Bangkok, Thailand – Tensions flared again on the border between Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday after Bangkok accused its neighbor of violating a ceasefire that had been in place for less than 10 days. The accusation followed an exchange of gunfire and mortar fire in the disputed Emerald Triangle region, which resulted in injuries to soldiers on both sides.
Conflicting accounts: “Mortar shelling” or “Garbage explosion”?
The Thai military announced in an official statement that Cambodian forces fired mortar rounds toward Ubon Ratchathani province, injuring a Thai soldier with shrapnel. The statement described the incident as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire” agreed upon on December 27.
In contrast, Cambodia offered a completely different account. Defense Ministry spokeswoman Mali Suchita stated that two Cambodian soldiers were injured in a “sudden explosion in a pile of garbage” while carrying out organizational duties in Preah Viher province. The Cambodian version made no mention of any shelling toward Thai territory. It described the incident as an “unintentional operational error” about which the Thai side had been informed.
Political reactions: Warning of “retaliation” and official protest
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul took a firm stance on the incident, confirming that his government had lodged a formal protest with Phnom Penh. “We have been informed by the military that the incident was accidental, but we demand an explanation regarding responsibility,” Charnvirakul told reporters. He added, in a warning tone, “Thailand has the capability to respond,” alluding to his country’s military superiority.
Context of the conflict: Inherited borders and an endless crisis
This escalation comes after a bloody year that saw dozens killed and nearly a million people displaced due to a dispute over the demarcation of an 800-kilometer border dating back to the colonial era.
December truce: included a ceasefire, a freeze on troop movements, and mine removal.
Goodwill gestures: Bangkok had released 18 Cambodian soldiers on December 31 as a confidence-building measure.
The political future of the conflict
While Phnom Penh has proposed holding a meeting of the bilateral border commission in Siem Reap province later this month, the situation remains tense. Observers believe the fragile truce could collapse entirely if a definitive solution to the border demarcation in the disputed areas is not reached. This is especially true given Cambodia’s recent demands for the withdrawal of Thai troops from areas it claims as its own.
