Bangkok: The smouldering conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border has erupted into open warfare once again, with intense clashes extending into a third day. The ongoing violence, which has already claimed over 30 lives and displaced more than 130,000 people, marks the most serious confrontation between the two Southeast Asian neighbours since the 2011 temple standoff.
Amid growing regional concern, Malaysia, in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN, has stepped in to mediate, urging both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.
The crossfire intensified after a deadly skirmish near a remote military post earlier this week. What began as a single border incident has now escalated into widespread artillery and mortar exchanges across multiple provinces.
• Thailand has reported at least 20 deaths, including 7 soldiers and 13 civilians, and over 70 injuries.
• Cambodia claims 13 fatalities, among them 5 soldiers and 8 civilians, and dozens more wounded.
Both governments blame the other for initiating the conflict. Thailand accuses Cambodian forces of planting landmines and launching cross-border raids, while Cambodia alleges that Thai troops opened fire unprovoked and violated sovereign territory.
The clashes have reached flashpoints near the ancient temple ruins of Ta Moan Thom and Preah Vihear, areas that have long been contested and steeped in nationalist sentiment.
The violence has triggered a wave of displacement. In Thailand's Sisaket and Surin provinces, public buildings, schools, and universities have been converted into emergency shelters. Local authorities estimate over 75,000 residents have fled the danger zones.
On the Cambodian side, nearly 60,000 villagers in Pursat, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces have been evacuated as artillery fire scorched farmland and residential areas.
Humanitarian agencies warn of food shortages, inadequate sanitation, and psychological trauma among the displaced, especially children and the elderly.
Reacting swiftly, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for an “urgent cessation of hostilities” and offered Kuala Lumpur’s assistance in facilitating peace talks. "ASEAN cannot remain silent as two of its members descend into conflict. Dialogue is the only path forward," he declared.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry confirmed that a draft ceasefire proposal had been shared with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, with Cambodia expressing openness to the terms and Thailand “considering the proposal seriously.”
At the United Nations, both Thailand and Cambodia presented fiery statements during an emergency Security Council meeting.
• Cambodia appealed for international condemnation of Thailand’s "aggression" and called for the issue to be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
• Thailand rejected international adjudication, instead pushing for a bilateral resolution and accusing Cambodia of breaching existing peace protocols.
The debate ended without consensus, reflecting broader divisions among global powers over ASEAN affairs and the role of the UN in regional conflicts.
The root of the conflict lies in a colonial-era cartographic dispute dating back to the French occupation of Indochina. Although the ICJ awarded the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, lingering ambiguity over the surrounding land has kept tensions alive.
In 2008, Cambodia’s bid to list Preah Vihear as a UNESCO World Heritage Site reignited nationalist tempers, leading to intermittent military standoffs over the past 15 years. The current violence appears to be the latest manifestation of that unresolved tension, worsened by domestic political pressures in both countries.
Despite Malaysia’s mediation and international calls for calm, heavy shelling continued Friday night into Saturday morning, particularly in the forested highlands bordering Banteay Ampil and Nam Yuen districts.
Local Thai and Cambodian commanders held brief talks via military hotlines but failed to reach a disengagement agreement.
A Thai military spokesperson stated, “We are ready to de-escalate if Cambodia ceases hostilities. But our soldiers will not stand down under fire.”
Cambodia’s defense ministry responded with similar rhetoric, insisting it was exercising the right to defend its territory and calling for “an immediate end to Thai provocations.”
With no ceasefire in place and nationalist rhetoric rising in both capitals, the risk of a broader conflict looms. Analysts warn that if not addressed swiftly, the skirmishes could destabilize not only bilateral relations but the unity of ASEAN at large.
As the international community watches with bated breath, one thing is clear: unless cooler heads prevail, the border that once served as a bridge between cultures could become a frontline that divides a region hungry for peace.