Skirmishes at the Thai-Cambodian borders

Thailand and Cambodia broke the February ceasefire and clashed on Friday at the disputed Ta Moan and Ta Krabey border area. Artillery, rocket propelled grenades and light guns were fired that killed 2 Thai solders and wounded 7, with an unknown number of Cambodian fatalities. Villages on both sides of the border were evacuated and the sides accused each other for starting the fight.

The February cease fire proves to be volatile, instability of the region remaining high. The frozen conflict was supposed to be observed by Indonesian observers, according to a February 22 agreement brokered by ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), but the unarmed military were not yet deployed at the time of the clashes on Friday.

The conflict started half a century ago with both countries claiming a 4.6 sq. km plot of land (1.8 sq. miles) including a temple known as Khao Phra in Thailand and Preah Vihear in Cambodia. The temple got the UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008 but this did not lower tensions.