and seven Thai soldiers wounded. One of the Thai wounded had sustained fatal injuries and died one week later. The Cambodians claimed to have captured 10 Thai soldiers during the battle, but the Thais denied this. Still, Reuters published photos of the soldiers being held by Cambodian troops. Although commanders from both sides were trying to negotiate a cease fire, Thailand urged Thai nationals to leave Cambodia.

• On October 18, 2008, a Thai soldier was accidentally killed by his own weapon at Phu Ma Khua.

November 2008

• From 25 November to 3 December 2008, the People's Alliance for Democracy executed "Operation Hiroshima": the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport. During occupation of the airport, PAD leader Kasit Piromya gave a speech in which he said "I will use Hun Sen‘s blood to wash my feet," recalling the historic incident where King Naresuan of Siam did the same to King Lovek of Cambodia. The siege ended when the Constitutional Court dissolved the government of Somchai Wongsawat, resulting in the rise to power of Abhisit Vejjajiva as Prime Minister and Kasit as Foreign Minister.

April 2009

• On April 2, 2009, a Thai soldier stepped on a mine and lost his leg in the border area.
• On April 3, 2009, fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces left at least three Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers dead, another five Thai soldiers were wounded. Just days before this clash, Cambodian officials said that up to 100 Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory and did not leave until Cambodian soldiers showed up and asked them to leave. The Royal Thai Army denied the claim and said that Thai soldiers had not gone anywhere they were not permitted to be. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen then warned Thailand for the second time that if they (Thai soldiers) cross again, Thai soldiers would face fighting again with Cambodian soldiers. He said, "I tell you first, if you enter (Cambodian territory) again, we will fight. The troops at the border have already received the order."

January 2010

• On January 24, 2010, Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire on each again in the border area. As Thai Rangers shouted at Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col. Nut said, which left two Thai soldiers wounded.
• On January 25, 2010, Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire twice on Sunday morning at the contested border near Preah Vihear temple. The Cambodian soldier subsequently fired eight RPG (B-40) rockets into Thai territory.
• On January 30, 2010, soldiers from the two countries exchanged fire for two or three minutes on Friday evening.
• On January 31, 2010, A Thai soldier was killed in clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces in the disputed border area troops from the two sides fought for about 15 minutes late Friday after about 20 Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory and refused to leave when confronted by Cambodian soldiers. Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat said one Thai soldier was killed, with Cambodian troops firing AK-47 assault rifles and B-40 rocket propelled grenades.

April 2

• On April 16, 2010 Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire along their border about 150 km west of Preah Vihear. The clash lasted for about 15 minutes, but there were no reports of casualties, Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat told AFP. "While our troops were patrolling the border, the Thai soldiers opened fire at them. So our troops fired back," he said. He said troops from both sides fired rockets and grenades as well as rifles, but calm returned after a meeting between Cambodian and Thai military commanders in the area.The Thai military confirmed the shoot-out."It was a misunderstanding and nobody was injured in the clash," said a Thai Army officer who asked not to be named.

February 2011

• On February 4, a skirmish in a gray zone in the overlap of Thailand and Cambodia territory called Phu Makua hill started with an exchange of fire from 15:15 to 18:00 (GMT+7). Later, a ceasefire was called by local forces. One Thai civilian in Ban Phumsrol village of Sisaket Province's Kantharalak district died instantaneously and seven or more buildings, including Phum Srol School, were hit by Cambodian artillery rounds. Three houses were set ablaze. The Cambodian government claimed 16–33 Thai soldiers were killed, 26 wounded and four captured, with two tanks destroyed. Thai news stations reported 64 Cambodian soldiers were killed and two tanks, 16 armoured vehicles, six artillery guns and four multiple launch rocket systems were destroyed. Independent sources confirmed that three Cambodians, including two soldiers, and a Thai villager were killed, also 10 Cambodian and eight Thai soldiers were wounded and four Thai soldiers were captured.

• On February 5, both sides exchanged firing again, starting from 06:25 (GMT+7) in three skirmishes at Chongdon-awn. The Thai army confirmed one Thai sergeant was killed by shrapnel and four soldiers wounded in the clash. In the afternoon, both sides signed a ceasefire with four conditions: 1. stop firing; 2. don't increase army at-site; 3. don't cause an accident; 4. more communication.

• On February 6, despite signing a ceasefire earlier that day, renewed clashes occurred in the evening. According to reports, the fighting extended over 10 kilometres, from Phum Srol village to Phu Makhua mountain. At 08.17 hours, Cambodia troops opened fire at Thai military personnel stationing at Phu Ma Khua and Phlan Yao as well as villagers in Thai territory using rocket propelled grenades. Several Thai villagers have reportedly been injured. Baan Phum Srol school director Boonruam Pongsaphan stated that "I believe that this is no longer a misunderstanding. This is war because the Cambodian side is firing into residential areas, not military zones". Thousands of villagers from Kantharalak were evacuated. Cambodia claimed that more than 20 Thai soldiers died in the clashes. In the evening, Thai troops reportedly attacked Cambodian lines by trying to cross into Cambodia's territory despite the earlier cease fire agreement. There were reports saying that Cambodian troops captured Don Tuan temple that is over 10 km from the previous clash sites and Don Tuan temple is located in Thai territory. It has also been reported that the heavy shelling of Preah Vihear Temple by Thai forces has caused part of it to collapse. Since the start of the fighting, Cambodian troops had been entrenched in the 900-year-old ruins of the temple in a camp made up of several bunkers. They had been positioned high on a ridge with a commanding view of the Cambodian plains but highly vulnerable to fire from Thai positions just a few hundred metres away.

• On February 7, around two in the morning, the artillery fire finally stopped. However, sporadic fighting resumed later in the morning, after Thai troops attempted an operation to recover casualties from the previous day's heavy fighting. Clashes ceased again at 11 am. Both sides blamed each other for the incident. Cambodian civilians living near the contested area were evacuated by Cambodian authorities. The People's Alliance for Democracy called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down. Cambodia called for a UN Buffer Zone at the Thai border. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen described the situation as a "big skirmish or a small war". Later that day, independent sources stated the toll for the previous three days of fighting to be 10 killed: one soldier and one civilian from Thailand and four soldiers and four civilians from Cambodia. 34 Thais (30 soldiers and four civilians) and 45 Cambodians (soldiers and civilians) were wounded. The four captured Thai soldiers were released.
• On February 8, there was no reported shooting incidents. However, Cambodian troops reportedly used the fragile ceasefire to dig into new positions and to set up sandbags. A Thai soldier, who was severely wounded during the shellings on the 6th, died of his wounds at Sapphasithiprasong Hospital.
• On February 9, Hun Sen officially called the recent clashes a war, stating that "Thailand created this war. [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit must be responsible for the war" and "Our war with Thailand will be taking long time". He also made it clear that there would be no more talks without a third party, stating that "There will be no more bilateral talks, and all negotiations will be participated by the third party." In a later statement, he said "“This is a real war. It is not a clash”. Hundreds of Cambodian troops camped near the battleground, effectively strenghthening their hold on the temple.
• On February 15, a new skirmish occurred. The shooting incident lasted for a few minutes. Although local media reported that five Thai soldiers were wounded, the army stated that only one soldier was injured during the fighting.
• On February 16, the clashes intensified. During the day, three clashes occurred (5 am, 8 pm and 10 pm), but there were no reported casualties on either side. Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd stated that the Cambodians started it all with the use of mortars and rocket-propelled-grenades, forcing the Thais to retaliate. However, Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, denies his country’s troops fired first. He said Thai soldiers attacked first. Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting. Cambodia wants international help to prevent further fighting, while Thailand says the issue should be resolved bilaterally. The same day, unconfirmed reports claimed that Vietnamese tanks were moving towards the Cambodian-Thai border. However, Hun Sen strongly denied it.

• In an agreement reached at a meeting of ASEAN in Jakarta, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to allow Indonesian observers to monitor disputed border territory by up to 40 military and civilian observers. "This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

April-May 2011

• On April 7, Thailand admitted using Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) during the clash, which has been identified by the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) as a type of cluster munition. These contain up to hundreds of small grenades or "bomblets" that scatter over vast areas, and are banned by the majority of countries under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Thailand has not signed the pact but has publicly pledged not to use such weapons. The CMC said this was the first confirmed use of cluster munitions since the Convention became international law.

• On April 22, 2011, a five-hour clash erupted along the border between Phanom Dong Rak District of Surin Province, Thailand and the Banteay Ampil District of Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia at the Ta Moan temple complex 14°20′57″N 103°15′59″E
  153 kilometres west of Preah Vihar and at Ta Krabey temple complex 15 km east of Ta Moan, with reports that both sides used rocket launchers, machine guns, and rifles. According to the Thai Army, the fighting erupted after dawn and continued for over half an hour. Four Thai and three Cambodian soldiers were reported killed and eight Thai and six Cambodian soldiers were reported wounded.

• On April 23, 2011, the fighting with mostly long-distance shelling resumed about 6am and halted by noon. A Cambodian defence ministry statement accused Thai aircraft of entering Cambodian airspace. The statement also said Thai forces had fired 75- and 105-mm shells loaded with poisonous gas into Cambodia's territory, an allegation that could not be independently verified and that Thailand rejected. A Cambodian field commander claimed that the "poison smoke" caused several soldiers who inhaled it to lose strength in their arms and legs. Col. Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, said that six rounds of cluster shells had landed in villages about 20 km (12 miles) inside Cambodia, but caused no casualties since residents had already been evacuated. Col. Tawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, denied absolutely that cluster bombs or poison gas had been employed. Tawatchai said one Thai soldier died, bringing the two-day casualty toll to four dead and 17 wounded, and that 15,000 civilians had been evacuated from the area of fighting. Cambodia's Suos Sothea said three soldiers from his country had been killed, bringing Cambodia's two-day death toll to six. According to vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, Mr Nhim Vanda, roughly 5,000 residents had been evacuated to a safe shelter in the Samrong district of Banteay Meanchey province, some 30 km from the fighting zone.

• On April 25, 2011, the fighting continued, after an almost full-day break.

• On April 26, 2011, the fighting resumed for a fifth day. The fighting had now spread to a nearby temple. By this point, five Thai soldiers were killed and more than 35 wounded, and eight Cambodian soldiers were killed, 17 were wounded and one was missing.

• On April 27, 2011, a Thai civilian was reported to had been killed in the fighting.

• On April 28, 2011, two more Thai soldiers were confirmed killed in the fighting. The same day, Thailand and Cambodia finally agreed upon a ceasefire. Cambodian spokesman Phay Siphan said that "We will abide by the ceasefire from now on and local commanders will meet regularly to avoid misunderstanding".

• On April 29, 2011, the ceasefire was broken, as one Thai soldier was confirmed killed in the fighting. A Thai military spokesmen said 11 Thai soldiers were hurt in the clashes with a total of 58 soldiers wounded since the start of the fighting.

• On April 30, the fighting resumed for a 9th day. However, there were no casualties.

• On May 1, a Cambodian soldier was killed. The death toll had reached 17, including: nine Cambodian and seven Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian. 95 Thais, including 50 soldiers, and 18 Cambodian servicemen had been wounded since the start of the fighting. According to Thai army spokesman Col. Prawit Hukaew, the two sides had engaged each other with automatic weapons overnight Sunday. According to Thailand, no Thai troops was killed in the clashes. On the afternoon, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued a statement which condemned Thailand for ten straight days of armed conflict; "The repeated invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia have caused gradual damage to Cambodia, it is an unacceptable act".

(Credit: Wikipedia)