Thai-Cambodian border fighting enters second day • FRANCE 24 English

Well, for more, let’s cross to Tommy Walker standing by in the Thai province of Surin on the border. Hello to you. Um, Tommy, what has uh fighting been like this Friday? As mentioned, it’s went into its second day now, this conflict. And driving into Surin, we heard a loud explosions of incoming and outgoing fire between Thailand and Cambodia troops. Certainly at one particular uh place which was hit yesterday was a hospital in Serin which was hit by Cambodia attacks that was very hot. It was very there was a loud fire there. We had to get out there after about 10 minutes because of the risks that posed. So the conflict is ongoing. Serin seems to be a one of the center points of where this conflict um has began. It’s the place where one of the disputed temples which Thailand and Cambodia have disputed for for decades is is is in is here. Um so things are happening. The activity in Surin is quite hot. And where where I am right now, I’m actually in a university, a local university which has turned into a makeshift evacuation center. There’s over 3,000 Thai people here who have been evacuated from their homes at the border with Cambodia when that conflict broke out yesterday. People are waiting in limbo to see if whether not this conflict is going to stop. They have a place for safety, the shelter. They, you know, they’re being fed and have, you know, supplies and and they’re being looked after. But obviously it shows the impact of what this conflict what it can do to the local people who have got nothing to do with this military uh this military exchange of gunfire. So that’s where I am right now. Things are tense and as I mentioned people are in limbo of what happens next. Yeah. Some tension also if I may say there’s a a bit of unclarity uncertainty about uh what’s next. What has the Thai government been saying? Well, I mean there’s many statements that have come out. Thai Thailand’s Ketch of Prime Minister Ponam has said that the country could go to a war if things were to continue and escalate. Now, obviously in Thailand, many people don’t expect this conflict to go to a fullscale war. However, that was a strong stance from the from the caretaker prime minister. However, Thailand has also said that it opens its door for bilateral talks. There has been um some news breaking in in recent hours that Thailand’s rejected um help and assistance from the international community. Uh however, the information I’m getting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that they didn’t immediately reject this solution. and they want to sort of look at bilateral talks and hopefully solve that with this issue with Cambodia directly rather than you know third party assistance. So again the conflict is continuing right now there’s no uh end point in sight and there’s no either either government is really getting hold of this. Um so again as the days go on we’ll just have to see what the developments are and whether or not these two countries come to the table and start talking about ending this uh this conflict. All right, Tommy, thank you very much. Tommy Walker, reporting from Sarin, Thailand on the border uh near Cambodia.

Recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have led to the displacement of over 140,000 civilians as both countries evacuate residents near the border. The fighting, which escalated on Thursday with the use of jets, artillery, and tanks, has resulted in numerous casualties and prompted international calls for a ceasefire. France24 Correspondent at the Thailand-Cambodian border, Tommy Walker, reports.
#Thailand #Cambodia #fighting

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12 comments

  1. The Preah Vihear Temple area was adjudged a part of Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice. On 11 November 2013, the ICJ declared in a unanimous decision that the 1962 ICJ judgment had awarded all of the promontory of Preah Vihear to Cambodia and that Thailand had an obligation to withdraw any Thai military, police, or guard forces stationed in that area. Thailand has refused to abide by either of these rulings. So the way forward is simple. Thailand must accept the temple and surrounding land is a part of Cambodia and withdraw all its military.

  4. All of Cambodia’s territory once belonged to Thailand. During the colonial era, France intervened and forced Thailand to cede land — which is now Cambodia. Later, Cambodia became an independent country just over 40 years ago, with the help of the Thai monarchy. Today, the Cambodian king is under the control of the authoritarian ruler Hun Sen.

    Cambodia today is not the ancient Khmer Empire. The modern Khmer people were originally a minority group who served the ancient Khmer civilization. The formation of Thailand spanned over a thousand years through various eras and the blending of many ethnic groups.

    Modern Cambodians often believe they are direct descendants of the ancient Khmer Empire — but in reality, they are not.

  5. For those who need a context, here is Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict: A Timeline (1904-2025)

    * 1904 & 1907: France (representing Cambodia) and Siam (Thailand) signed treaties defining their shared border, with accompanying maps initially accepted by Siam. The Siam Minister of the Interior, Prince Damrong, acknowledged receipt of these maps, requesting more copies for distribution to provincial authorities. (See ICJ Judgement 1962 & 2013)

    * c. 1934: Thailand began developing its own maps that differed from the Franco-Siamese versions, particularly regarding the Preah Vihear Temple.

    * 1941-1954: Thailand twice seized Preah Vihear Temple (1941, returning it post-WWII; and 1954, following Cambodian independence).

    * 1962: The ICJ ruled Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia, based on the 1904/1907 treaties and Thailand's earlier map acceptance.

    * 2000: Both nations signed an MOU to peacefully demarcate their border, referencing the 1904/1907 treaties.

    * 2008: After UNESCO listed Preah Vihear as world heritage site, Thailand again occupied surrounding areas, leading to clashes.

    * 2013: The ICJ clarified its 1962 ruling, affirming Cambodia's sovereignty over the Preah Vihear promontory and ordering Thai troop withdrawal.

    * May 28, 2025: A fatal clash occurred, escalating conflict to new disputed temple areas (Ta Muan Thom, Ta Muan Touch, Ta Krabei).

    * June 16, 2025: Cambodia filed a new case with the ICJ for these additional disputed sites, which Thailand rejected, preferring bilateral talks.

    * June 18, 2025: A leaked phone call from June 15 revealed Thai PM Paetongtarn criticizing her military, causing her suspension and political turmoil in Thailand.

    * June 23, 2025: Thailand unilaterally closed all land borders and initiated economic pressures (visa, utilities, energy exports); Cambodia reciprocated with border closures and import bans.

    * July 23, 2025: Thailand expelled Cambodian Ambassador over an alleged landmine incident. Cambodia followed.

    * July 24, 2025: Full-scale border clashes erupted with heavy weapons (Thai F-16s Jet, Cambodian BM-21s). Cambodia called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting.

    * July 25, 2025: Thailand rejects mediation offer from Malaysia, US, and China, prefer bilateral talks.

    I hope it could help you make an informed judgment.

  6. What is missing is Thailand also fired rockets on Cambodian civilian, schools, pagodas, and hospitals. The question is about who started it as the response from both countries are the same while almost all the media have been Thai-ed to. Thailand was so confident about Cambodia violating international law. Let's see if the law is by Cambodia's side or Thailand's.

    But we understand why Thailand wants to talk instead of going to the court after starting this conflict. Well, obviously Thailand would lose the case again if using international law. Thailand keeps saying Cambodia is violating international law. Then let's just bring it to the court, shall we? Oh that's right! Thailand can't! Because it would lose the case again for violating Cambodia's territory. When Cambodia brought the case to ICJ, it scared the hell out of Thai.

    They say Cambodia violated the law, but they don't want to face the law. Very interesting innit? If you are clean, the court is on your side. Only thieves and criminals are afraid of the court!! Don't Thai to world!!

  10. Cambodia wanted a peaceful resolution by having a third party oversee the border dispute. Thailand was afraid to go to the international court because they were afraid they would lose, instead they op for a military strategy because they know Cambodia is far weaker than them militarily. Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire but Thailand rejected it. Thailand is bullying a far weaker developing country who has no other choice but to defend themselves, while the media is demonizing Cambodia.

  11. The French are the same as the Khmers, and that's where the war started. It's in history. There's data on Google and Australian satellite data that confirms that Cambodia started it first. The French should also be held accountable, because in ASEAN, everyone knows that the French started it, but they pretend that I had nothing to do with it.

  12. Thai hold current sovereignty over those areas since no cambodia country. But after ruled favor cambodia 1962, it wants to cliam more now but Thai no longer recognize icj compulsory jurisdiction. The only way to drag Thai to icj is setup crashes to frame thailand looking like invasion. This is plan of Cambodia leader HUNSEN

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