Thailand confirms its first civilian death in a week of fighting with Cambodia, as a reported US-brokered truce fails to materialise
BANTEAY MEANCHEY: Thailand has confirmed its first civilian death after a week of renewed border clashes with Cambodia.
The announcement on Sunday came as international efforts to broker a ceasefire failed, with violence displacing hundreds of thousands.
The latest killing followed Bangkok’s denial of a claim by US President Donald Trump that a truce had been agreed.
The long-running conflict, rooted in a colonial-era border dispute, has displaced around 800,000 people according to officials.
“I have been here for six days and I feel sad that the fighting continues,” 63-year-old Sean Leap told AFP at an evacuation centre in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province.
At least 27 people have been killed, including 15 Thai soldiers and 11 Cambodian civilians.
A Thai health ministry spokesman confirmed the 63-year-old civilian man was killed by shrapnel in Sisaket province.
The Thai army said Cambodian forces fired rockets into a civilian area.
Each side has blamed the other for instigating the clashes and trading accusations of attacks on civilians.
Trump said on Friday the two countries had agreed to stop fighting.
Thai leaders later said no ceasefire deal was made, and both governments confirmed clashes were ongoing on Sunday.
A Thai defence ministry spokesman said Cambodia shelled and bombed several border provinces overnight.
The Thai military has imposed a curfew from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am in parts of Sa Kaeo and Trat provinces.
Cambodia said Thai forces had shelled and launched air strikes on its territory near the border on Sunday.
Cambodia shut its border crossings with Thailand on Saturday, leaving migrant workers stranded.
Under a makeshift tent at an evacuation site, Cheav Sokun told AFP her husband in Thailand wanted to return home.
“He asked me to return first. After that, the border was closed so he cannot come back,” the 38-year-old said.
In Thailand, officials said nine civilians have died of non-combat-related causes after evacuating from their homes.
The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a ceasefire in late July.
In October, Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between the neighbours, touting new trade deals.
Thailand suspended the agreement the following month after its soldiers were wounded by landmines.
Trump last week pledged he would “make a couple of phone calls” to get the truce back on track.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Trump “didn’t mention whether we should make a ceasefire” during their Friday phone call.
Anutin said there were “no signs” Trump would connect further US-Thailand trade talks with the border conflict.
The prime minister said the US president had guaranteed Thailand would get “better benefits than other countries”.
Both countries secured reduced US export tariffs of 19% after Trump intervened following the July clashes. – AFP
